Big Sibling presents advice

[snarlingcoyote]

A co-worker's wife is having a baby in the next three weeks and we are giving them a gift card and taking co-worker, wife and their two current kids to lunch. I like to get sibling presents that can be used while the kids are where ever they are when the new sibling is being born.

I know the older son is 9 and hasn't read Harry Potter yet (although dad is a Potterhead), so I got him the first HP book, but now I'm a little worried - do parents make a deal over giving their kids their first Potter book these days or not? I can get the first Percy Jackson book instead. I know the son does like to read and hasn't yet delved into HP, so I presume he hasn't started with Percy either.

On the 2 year old front, I usually give a small bag of Duplo or knock-offs pre-schoolers, because those can be entertaining for long periods and even if she already has some, more are usually fine, but I'm worried she is on the younger side for that. Maybe some sort of puzzley thing? I don't want to spend more than $9 for this. Ideas?

 

[Daniela Rose]

A co-worker's wife is having a baby in the next three weeks and we are giving them a gift card and taking co-worker, wife and their two current kids to lunch. I like to get sibling presents that can be used while the kids are where ever they are when the new sibling is being born.

I know the older son is 9 and hasn't read Harry Potter yet (although dad is a Potterhead), so I got him the first HP book, but now I'm a little worried - do parents make a deal over giving their kids their first Potter book these days or not? I can get the first Percy Jackson book instead. I know the son does like to read and hasn't yet delved into HP, so I presume he hasn't started with Percy either.

On the 2 year old front, I usually give a small bag of Duplo or knock-offs pre-schoolers, because those can be entertaining for long periods and even if she already has some, more are usually fine, but I'm worried she is on the younger side for that. Maybe some sort of puzzley thing? I don't want to spend more than $9 for this. Ideas?

Can't answer for the 9 year old, but my 2 year old would love play doh. Or stickers. My all time favorite is the Melissa and doug water wow bc she can "paint" and not make a mess or spill.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Can't answer for the 9 year old, but my 2 year old would love play doh. Or stickers. My all time favorite is the Melissa and doug water wow bc she can "paint" and not make a mess or spill.

I looked at playdoh actually! Mom is having the baby at a birthing center, not a hospital, and I am sort of worried there might be carpet in the waiting rooms, also there might be carpet at the babysitters/grandparents. I do not want to be blamed for playdoh in the carpet. But I am now in love with Melissa and Douge Water Wow activity books! Totally getting that.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Make a big deal about getting their first Potter book? I didn't realize that had become a rite of passage.

 

[Daniela Rose]

I looked at playdoh actually! Mom is having the baby at a birthing center, not a hospital, and I am sort of worried there might be carpet in the waiting rooms, also there might be carpet at the babysitters/grandparents. I do not want to be blamed for playdoh in the carpet. But I am now in love with Melissa and Douge Water Wow activity books! Totally getting that.

Yeah I remember cursing my mother in law in my head when she showed up at my house with play doh lol.

The water wows are seriously the best things ever.

When dd2 was born I gave dd1 a big sister teddy bear. I also had a personalized big sister coloring book made that had both their names in it. Not sure how soon you need this.

 

[Anthony1971]

NO PLAY DOH
Maybe an activity book with coloring and stickers. Stickers are gold to young children....

 

[Judique]

A co-worker's wife is having a baby in the next three weeks and we are giving them a gift card and taking co-worker, wife and their two current kids to lunch. I like to get sibling presents that can be used while the kids are where ever they are when the new sibling is being born.

I know the older son is 9 and hasn't read Harry Potter yet (although dad is a Potterhead), so I got him the first HP book, but now I'm a little worried - do parents make a deal over giving their kids their first Potter book these days or not? I can get the first Percy Jackson book instead. I know the son does like to read and hasn't yet delved into HP, so I presume he hasn't started with Percy either.

On the 2 year old front, I usually give a small bag of Duplo or knock-offs pre-schoolers, because those can be entertaining for long periods and even if she already has some, more are usually fine, but I'm worried she is on the younger side for that. Maybe some sort of puzzley thing? I don't want to spend more than $9 for this. Ideas?

I think you will be find with Duplo for the 2 year old. My 18 month old grand daughter loves them and they hold her interest for quite a while.

I would disown anyone who gave me play doh!

 

[monorailsilver]

I am not sure about the book for the older child-he may have it, dad may have it?? Maybe a small Lego set.

The 2 year old something quiet and not messy!

 

[Hikergirl]

If the dad is a Potterhead chances are good that they already have all the Harry Potter books at home. I know a few Potterheads, my dd being one of them. She has multiple versions of all the Harry Potter books LOL
I think books are hard unless the person is requesting a specific one or you know the person very well and know what they have or haven't read.
I know my kids read Percy Jackson around 9/10 years old. They read the first one in class in elementary school, think it was 4th grade but could have been 5th.
If it were me I'd probably get a small lego set for the 9 year old along with the duplos for the 2 year old. Or you could ask your co-worker what books the 9 year old is in to or if there is one he really wants.

 

[kymom99]

You could get him a puzzle book or marlins, etc.

The small lego set is good too

 

[snarlingcoyote]

The thing about Potterheads that non-potterheads do not understand is that you do not force them to ever, ever share Potter books. My husband and I share the audio series on CD that we got as they came out, but we're married and can negotiate better than kids. But, if I had a peanut butter and jelly, play in the mud with the dog nine year old? Oh hell to the no. Your grubby fingers are never ever ever touching my first edition HPs. (And that goes back to the first one.) You get the paperbacks and can fight out over my rare copies when I'm dead.

 

[Hikergirl]

The thing about Potterheads that non-potterheads do not understand is that you do not force them to ever, ever share Potter books. My husband and I share the audio series on CD that we got as they came out, but we're married and can negotiate better than kids. But, if I had a peanut butter and jelly, play in the mud with the dog nine year old? Oh hell to the no. Your grubby fingers are never ever ever touching my first edition HPs. (And that goes back to the first one.) You get the paperbacks and can fight out over my rare copies when I'm dead.

LOL, my dd is the only Potterhead in the family so she has never had a need to share her books.

Maybe you can put a nice inscription inside, if he does end up being a Potterhead it will have nice sentimental value to him later

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I dug around in the house and found the entire set of the Percy Jackson books. They're used, but intact, so I'm giving him those instead. I will let his dad do the HP honors, although I am not opposed to sending him a postcard every year from Hogsmeade.

 

[jedijill]

Please don't give the HP books! I had planned on being the one to give them to my nephew and a family friend showed up at Christmas with them and spoiled my whole Christmas present.

Jill in CO

 

[EveDallas]

The thing about Potterheads that non-potterheads do not understand is that you do not force them to ever, ever share Potter books. My husband and I share the audio series on CD that we got as they came out, but we're married and can negotiate better than kids. But, if I had a peanut butter and jelly, play in the mud with the dog nine year old? Oh hell to the no. Your grubby fingers are never ever ever touching my first edition HPs. (And that goes back to the first one.) You get the paperbacks and can fight out over my rare copies when I'm dead.

I was thinking all this but worried I might sound crazy LOL. But yeah - no way would I share my good books with a child. Better to get him his own.

 

[unrequited23]

For the 2 yr old: Crayola color wonder markers and a color wonder coloring book/paper--the markers will only show up on their coordinating paper or Melissa and Doug reusable sticker sets (similar to colorforms).

 

[mjkacmom]

I purchased and read all of the Harry Potter books, none of my five kids had any interest, so I donated them. Only two read the Percy Jackson series, the others were not interested, so I donated them as well. Kids don't always share the interests of their parents. My kids were reading in kindergarten, but aren't "readers," which made me sad, since I am a reader.