Does Christmas or Birthday gift shopping stress you out? Are you clueless as to what to buy your nephew, son, grandson, or another little boy for Christmas? Are you not sure what would be a fun gift for a boy ages 3-5? Want to give a gift that they'll really enjoy? Here are some fantastic gift ideas to consider.
Play- Doh Set
In the many years that I've worked with children and toddlers, I've never met a kid that didn't like play-doh. Playing with Play-doh can tickle their imaginations while enhancing creativity and artistic skills. Play-doh is messy, but its entertaining and amusing. There are numerous Play-Doh sets to choose from. My toddler's favorite is the “Doggy Doctor” play doh set. However all of them are great - the child will enjoy molding, shaping, and rolling the play-doh. You can purchase these kits at several stores such as Wal-Mart and Target, or you can always find them online. A play-doh set is sure to be a gift they'll enjoy.
Personalized Name Puzzle
This gift is educational and can also serve for decorative purposes as well. There are many online shops that sell personalized name puzzles. Simply google “wooden name puzzle” and a plethora of choices will appear. You can also search on eBay. The child will enjoy seeing his name in a puzzle, and the parent will enjoy that it helps him learn his letters.
Super Skipper
This toy is like a rope-less jump rope. The child will jump to music as a little pole spins around. You can purchase it online at several different sites, such as Amazon.com and Buy.com. It will provide great exercise!
Gift Certificate to a Children's Museum
If the little boy that you're purchasing for seems to have a ton of toys, this is a great gift. It's educational, but also entertaining. Most cities and large towns have a children's museum in the area. To see if there is one close to him, google “children's museum” or “science museum” along with the name of the city. The boy will have a blast interacting with fun exhibits such as a bubble creator, pretend grocery store, magnet fun area, and similar spots.
Toy Cars / Tractors/ Trucks
You can never go wrong with a collection of toy cars, trucks, farm equipment, backhoes or anything that moves. My little boy personally enjoys toy farm equipment and his toy backhoe, but of course he loves all toy cars too. You can purchase these at all toy stores, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. You might want to buy a toy car or truck that isn't too common - such as a toy mail truck, which you can purchase at some Post Offices. I personally recommend a toy backhoe or tractor. Remote control cars are also fun as well.
Magazine Subscription
Another fabulous and educational idea is a magazine subscription. The child will enjoy getting something in the mail each month just for him. The recommendations I have for this age group are Highlights High 5 (www.highlights.com) and Clubhouse Jr . (http://www.clubhousemagazine.com/club_jr/ - It is a Christian based magazine.) It will help improve their cognitive skills and help them as they learn to read.
Bath Toys
Age-appropriate bath toys are another fabulous gift idea. The genius babies website (www.geniusbabies.com) has a nice selection to choose from. Bath toys are something a little different, but of course are lots of fun as well. This is a great gift if you've ever heard the parent complain that the child hates baths.
Personalized Music CD
This is a neat gift for young children. You can purchase a personalized music CD where the child's name is mentioned throughout the song. There are several different online vendors to choose from - google “personalized music cd” or visit www.kidmusic.com. It's a very thoughtful gift!
These are just a handful of ideas for boys ages 3-5. If you still aren't sure, you can never go wrong with a gift card. The parent can then choose a gift that they might this is best for him. Happy Shopping!
