BabyWhispererForums.com
ACTIVITY => Activity Time & Toddler Activity => Topic started by: snowbird on April 05, 2014, 23:01:46 pm
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Hello my trusted BWer friends,
I'm looking for present ideas for LJ who is 3 in a week. I don't want her to have loads of toys. We already need to have a clear out! I do want her to have toys that enable her to use her imagination and which she can play with time and time again and really enjoy. At the moment, that's mega blocks, Happyland people, play food/baskets, pushchair and then lots of cardboard boxes lol! She has a great imagination and I want to encourage this. Also would be interested in outdoor stuff as the weather is improving.
So my ideas are as follows:
- scooter - this is at the top of her list!
- space hopper. She played on one once and seemed to really love it.
- trampoline. Would love this one but would need to prepare the garden for it (b'day crept up on us!) and the ones we like are quite expensive so maybe next year. :(
- PJs/slippers - LJ created a list when we walked round Asda the other day, he he!
Looking forward to hearing what wonderful ideas you all have :) thanks xxx
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Play kitchen? Balance bike? Dressups? Just off the top of my head.. :P
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Thanks, Jazz! She's got a play kitchen although basic and has a balance bike too. Mmm, maybe dressing up. She's got a few outfits a friend's little girl gave her so will bring those out tomo and see how interested she is now she's a bit older. That reminds me too she saw a Minnie mousse dressing up outfit she liked too!
Also, cars/track would be a good one too. Keep them coming please :) xxx
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Or train track then maybe?
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Art Supplies? How about a box with paints and canvas and mixing trays?
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I buy mostly art and craft supplies for birthdays now, maybe books as well. Theory being that we already own too many toys and art stuff gets used up & they mainly do crafty stuff now.
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Play doh? There are a whole load of preschool games the ds had at this age which could be fun. We have the honey bee game (like ker plunk but easier) and tumbling monkeys.
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Ooo, games. I did want to get some of those but had forgotten! Thanks, Lilisuze!
Art supplies is a good idea too - had lots of craft stuff for Christmas, but a canvas and paint sounds great.
She had a train track for Christmas and does love it. Thanks, Jazz. Sounds like she has everything lol - really doesn't! xxx
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Oh and we have some play dough with the cutters with to go with it. Keep meaning to try my hand and making it! xx
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For my friend's 3yo I made a basket of stuff for collage/sticking. Feathers, ribbon, pompoms, mirror tiles, lolly sticks etc all in a little basket with compartments. Something you can bring out for her to sort through and create without needing too much dexterity.
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Gardening set
Apron for cooking
Kite
Does she need a new bag?
Dressing gown
Swimming kit
Umbrella
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I made a basket of stuff for collage/sticking. Feathers, ribbon, pompoms, mirror tiles, lolly sticks etc all in a little basket with compartments. Something you can bring out for her to sort through and create without needing too much dexterity.
great idea! Am thinking of doing something like this as an Easter gift for M x
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Real kitchen knife so she can help you make dinner? Kinderkitchen dog knife is brilliant (cuts vegies and bread etc, doesn't cut little hands or fingers). Pampered Chef do one too (although not as nice IMO).
Board games my 3yo loves are Guess Who, Junior Monopoly, Frustration, Crazy Chefs, snakes and ladders (or any other basic throw dice and move game) and Busy Town.
What about a water table or water toys for outside? Plus watering can to water the plants as the weather gets better.
Some of the play doh tools are lovely (if you just have cutters there are tons of other tools which make play more fun), we have the fun factory which is an extruder with several different shapes, we have cake making sessions (I provide paper cup cake cakes and a muffin tin to put them all in or a cake stand) and chocolate making sessions (use old choc boxes and copy the pictures but in whacky colours, then present them to Daddy when he arrives :) ). There's a nice sandwich set from play doh too which makes all sorts of fruits and veg etc.
DS got the duplo hospital for his 3rd birthday, I think it suits boys or girls, it's such fun, he loves to follow the instructions to build the various hospitals and we also throw together all his duplo stuff to build off plan. He also loves to play small world and use his imagination to come up with stories for all the little characters and combines it with his happy land village people etc.
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How about a doctor / nurse set? I'm getting the ELC one for DS soon as it's been a big hit whenever he's played with one elsewhere! The girls at nursery love playing with it too ;D
http://www.elc.co.uk/on/demandware.store/Sites-ELCENGB-Site/default/mProduct-Show?pid=125390#q=medical
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Great ideas, will come back tomo and consider them all carefully xxx
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Does she have a tent? We got this tent for Millie when she was 4....and she is still in it all the time! Plus, this is my go-to place for cool gifts!!! Magic Cabin.....!
http://www.magiccabin.com/Tents-and-Playhouses/Mushroom-Cottage.htm
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Oh and we have some play dough with the cutters with to go with it. Keep meaning to try my hand and making it! xx
Do it! It is easier, quicker and cleaner than you can imagine, takes about 5 minutes from start to finish!
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Gardening set
Apron for cooking
Kite
Does she need a new bag?
Dressing gown
Swimming kit
Umbrella
Thank you, Cathn! Garden set gave me the idea of wheelbarrow which I think she will love, but not sure Daddy will lol. She already spends a lot of time digging up all the pebble stones in the garden, he he!
She has an apron and umbrella and have bought her a new bag for her birthday. Ooo, kite. Will look at this idea! xxx
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Do it! It is easier, quicker and cleaner than you can imagine, takes about 5 minutes from start to finish!
Will do - always expect it to be hard work. xxx
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Does she have a tent? We got this tent for Millie when she was 4....and she is still in it all the time! Plus, this is my go-to place for cool gifts!!! Magic Cabin.....!
http://www.magiccabin.com/Tents-and-Playhouses/Mushroom-Cottage.htm
Ah, love this tent, Wendy!
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Quote from: MJ&N on Yesterday at 10:23:33
I made a basket of stuff for collage/sticking. Feathers, ribbon, pompoms, mirror tiles, lolly sticks etc all in a little basket with compartments. Something you can bring out for her to sort through and create without needing too much dexterity.
great idea! Am thinking of doing something like this as an Easter gift for M x
Still got some from Christmas, but will defo do this next Christmas xxx
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Real kitchen knife so she can help you make dinner? Kinderkitchen dog knife is brilliant (cuts vegies and bread etc, doesn't cut little hands or fingers). Pampered Chef do one too (although not as nice IMO).
Board games my 3yo loves are Guess Who, Junior Monopoly, Frustration, Crazy Chefs, snakes and ladders (or any other basic throw dice and move game) and Busy Town.
What about a water table or water toys for outside? Plus watering can to water the plants as the weather gets better.
Some of the play doh tools are lovely (if you just have cutters there are tons of other tools which make play more fun), we have the fun factory which is an extruder with several different shapes, we have cake making sessions (I provide paper cup cake cakes and a muffin tin to put them all in or a cake stand) and chocolate making sessions (use old choc boxes and copy the pictures but in whacky colours, then present them to Daddy when he arrives ). There's a nice sandwich set from play doh too which makes all sorts of fruits and veg etc.
DS got the duplo hospital for his 3rd birthday, I think it suits boys or girls, it's such fun, he loves to follow the instructions to build the various hospitals and we also throw together all his duplo stuff to build off plan. He also loves to play small world and use his imagination to come up with stories for all the little characters and combines it with his happy land village people etc.
Love the knife idea - been looking at the Kinderkitchen stuff today after your post! Is it the 7.5 inch paring knife?
She has a water/sand table. Will look at the play doh tools too. And definitely looking at all these board games.
Busy busy! Next time I'll plan ahead a bit more!
Thanks everyone for all your help. Fab ideas!
xxx
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Anne, that site has such cute stuff! Don't think they ship to the UK, though?
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Anne, that site has such cute stuff! Don't think they ship to the UK, though?
Might be able to get stuff elsewhere though MJ&N. Tent is on ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHILDRENS-SPECIAL-EDITION-MUSHROOM-HOUSE-PLAY-TENT-INDOOR-OUTDOOR-BY-BAZOONGI-/221364170909?pt=UK_Toys_Games_Outdoor_Play_Equipment_LE&hash=item338a55309d
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There are a whole load of preschool games the ds had at this age which could be fun. We have the honey bee game (like ker plunk but easier) and tumbling monkeys.
Lilisuze, which do you think is best for a 3 year old? LJ loves monkeys so thinking maybe that one, but just wondering which would be better in terms of ease? xxx
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Surprise hit of the year so far here are these:
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_171010927899?CMP=SSH&tmcampid=28&tmad=c&sku=7328394&ci_sku=7328394&ci_src=18615224&$$ja=cgid:5632648687|tsid:45357|cid:105431527|lid:18283950120|nw:g|crid:50890265167|rnd:5222308120232935912|dvc:c|adp:1o5|bku:1&gclid=CO7cuN-2zr0CFYbMtAodx3gAmw
Got them for LO2 (then 1.5) for Christmas but LO1 (nearly 4) plays with them every day, makes all sorts of things. And uses in them in non-building games. They are just such lovely objects, I love playing with them myself!
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Surprise hit of the year so far here are these:
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_171010927899?CMP=SSH&tmcampid=28&tmad=c&sku=7328394&ci_sku=7328394&ci_src=18615224&$$ja=cgid:5632648687|tsid:45357|cid:105431527|lid:18283950120|nw:g|crid:50890265167|rnd:5222308120232935912|dvc:c|adp:1o5|bku:1&gclid=CO7cuN-2zr0CFYbMtAodx3gAmw
Got them for LO2 (then 1.5) for Christmas but LO1 (nearly 4) plays with them every day, makes all sorts of things. And uses in them in non-building games. They are just such lovely objects, I love playing with them myself!
We got L a similar set for Xmas when she was about 15 months but she wasn't really interested in them until she turned 3! Now she plays with them loads building all sorts of things.
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ooh, like the look of them, another bday idea x
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It's this knife (sorry I'm linking to amazon rather than the kinderkitchen site)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kinderkitchen-7-5-Paring-Knife-Teeth/dp/B001UK3FC4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396975893&sr=8-1&keywords=dog+knife
This is the one with teeth, there is a no teeth option too but I think the one with teeth is the better option. Will slice through raw tomatoes and not kid skin! Great buy. I honestly looooove our time in the kitchen together, it does take extra organization from me and extra effort so we don't do it every single day but still it is regularly. Having that knife there made so much difference.
As for planning ahead. I wish list stuff for DS (on amazon usually) as soon as I see a good idea or recommendation any time on here then come Xmas and birthday I have a stack of ideas just ready for sorting through. I keep the wish list private though in case we change our minds about something.
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I'm liking that knife, LO1 would love it and it's his bday soon. Thanks for the tip.