I am looking for some really neat ideas for Christmas gifts for my soon to be 7 y.o. son this year. We, like many others, are having to scale back this year but he still believes in Santa so we want him to still have a good Christmas. What have you gotten for your son that he has just really loved? I know video games, legos, etc. I'm really looking for some unique ideas. I appreciate all ideas however!
My son is getting a venus fly trap terrarium this year. He has asked for it before, so I know he will be excited to finally get it this year. I have seen them at Hobby Lobby for $20, sometimes on sale for less.
My 7 year old was so excited to see a headlamp in a catalogue this year, so we're getting him one. It's a headband with an LED light on it. It was only $10 at Target in the lightbulb section.
He also really wants a robe and old man slippers, so we got him those, too. He tried a plaid flannel robe on in the store the other day, and LOVED it. He looked like a little Hugh Hefner. :)
We're also getting him a bank that counts coins as you put the coins in (also from Target, and also $10).
As you mentioned, Legos are still huge at our house, as well.
okay, going with what our sons enjoyed at that age....& a disclaimer: apologies if you don't like/approve of weapons!
both of our sons were in Scouts. At 7, they were really into Nerf guns, bb guns, & slingshots. By age 10, they both had earned the badges for bb guns & archery.....
Hope this helps, & again...apologies if you are offended! OH, & I love Angela's ideas.....
Backscratcher, harmonica, 1 time use camera, telescope (Discovery Kids has one on sale for $15.99) or binoculars...
I don't have a son, but nieces and nephews at that age really enjoyed 'Science' stuff! I found fun, safe science experiments in the educational aisle of the store.... even really basic microscopes and fun tools for them to use. The projects were a real hit and a great way for the family to do something educational together!
books books and books on both of my boys. color books and crayons.cars and action figures. oh and did I say action figures and books. does he get into chess? swords. uno. both of mine did guns a lot if you approve of that type of thing. I got my oldest a cheap stereo at that age with kid cds oh and skate boards and footballs. baseball bat and glove soccer ball. all kids love balls boys and girls. connect 4. oh and I got my oldest a sleeping bag at that age.
Aircraft Carrier and Airplanes (Amazon.com)
A battleship (again, Amazon)
Just Dance or DJ hero for video game system
Star Wars blasters, helmets, etc.
Board Games
Nintendo DS
Can you look in thrift stores? We have one in town that sometimes has the best toys ever. My son is 7 too. Ideas - he loves Snap Circuits (snap together electronics). He loves art (I found a giant wooden art kit for $5 that is new at the thrift store) and wood working projects. How about a first real took kit? My son wants an electric train from Santa. I found one on sale for a great price. Books - Aldo/Bogus/Artsy Fartsy book series is one of our son's favorites as well as science type books. He also LOVES roller shoes. We got him a pair on ebay for $8. The kind that are sturdy and do not break are called Heelys. They are $50 and up new but it looks to me like you can regularly get them that cheap on ebay bc kids outgrow them so fast. Good luck finding some good stuff.
These wooden toy cars are my "go to" gift for little boys of all ages. They are called Automoblox. They usually have some basic ones (3pk sets, or individual ones) at barnes and noble and some toy stores, but to get the fancier selection, Amazon or this main site has them. I get the "mini's".
http://www.automoblox.com/automoblox-minis.html
I ordered many on Amazon. They are cheaper than the manufacture site and I usually get free shipping too. I see a 3 set on Amazon right now is $22 and qualifies for free shipping...thats a good deal as most individual ones go about $10 a car...
They are smooth made, european styled, and they come apart..wheels, some of the grills on them, etc...so if you have multiples of them you can create many new vehicles and use your imagination. They are a fun spin on buildng toys for car obsessed kids. They even have girly colored ones for those little hot rod mama's in your life!
For many of my little nephews for Christmas and Birthdays, I found a cute or neat sort of storage device for them and personalized it (the parts are small so something like a large lunchbox if you want it portable..or a see thru smaller tote, etc is best..no baskets with holes and a lid is a good idea so no buckets). My guys I have given them to use theirs all the time and they look forward to my additions for the next birthday or Christmas. My oldest nephew is 10 now and I got him the hot rod (old style cars) for his last birthday..he loved them! I have been buying them for him for years! So he has quite the collection now!
We're getting our son Snap Circuits for Christmas- I sure hope he likes them! The reviews on Amazon are excellent, so I hope we like them as much as everyone else seems to.
http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-SC-300-Snap-Circuits/dp/B###...
Do youhave a USA toys store in your area, they have some really cool stuff. Over the years I have got many a cool gifts for my son, techy and science stuff. Thinking of which I have yet to stop there, he is 12 now, but hopefully they have some cool scince stuff still. Also smaller hobby stores always have way cool stocking stuffers.
How about an adventure a month coupon book? Places like the zoo (spring or fall), a hike with a scavenger hunt list, a trip to a museum or cave, biking on a trail, a picnic to a place he has never been, a train ride, etc. can be planned according to how much money you might or might not have that month. There are lots of free places to go.
Nothing is more valuable to kids than time with their parents, together or individually.
