OT: Xmas Gift Suggestions for Kids
I'm looking for gifts for girls 5-7 years old and want to focus on STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). I went for "Crazy Forts." I also bought two lightsabers - those aren't exactly STEM but I loved getting a lightsaber when I was younger and I learned that you have to have two, because the first thing that kids want to do is battle.
May I ask for suggestions on great or overlooked gift ideas for kids? I figured I'd open it up for all sorts of suggestions (but against girls 5-7 years old is really appreciated).
December 18th, 2023 at 9:35 AM ^
An experience not a toy: If you are near Ann Arbor the hands-on museum is pretty cool.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:43 AM ^
A Masseuse?
December 18th, 2023 at 9:45 AM ^
User name checks out
December 18th, 2023 at 9:49 AM ^
Agree, or maybe monthly lunch or dinner dates for just you and her?
Otherwise, if you have a video game system, the lego games are really good for younger kids.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:42 AM ^
Bass-o-matic
December 18th, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
Work from home Barbie with a laptop.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
Puffy pens (the "ink" expands when you heat it with a hair drier) have been a big crafty type item around our house. I also second the experience idea.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:38 AM ^
LEGOs. My girls have loved LEGOs for years.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:14 AM ^
my 12 year old and I are pumped to do this after Christmas
December 18th, 2023 at 11:02 AM ^
Your son is a bit older, but my youngest and I did this model when he was maybe 7 or 8. It was an exercise in patience. Those pieces are much smaller than legos, and it's easy to get off by a dot or two and have to tear out part of it and rebuild. You may have better luck, but I'd suggest planning on doing this over a series of sessions and not expecting to knock it out quickly.
December 18th, 2023 at 1:23 PM ^
To echo wizzy, the non-Lego brand block kits can be arduous. The build is often shown in like 10 or 20 sets with each step being a picture with like 50 pieces being added. You spend a ton of time comparing the current picture with the next one to see what the hell is added. The pieces are also often very hard to differentiate— pre sorting is a must with those kits. The ones I have done seemed to love using single dot pieces for no reason (why put five singles in a row instead of a five piece?!).
December 18th, 2023 at 10:25 AM ^
When our children were younger - we bought LEGO sets. And, my only suggestions regarding them are: 1) build them WITH your child - that's part of the fun - let them do as much as they can - but, help out wherever necessary, and 2) if you live near - or can shop at - a LEGO store - just "buy a bunch" of LEGO pieces from the bins on the wall - and, create / build stuff that's "just unique and different".
Enjoy the holidays
December 18th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
I second the motion on Legos. Building is fun and mentally stimulating.
• also, magnetic blocks
• Super Gauge / contour gauge (a genuine tool that's safe AND fun to play with)
• Cherry Republic Cherry Crisp Mix (easy baking kit that parent & child can do together)
December 18th, 2023 at 9:51 AM ^
Things from my childhood not to get (city) kids these days. BB gun, woodburning kit, molten plastic soldier making kit and Jarts (original), bow and arrow.
Let's just say I have witnessed or participated in mishaps with all of these (city kid).
December 18th, 2023 at 9:52 AM ^
The gifts aren't the problem, just sayin!
December 18th, 2023 at 10:01 AM ^
True dat.
December 18th, 2023 at 3:40 PM ^
wood burning kits dont burn down entire apartment complexes...
December 18th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
And most of us survived.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:21 AM ^
Is that Fonzie?
December 18th, 2023 at 9:40 AM ^
Kiwi Boxes are pretty great. Monthly STEM subscription service.
They have different age groups to pick from and the experiments/toys that are included are generally pretty cool. My girls like them a lot!
December 18th, 2023 at 9:58 AM ^
I was going to recommend the same. My granddaughters love them.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:18 AM ^
I was about to post the same thing.
My kid loved the 3 month subscription his aunt got for him last Christmas.
The CrunchLabs version from Mark Rober looks good too. Though we haven't tried it and the intended age range says 8-12.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:06 AM ^
My 10yo loves CrunchLabs; he typically knocks them out the day the box arrives. Probably best for an individual rather than a group (although playing with the activity once built can be a group activity).
December 18th, 2023 at 9:43 AM ^
Mden player playing cards! Second year they are out.
December 18th, 2023 at 9:50 AM ^
Whatever you choose, you better select the Ludicrous Speed shipping option.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
I bought my boys a set called "Electronic Snap Circuits" when they were that age. It's pretty cool, you can build hundreds of different things that work like an alarm, a fan, a radio, etc.
It isn't cheap (about $100) but they played with it for years and, while certainly not a guaranteed result, both are now pursuing STEM-related careers.
I just checked to see that they are still selling these and noticed they now have cheaper options available at Amazon, starting at $35.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
Yes, these are great.
In a different direction, my kids loved Magna Tiles. Maybe 5-7 is too old for these, but I think of these like Legos.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^
Wholeheartedly agree on the experience idea, and the AA Hands-On Museum is one of the best in the state. Michigan Science Center in Detroit is awesome, too.
That said, there's also an "experience" factor to opening a new toy or game on Christmas morning. I can recommend just about anything from ThinkFun: https://www.thinkfun.com/our-products/
December 18th, 2023 at 10:16 AM ^
Gravitrax by Ravensburg are awesome building fun for entire family.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:18 AM ^
It's great that you want to guide them toward a useful career path. Based on my life choices, I'm guessing my parents did all my Christmas shopping at the Unemployed Philosophers Guild.
(Not gonna lie, though. I'd still go for one of these Pink Freud t-shirts).
December 18th, 2023 at 10:20 AM ^
Listen to me. Only to me. I have 6 year old triplets that are very popular in school(lots of friends and playdates), and also happen to have a large extended family with small children. The stem stuff is fun for a half hour, then YOU have to clean it up. Don't overspend on it. Also, most toys I'm going to suggest are gender neutral.
First of all, you should already have a "cool" advent calendar. You missed out royally, if you do not have one already.
Itemized, but no particular order.
1.Bitzee
2.Furby
3.Pokemon TCG Battle Academy - I can't stress this enough. Reading comprehension, sportsmanship, critical thinking, and surprisingly complex addition/subtaction/multiplication. Warning: this will open Pandora's box when it comes to Pokemon.
4."Explorer Sofa" - Basically large foam pillows that fold. They can build forts, make a couch, etc. I bought ours from Sam's Club. However, they are everywhere.
5. Flashlights - Always flashlights - Check the lumen level. Don't be irresponsible.
6.Uno Attack
7.SIMPLE Lego sets
8.Any art sets from 5 Below
9.Any science sets from 5 Below
10.GLOW anything
11.Magne-Tiles - My lil demons probably have 7 sets.
12.Magic Mixies
I have many more suggestions, but I'm sure you all are already tired of me.
Go Blue!
December 18th, 2023 at 12:43 PM ^
I'm not tired of you -- please keep going (I'm the OP). I'm genuinely interested
December 18th, 2023 at 3:27 PM ^
Uno Attack is pretty darn fun for everyone. We just found it for 5 bucks, and the kids go bonkers for it.
I've taught no less than 4 families how to play the Pokemon TCG ever since my sister-in-law drop shipped Battle Academy to our house. Including, my sister-in-law's family. You can sometimes find Battle Academy for $11 or less. You can then go onto EBAY and purchase other premade decks once the kids have a favorite Pokemon.
You can find "parachute" forts that hook up to a cheap box fan to inflate. A lot more pros than cons with these.
Leapfrog makes a bunch of electronics that are pretty great. The Leapfrog Rockit Twist Handheld Learning Game System doesn't make you feel as guilty as if you would have bought a tablet or a Switch.
I've given up my gamer ways, and I refuse to allow tablets or a Switch in my house. The kids can ignore me down the road when they aren't as cute anymore! ;)
Leapfrog makes an interactive Microscope that is pretty great. One of the trips received that from Santa last year.
The Leapfrog Scoop and Learn Ice Cream Cart was a big hit, but they were 3-4 at the time. They still use it occasionally.
Leapfrog also makes a bunch of junk, too. Don't be fooled. Read reviews.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:04 PM ^
Just ordered a Leapfrog Rockit blahblah for my 4 year old. Thanks!
December 18th, 2023 at 10:24 AM ^
There are some cool hologram making kits that could be fun. Use caution with any lasers though.
This would also be a shout out to our very own Professor Emmet Leith.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:25 AM ^
Hmmm. Yeah, that's a little too young for edibles.
I have always found good bang for the buck with Magic Sets, and Nat Geo science kits. They also make dance mats that light up different sections (kind of like Twister with music). I am good friends with a father of young girls and they are always on that thing.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
We picked up an interactive globe for our children years ago (they're college juniors today) - and, the globe had a "pen" attached which revealed a variety of facts about countries around the world.
The globe also could "ask" questions - so, we felt it was a fun "learning" toy for our children.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
Not quite STEM, but my girls (7 and 9) just got a baking kit with a food measure. They were doing math as they added the proper grams of sugar and flour etc. Then we got to eat the mini cakes.
My daughter got preying mantis eggs earlier in the year as well. Didn't go well, they either ate each other or just didn't hatch, but she learned a ton about them.
December 18th, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^
"Log”
-Ren and Stimpy
December 18th, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
Lo-og! Lo-og! It's big, it's heavy, it's wood!
December 18th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^
It's better than bad, it's good!
December 18th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
Re: lightsabers -- make sure they will stand up to real contact. Some brands are Halloween accessories rather than usable toy swords.
December 18th, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
Holy Bible
December 18th, 2023 at 1:01 PM ^
Not a box of proV1's?
December 18th, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^
My HS senior daughter asked for Shelby Foote's Civil War narrative book series. 3 volumes, 3000 pages total. She's interested in history, in case you couldn't figure it out.
December 18th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
Excellent set! Shelby Foote was also an interesting person besides being a fine writer/historian. Like Bruce Catton, he started out as a novelist, and later achieved fame as a historian. If she like more modern history like WW2, Rick Atkinson's Liberation Trilogy about the US Army in Europe is also superb.