Can you help with a gift for a 2 1/2 year old girl?

[Whistle]

Hello there. I am sponsoring a little girl for Christmas this year. Can you give me ideas on what a 2 1/2 year old would like. I know she wears size 2 or 3t. He mom listed that she would like educational toys or blocks. I know she loves horses.

Here is what I had thought of so far. I have boys (which is why I thought it would be fun to shop for a girl) . . . I would love further feedback. I am looking on a budget of 50.00.

playdoh (works fine motor skills & is inexpensive)
books (at least 5)
a doll (all little girls need a doll) or stuffed animal horse
coloring book and crayons
an outfit or two
pajamas

Can you think of games that would be educational at this age? Is Candy Land too old? Thanks!

 

[lilys.mom]

My DD just turned 4 trying to think back...

she loved/still loves like a shopping cart with groceries in it
hungry hungry hippos/ elefun game/ or any of the memory games...they make them now with all kinds of theme/charecters..maybe some bath time stuff that she can play with in the tub. My DD loved cleaning sets...like vaccum..broom..mop. Hope this has helped some.

Oh the mega blocks...they are perfect for little ones our DD still builds with hers..

 

[amy-momofthree]

My DD loved kitchen stuff at that age, toy kitchen, play food, etc. And books are always good!

 

[Cinderelly5507]

My daughter was 2 1/2 last Christmas. She got Fisher Price My First Dollhouse, Snap-n-Style Dolls, Tag Jr. and books, art supplies, Crayola Wonders, Princess Cash Register, Leapfrog Scribble and Write, and more that I can't quite remember! She also enjoyed her kitchen set and accessories, shopping cart, baby stroller and babies, as well as the baby high chair. All of thees can be gotten with good deals such as Black Friday! Little girls are so much fun to shop for!

ETA: Here's a link to a similar thread that I posted on last year ( when the shopping for my DD was fresh in my mind

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=34602305#post34602305

 

[Jill in Chicago]

I would skip the play dough. I loved that, but many parents hate that it gets ground into clothes, chairs and the carpet.

Instead of a coloring book how about a tablet of plain paper? Then the child can determine the theme of what she wants to draw. Some kids do not like crayons. (No idea why.) But they do love markers. If you go with markers make sure they are washable.

Horse or doll. If you go with the horse it needs a "blanket" of some kind so it can go to "sleep." Same for the doll. Even some kind of "jammies" for the horse, and a feeding bowl of some kind. You could find a cuddly stuffed horse. The horse jammies could just be a wrap around shawl in jammie fabric that velcros closed. (Use a pair of old jammies or pick up some old jammies at a resale shop and "poof" super cheap jammies for the horse. If you don't sew ask someone from work or church.

Play phone, the more realistic the better. If it has sounds even better.

If the mom asked for blocks get blocks. Wooden ones will be very expensive and put you over the $50.00 budget. Maybe ask around if anyone has some they want to donate?

Books. Love this! Children love to look at pictures of other children. I like your idea of tough, durable board books. These are something else you can find cheap and NEW at the Salvation Army....

Gifts of clothes always make me nervous. What if they don't fit? What if the child doesn't like them (they bug her neck or pull at her ankles or whatever?)
Maybe she only likes nightgowns, or footed jammies. Can you enclose a Target gift card "for jammies of your choice"?

Have a blast with this! Last year I helped out a family that had just fled domestic violence. Mom and grandparents scraped money together for a Bitty Baby. (Adorable and durable.) It was the one and only thing their 2 year old daughter wanted. I made a blanket, jammies, pretty coat, frilly dress..... what fun!

 

[Shelly888]

I don't now where you are, but if you have an AC moore near you they have 50% off coupons on their website and they have lots of Melissa and Doug stuff. I bought my 1 year old a little wagon filled with brightly painted blocks, for 11.00 it is really cute, the age is for 2+ They also have the really nice wooden puzzles. I also got Liam 2 of the big knob puzzles for 1 year olds at 40% off and they were 6 dollars each, they also have the next step up for ages 2+

the wagon: http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Unit-Blocks-Wheels/dp/B00005TNIE

the puzzles: http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Wooden-Chunky-Puzzle/dp/B000E9DPCW/ref=pd_cart_recs_19

I'm sure you've seen them before but just in case

 

[kimkoz]

I'd probably skip the playdough as well

Target just posted some new coupons on thier website. I'm getting my daughter the Furreal cat. It's originally $20 but with coupon only $10. That looks cute. Not educational but maybe just a cute gift.

I second the play food. Even my 4 yr old son still loves that stuff and you can get it cheap.

What about an aquadoodle too or to replace something. They make them in all sizes and my kids always like them.

Kohls always sells these little games in tin containers for like $5. My son loves the ABC ones - I think it was the super W kids but it was ABC Bingo and he played it all the time. It was great at that age to help learn his letters

** thanks for the AC Moore idea. I'll have to head there for my kids as well. Totally forgot they sold Melissa and Doug there. I love thier products but they can be pricey 40% of is great.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Same rec as Shelly888
At that age my DD loved Melissa and Doug Toys. Sometimes you can find them cheaper at Marshalls or TJMaxx. I also used to get M&D at ACMoore with the coupons.

This was her favorite:

Cutting food
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Cutting-Food-Box/dp/B000GKD09C

 

[dzorn]

My DD loved fisher price little people sets and Duplo lego sets. Both of which can be played with for many years.

Denise in MI

 

[kimkoz]

If she likes horses what about My Little Pony's they have larger ones now too.

I also saw that Mattel is having a Pink Friday Sale - 60% off the barbie pink collection. and if you use Coupon code TXT201 to get extra 20 % - free shipping too. They had some horse items.

 

[Malibustyle23]

These are all things my DD2 is interested in or is potentially going to receive for Christmas:
Magna Doodle
Color Wonder books/markers
baby dolls
stroller for baby dolls
tricycle
Melissa and Doug toys/puzzles
Little People playsets
Tea sets/ Kitchen sets
broom/dustpan set
Anything that sings that she can dance to

Have fun shopping!

 

[scrapquitler]

Duplos, Fisher Price Little People, beginner puzzles, kitchen stuff, books for mom to read to her

 

[disney*mom*82]

My DD just turned 3 and the toys that interest her the most are:

Baby dolls
Disney Princess dolls
Kitchen items, espec food
Larger lego blocks
All craft supplies (I reccomend that crayola magic sets, where the markers only work on their paper, cause kids do like markers better)
I think that Playdoh is great, sure its messy but kids love it!
Puzzles
Musical instruments
Dres up clothes


I think if you are going to do clothes, maybe leave the gift recipet with them. I wouldnt give a gift card though, I like knowing that the child got what I was buying and a GC leaves it open to be used on whatever the adult decides.

Have fun with it, we do this every year and usually get what the parent requests, some clothes or coat, and a toy or two.

 

[shortbun]

Duplos, Fisher Price Little People, beginner puzzles, kitchen stuff, books for mom to read to her

Get her books she can read too. Children should feel books in their hands. those hard books with really think pages. Yhings for imaginative play. Things that move. Things that make her move or require that she match and count/stack or group. A ball,. Kids who need Christmas sponsors often lose all their toys evey time there housing changes- and it changes often.

 

[vettechick99]

My DD3 at that age was getting into Dora big time. So anything Dora will be a winner. She loved and still loves to push a stroller around with a doll in it. She enjoys riding the tricycle around the house. My DD loves to dress up so we got her some dress up clothes. She also loves to color so get the Color Wonder marker sets by Crayola.

Books are a great idea!

 

[brandylouwho]

I had to chime in to say don't skip the playdough! It may be annoying to pick out of a carpet, but it is such a wonderful, imaginative creation for children to manipulate in their tiny hands (and I'd choose it over moon sand any day).

At 2 1/2 my girly girl loved:
Fisher Price Loving Family dolls and accessories
dress up clothes ( I often buy Halloween costumes on clearance for dress up)baby dolls & bottles
anything Dora
basic art supplies (washable markers clean up well. The color wonders are nice, but more expensive to replace the color books & paper--maybe not so nice for people who are struggling financially)
animals-anything animal (like a veterinarian play set) or fur real friends

2 1/2 is just the right age to be introduced to Candyland. My youngest is 3 1/2 now and can finally play it without much help. Uno Moo was a hit too.

 

[afeld111781]

im another one for dont skip the playdough...of course I am big into anything artsy like painting and such..i say the mess is worth it and its so good for them. my daughter also loved little people at that age..both my kids did...and the sets really go on sale this time of year..and actually my kids almost 4 and six still play with them.....and we have a huge tub of mega blocks that we got super cheap when she was that age and they are still going strong and still get played with often.

 

[TLuvsD]

Ikea has great wood block sets at great prices. I'd go with your list, with the stuffed horse if she's into horses. Love the jammie idea, too. Put gift receipts with the clothes, no worries. I might include sweatshirt and pants, they are so useful and can double as jammies in a pinch. Fun socks are good, too!