I Need Help With Toys...Yikes

[usnuzuloose]

Let me say I am so blessed I get to buy for grandkids. Long story.

But you guys know what kids like nowadays. Thank goodness I have someplace to ask. We need to buy for the grandson who is 7 and the granddaughter who is 18 months.

So what are kids into at their age? I will take any suggestions. I am so excited to shop for them. Thanks for any responses.

 

[Zhoen]

For the boy, I have been hearing a lot about "Beyblades" which are, essentially, spinning tops and you pull the string and take on an opponent's top and the last one standing "wins".

For an 18 month old girl, push/walking toys, like a grocery cart, especially if there is a spot for her to put her baby doll.

Target has pillow pets buy one get one free today on their cybermonday sale... but as young as they are, you might consider the knock-offs they are selling at Michael's for $10, then use a 40% coupon off their website.

 

[Shelly888]

DGS(7)~what my DS 7 is getting this year

Legos(2 sets City SPace Center and Toy Story 3 western train chase)
box of just lego bricks
The Big Book of Boy Stuff(geared from grade 4+ but my son will love this!)
Snap Circuits-he has the regular set he loves, I got the alternative energy set)
2 DS games-Nintendo DS is popular with this age set.
Wii system and 4 games(he has been asking for 3 years, we finally gave in)
Think Fun math dice


MY DS turned 2 the middle of September, so about 7 months older...he is getting:

Rock Star Mickey
Alphie(an educational robot geared for 3+)
Set of cards to go with Alphie
Lalaloopsy pirate doll
Big box of duplo legos
Playskool's Alphie
My First Brain quest for toddlers-stocking

 

[DisGirl819]

My son is 22 months so I will give suggestions for the 18 month girl. (And I have a 3 year old daughter). Lego Duplo for building, board books with the touchy feely things on pages, a baby doll, a stroller or shopping cart to push baby in, nice quality play food (Melissa and Doug or other wooden/felt food...avoid cheap plastic food as its hollow and kids like to chew it), wooden puzzles with larger knobs (Melissa and Doug have some nice ones) and some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse figures (they sell them at Walmart/Target/Amazon). We have the whole set and my kids both love them.

I'd help with the 7 year old but I have no clue. Happy shopping!

 

[Jedana]

My 8 year old is getting:

Legos (hero factory)
beyblades (big big thing here)
Skylanders for the ps3
lego harry potter years 5-7 for the ps3
cranium disney game
daisy air soft rifle
bow and arrow
targets for those two
a couple of books he asked for (Diary of a wimpy kid, magic tree house)
pogo stick

 

[hulagirl87]

DD is 21 months and we bought her a shopping cart, a toy kitchen, tons of books, some puzzles, the Leapfrog little picnic set that talks, the Fisher Price lantern, the Disney Belle doll and dress up dress for DD, and the Little People rampway and cars. She loves the Memory games too, but just to look at the pictures on the cards, not to play the actual game right now.

 

[usnuzuloose]

WOW! This is awesome guys, my head is spinning. We can sit down and look these up. You have great gift ideas. Thanks

 

[ksjayhawks]

DGS who is 6 1/2:

Glow dome
Art kit
Some type of air rifle (parents doing that)
Remote control car
DS game
Movies

 

[MSSANDRA]

Really depends on your budget too:

7 year old:
lego sets for his age
DS and games
wii and games
nerf guns of any kind
outdoor toys such as balls of any kind, bikes, scooters, bats, gloves

18mo old:
simple doll
push stroller or cart for doll
board books
stacking toys
simple puzzles
fisher price little people toys

 

[disprincessatheart]

My ds will be two right after Christmas. He's getting a play kitchen, a playhouse for the backyard, an aqua doodle, and some DVDs and coloring books. Last Christmas he got a ride on toy and ball popper - both still get used every day.

 

[la79al]

I'm not sure about the 7 year old, it's been awhile since I had one of those in the house. For the little one though, current favorites of both of my girls are:
doll stroller and dolls/stuffed animals
wooden blocks
Little People house (the LP talking zoo looks really cool)
play kitchen (the big one likes to cook, the little one likes to put stuff in and out of cabinets)
Melissa and Doug chunky puzzles

The little one is getting the Leapfrog Discovery House and a flip open sofa this year. I'm considering some Tadoodles too (maybe the bath ones).

 

[usnuzuloose]

Thanks everyone, I am certain we will be very busy looking at so much stuff. You have been so kind in responding!

 

[bigmama67]

You've gotten some great suggestions already! Does your grandson like to read? My DS really loves the "My Weird School" series of books and also the Magic Treehouse (the kids in that one time-travel to different places and have to fulfill a mission before they can get home - there are loads of those and, shh, they're educational!). We also got him a cheaper video camera last year and he likes to make stop-action movies with his Lego. This year we are getting him a tabletop foosball game, some DVDs, and a few DS games..

For the toddler, I second the Little People talking Zoo. My dd, 3, also likes Duplo because her big brother has Lego! She has a small Pooh set, lots of bricks, and an animal set with polar bears and penguins and a zookeeper; she also has the number set (1-10). We just placed a Lego order for DS' birthday/Hanukkah and she'll be getting the alphabet set.

Fisher Price also has a set of 26 peek-a- blocks with the alphabet letters; I loved those and had to buy them for her LAST Hanukkah. She still plays with them.
Last year we also got DD a Tag Jr. reader and there are many books to go with it...but probably your DGD is a bit young.

It IS fun to buy for them! (That's my problem, LOL!)

Oh, we also always get everyone in the family a new pair of warm PJs. (This year I think we're going to get footies for DH and me, LOL).

 

[southern_redhead]

I agree with the comment about PJs. We have given new jammies for a few years now, the kids kind of expect them and look forward to them. This year my (newly) 8 year old will get a set of Spongebob PJs and a Spongebob robe. Among other things, he is getting:

2 sets of Spongebob Legos
Spongebob Pillow Pet
Crayola Story Studio Comic Maker (Cars 2)
Child size guitar
Finn McMissile RC car

He will also get Cars Squinkies, Hotwheels cars, Lego books, Carnival DS game, and Beyblades in his stocking (along with the "usual" candy, toothpaste, bubble bath etc..)

He will also enjoy some of our family gifts: Yahtzee game, several movies (Smurfs, RIO, Gnomeo and Juliet), and a Wii and Xbox game.


For the 18 month old I remember my kids loved Little People (videos and toys), DD also had a few plush Disney Princess dolls that she liked. She might also like a small, soft bodied baby doll. FIL got DD a Fisher Price one once that she (literally) loved to death. That poor doll got dragged through everything

 

[usnuzuloose]

I love the ideas of the pjs as they live in the midwest.