OT: Need ideas for 5 yo B-day presents!

[CampbellScot]

My step son is turning 5 in April. My husband and I are just not sure what to get him...He gets a million presents at his mom's house from her family...and extended family...it's pretty nuts. He has every toy known to man. We want to get him something that would different and fun. We just aren't sure what.

Anybody have any ideas or suggestions?

 

[carone0318]

I have a ds that just turned 6 in Feb and these are some of his favorite gifts that he rec'd for his birthday and Christmas that he loved:

Movie tickets (of course buy popcorn & soda too)
his favorite NFL team jersey (wears it all the time)
games for his ds
gift card for subway (his favorite fast food type of place)
Disney $$$ (he knows exactly what they are and how to use them.)

These are not the typical gifts for a kid that age, but he loves them the most out of everything he got and most likely others won't think to get for him (exception is the DS games).

Edited to add that the ILs got him tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters this Sunday (another neat, unusual gift)

Good luck!

 

[CampbellScot]

Thank you!! Those are WONDERFUL ideas!! Gift cards are always a good idea!! I like the Movie and Popcorn idea too!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

My step son is already 10, so not too sure about 5 yr old boy. I have plenty of girls though
How about something to do together outside, seeing how spring is coming soon, like a soccer ball and net, or a baseball glove, bat and ball with a tee to hit off of. I know my family enjoys things like that. This way, it's more than just another toy.

 

[Perditamarie]

My sons love their Leapster games and legos. I found some Disney Mix Max sticks on sale and will give those when the boys turn 5 & 6. We have until June to get them loaded w/books on CD, songs, movies and pictures.

Some other ideas are subscription to magazines, gymnastics/sports classes, trips to bowling alley. I just discovered an indoor playground around here and they sell ticket books for entry...something like that could be fun if there are any in your area.

 

[dougsmom98]

If you can't think of a unique gift, how about a unique way to present the gift? You could create a treasure hunt to find the present. My kids love treasure hunts and will talk about that more than any gift they get. For example the first clue may be "Go to the room all colored in blue, there you will find the next clue in a shoe." Once there they would have another clue to lead them to another and another until the final clue is their gift.

Another thing that we have done in our family is have a mystery ride for birthdays. The birthday person gets to bring one or two friends and we do little mini fun things that they aren't told about up front. We might go to the park and in the back of the car there might be a new kite to fly or a frisbee or hover disc that we will play with, then go for an ice cream cone, then stop at the arcade or batting cage and everyone gets $5 to use, then we might go bowling... Each little event leads up to a little bigger event based on the child's interest. The cool thing is that they don't know what they are doing and it is exciting for them. My mom did this for me as a kid and I loved it.

 

[Hannathy]

What about a bike or scooter so he has one to leave at your house for the nice months and he is staying. 5yr old boys all love any of the nerf guns-the bigger the better!

 

[rt2dz]

Haven't read the replies so sorry if there is any repeats. These are the best non-stuff things I can think of.

Membership to a children's museum or something of that sort. Six Flags. The Zoo.

Tickets to a baseball game or other sporting event.

Magazine subscriptions--DS6 loves his highlights (regular & puzzle) and Ranger Ricke & National Geographic for Kids

Gift cards for bowling, movies, build-a-bear (kids love the action as much as the outcome), favorite restuarant.

It's a thing, but something you go through like crazy: art supplies, especially sidewalk chalk/paint or other outside things like bubbles (the big fancy contraption stuff--guns, makers, etc)

 

[fluffernutter]

Another thing that we have done in our family is have a mystery ride for birthdays. The birthday person gets to bring one or two friends and we do little mini fun things that they aren't told about up front. We might go to the park and in the back of the car there might be a new kite to fly or a frisbee or hover disc that we will play with, then go for an ice cream cone, then stop at the arcade or batting cage and everyone gets $5 to use, then we might go bowling... Each little event leads up to a little bigger event based on the child's interest. The cool thing is that they don't know what they are doing and it is exciting for them. My mom did this for me as a kid and I loved it.

Dougsmom-I love the idea of the mystery ride. I am going to have to something like this with my girls. Thanks for the tips!

 

[CampbellScot]

Thanks so much everyone!! These are all such great ideas!! There IS an indoor playground type place near where we live...I'll be he would love it!

It's an odd situation we are in...when my step son turned three his mom arranged for a real fire truck, police car and ambulance (his favorite vehicles at the time) to come to her house. He got to climb all over them and in them...they took him for a ride...there isn't much you can do in the face of that. It's hard not to feel the need to compete. I really try hard not to...but oh it hurts when I really put thought into something I know he would like and he says "I have THIS at MOMMY'S!!!"

I appreciate all the great ideas!!! We had thought about Build a Bear gift cards, but both kids have about five build a bears at their mom's house and they have one each here. I worry that we are just boring them to death with the same things.

I also hate to think that we are perpetuating this "Must ACCUMULATE STUFF TO BE HAPPY" mentality that we are seeing in both kids. So I like the idea of fun trips, activities and things we do together.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[tjmw2727]

How about something to do - this is what my kids like and was a great hit for my 5yo nephew for Christmas.

Home Depot has some great kits to make things out of wood for kids that age and it came with everything you needed. We got him the birdhouse kit, he and my bil did it together and had a great time. They also have a tool carrier and a few other kits.

Along the same idea we got my 6yo neice a kit to make gummy candy, she made worms and we got a great report from my sil about how much fun they both had.

This was mentioned above as well but we also have been doing "experiences" instead of gifts with my dd's for a while now and its been a hit. Things like an afternoon at the movie of their choosing or dinner at the rest of choice. An afternoon of bowling, ice skating or mini golf maybe? All those things kids love to do and we don't always have a chance.

HTH
TJ