What a child wants vs. what they get from you (gift-giving question)...

[Avalon_toon]

My five year old currently loves Bakugan - and its definitely a 'play with friends' toy - he takes them to preschool and plays with them endlessly. I think they are a pretty good value given the number of $$ to number of hours spent playing. For my son, it isn't really the magnet part that appeals to him (although he loves magnets generally), its more the robot/transformer aspect that he loves.

If you do decide to go with something magnetic, you could try this - I got it for my older son a few years ago, and both boys still play with it regularly when they are in the kitchen with me as I make supper.

 

[golfgal]

My five year old currently loves Bakugan - and its definitely a 'play with friends' toy - he takes them to preschool and plays with them endlessly. I think they are a pretty good value given the number of $$ to number of hours spent playing. For my son, it isn't really the magnet part that appeals to him (although he loves magnets generally), its more the robot/transformer aspect that he loves.

If you do decide to go with something magnetic, you could try this - I got it for my older son a few years ago, and both boys still play with it regularly when they are in the kitchen with me as I make supper.

Those are SO COOL. I think I need to get those for me .

 

[ilovejack02]

Bakugan is super popular around here the little boys spend hours playing with it.

DS7 is not really interested he like pokemon better.

What about Bakugan books?

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=bakugan&x=24&y=20

My ds has several Pokeon books and loves them.

 

[diznygirl]

I do balk at paying money for what is essentially a piece of decorative plastic with a magnet inside.

Oh, Bakugan is so much more than that - each one is different and has a different ability - you have to have a variety to play against someone else. And then there is that collectible quality.

Luckily my son thinks they are "stupid" and only wants Webkinz - which is oh so different!

 

[mickeyboat]

Not every gift needs to be something a child needs to keep or use for years to come. Kids get plenty of enjoyment out of gifts that are only played with for a short time. Think about the toys they played with when they were babies. They were appropriate for only a short while, but they got a lot of enjoyment out of them.

If you are the kind of gift-giver who chooses to buy "keepsake" kind of gifts, then make that clear to the person giving you an idea of what the child wants, so she can tell you something appropriate. Maybe you can be a part of starting and continuing a collection of some sort that the child might be interested in.

 

[Becky2005]

Oh, Bakugan is so much more than that - each one is different and has a different ability - you have to have a variety to play against someone else. And then there is that collectible quality.

They have different shaped ones now too -- my 6 year old could tell you what each one is. I just tend to find them in the oddest places though attached to things. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to go down the stairs and on the brackets of the railing is a Bakugan awaiting me (or on the legs of chairs/tables)...it's a bit humorous actually since I'm never expecting them and find them in the oddest places. It's like being stalked from alien creatures.

The books would be good or at one point I found stuffed versions of them. My little guy thought those were great.

 

[minniebeth]

As a child, I was never asked to make a list, nor did I ever dare to offer one and never ever got what I wanted, although got some wonderful things. So, some things just stick with you so I always ask my kids to write a list and pretty much get them what they want. If I choose to buy them something I want for them, it's in addition to what they've already asked for.

 

[3boymthr]

Bakugan are still pretty popular around here. They just had a McDonald's promotion where Bakugan were the toy in the kids meals and recently released the Wii and DS games on them which just helped to enforce the popularity. If they are asking for the Bakugan Maxus Drago I can see why you might be reluctant it is expensive and it's hard to find too at least around here - the stores are all sold out of it (not as bad as Zhu Zhu pets but it might be when it get's closer to Christmas). Around here all the kids want it as not only does it pop open it interconnects and has different versions, like a transformer plus My younger kids both want it. They have quite a few of the regular ones and play with them and trade them (which I think is half the fun). I think one of the other reasons they like them is they fit in their pocket so they can play with them on the bus and during recess. I figure if they play with them enough that they fall apart then they were a good investment (usually about 6 months of regular play for ours). I have to admit I like them too because if I find one lying around I can just stick it on the fridge so it's out of the way and so it doesn't get stepped on.