What to Get My 5 Year Old Boy That Has It All Even Cancer????

Just like the song says, "All you need is love, all you need is love." How about some special bonding time filled with favorite activities or a weekend get away if he is able.

I'm so sorry to hear about your son. One of the other mama's once told about a book she made for her son. It was all about him. He treasured it so much he took it for his show and tell when he was old enough. I would think good memories and thought of how special he is would be something your son would also treasure. You could include pictures and thought from all those special to him.

It will definitely be a special birthday! How about doing something instead of a material gift so to speak. Couple ideas:

1. Behind the scenes tour at Shedd Aquarium, etc.
2. Family trip to a hotel w/a water park
3. I think Shrek is playing in Chicago currently
4. Ask him to plan the day so he spends it like he wants to...
5. Excursion to the zoo

And I do love the scrapbook idea as those memories will go on forever. But "stuff" gets lost along the way. An experience(s) makes life worthwhile...in my opinion :)

May God continue to bless your family!

Courtney

Do you know about Wonder Capes? I learned about it on this blog. Fabulous program for children with cancer and their siblings. I could not do it proper justice to describe it but please do check it out at www.wondercapes.com.

Michelle

May I ask what kind of cancer he has?

I was diagnosed with Hodgkins right after the birth of my daughter almost 2 years ago, so I can only imagine the stresses of being the mother and watching your child go through this.

As a survivor, the most important thing to me was to feel alive. I loved doing all the things I did before and remembering all the things I wanted to live for. I'm guessing chemo has severely compromised his white cells thus why it's not safe for him to be around other kids so much. I had a 12 week old and a 2 year old while going through treatment (both of which were in full-time daycare and brought all kinds of things home).

I'd agree with the Moms who recommended an experience. Perhaps let him pick his "perfect" day and accommodate it as much as possible. Let him document it with a video camera and a camera and then make a scrapbook.

My heart breaks for your family, and I hope the prognosis is great.
Best wishes.
D.

I made both of my kis blankets.,. one is 16 now and the other is six because we moved around alot being military.. but it was the one thing that never changed and it allowed mommy to sleep with them everynight. . you can always have people in his life friends, family ect help you make a quick easy quilt by giving you pieces from there favorite things or memories of him. I would say I am sorry for your son but I am not because it seems to me he is really enjoying life which is why he keeps beating the odds and continues to live.. Bless you and yours.

I'm sorry that your son has cancer. that sucks. It just bugs me to no end that kids get cancer!!

My advice? Give him your love and time instead of buying stuff for him. Play with him. Draw with him. Make art with him. Read books with him. SHOW HIM love, don't just buy it - show it. Create memories.

I will keep you in my prayers.

God bless

Cheryl

Definitely an experience -- something that your little boy and you will both remember and cherish forever. I'm sure that there's nothing he'd love more than to spend some quality special time with his mommy. I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this -- my prayers are with you!

Material things are not the answer. Make a movie of all the relatives telling
him how much they love him and ask the doctor in what cercumstances
can he have playmates such as wearing mask and gloves or whatever,
give him the chance to play in his special playground with others.

The human body needs physical contact to release certain happy hormores
that may help your son, don't let fear control you, pray to God for gudiness.

Goodness Im sorry your little one is ill. I havent read any answers youve got but my thought is to give him a little piece of you. Maybe take him (if hes able) to a nice lunch just you and him and maybe let him go pick something out he would like. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOW 5 IS GREAT!

WOW, first of all I am sorry your son has cancer. I could not even imagine. I am not sure if you can take him places but how about a trip? A big birthday party with a BBQ and friends and family. I am not sure what the limitations are. Cook him whatever he wants and spoil him. Sometimes it is not what you buy it is how much you pay attention to him (not saying you don't) but it is true. Let him pick his lunch and dinner or take him to make a keepsake. Not sure....Sorry I am not a huge help but I am touched by your post. Just enjoy every minute!

I'm so sorry that you and your family are going through this. Have to agree w/ other posters...instead of getting him "things", help him make memories in doing things w/ him. What about a scrapbook, also...let him help you pick out the pictures and maybe what to say on the pages...that is something he would love...kids love to look at special pictures! And it will be something you will always have of him, also! Good luck and I pray that he continues to beat the odds!

Do you have an art studio nearby? Maybe you could take him (or get the stuff and bring it home if he can't go there due to immunity issues) to make and/or paint piece of art. You could each do one, or work on one together.

There is a great little studio in the quaint downtown area near where we live, that sells premade items and you get to paint them. They fire them for you when you are done and then you pick them up a few days later. They have cups, bowls, piggybanks, platters, containers (lidded jars, etc), etc.
Lots of the kids around here do birthday parties.. and each child chooses a "piece" to paint...

If you did it one on one with him it could be very special for both of you. (And you'll have that piece of art forever with the memories of those moments).
May God Bless you both.

A trip to Disney World! Kids get in free on their birthdays! Or some other kind of trip... ?

I am deeply sorry that your son has cancer. I am thankful that he has so far beaten the odds! As always the other moms had great ideas. You might ask him what he really would like to do. It maybe something that he normally doesn't get to do, because of his illness. I am not saying throw caution to the wind, but for one day make it extra special. Maybe, invite a child over who also has cancer and do a playdate. Go to Cosley zoo. Those memories will help him get through the tough days ahead.

My thoughts are with you and your family. Let us know how your family is doing and if you need anyone to talk to or a meal.

Take care
J.

How about an "experience" instead of a "thing"? I can never think of what to get my husband because he always would return things I'd buy in a store, so I started buying him tickets to special things instead. I have no idea what they have near where you live or how far you are willing to travel, but start thinking about a place to go instead of a thing to collect dust. Depending on what you want to spend and time dedicated to it, it can be a few hours or a whole weekend.

If you can't take him places, maybe bring something special to him, like a magician

How about a scrap book with pictures and momentos of things about him from day 1. That would be something that he would like and maybe you could both put it together.

My suggestion is to take him somewhere fun! something that he will remember and talk about to his friends. Try searching on kidwinks.com for ideas. Make a whole day of fun! Toys come and go, but his memories will last forever, as well as the pictures you take! Hope he has a great day!

Do u have any old baby clothes receiving blankets shirts make him a quilt.

My oldest is 6 but he loves "FORTS"! Forts that I make for him out of sheets and blankets and whatever furniture I choose. Sometimes I make them vary elaborate others are simple...he enjoys them all! I use clamps from my garage mostly to make things stay where I want them. Thrift stores are a great place to buy used and cheap sheets...that way you can cut holes in them and use some string/rope to tie things down!

So, maybe you make the living room a gigantic fort and you make him all his favorite foods and the family eats dinner in the fort...maybe while watching a move...or old home movies of him as a baby...

Just a thought.

Sending you and your family and Chaos much love!

I really feel for you dealing with such difficulties with your little guy. I bet he and you have been through a lot. If he has everything, I would not buy him something to add to it, as he might not be that excited about yet another toy. Taking his health into consideration, is there some place or activity he would like to do? He could take one or two friends with him and it would be memorable and fun for him, but not add to his large toy collection. Perhaps a kids fun place, a museum, a performance, a sporting event, a discovery center, etc. I'm not sure how much he is able to do or tolerate, but you might find something he could manage without draining him.

I love the scrapbook idea. No matter the age my children always enjoy looking through photos and recalling the memories.
I heard a psychologist explaining how scrapbooks are even more special today when most of us keep photos only on the computer. She even said it builds their self-esteem when they see how they have developed.
I wish you and your special boy a lovely celebration.

I would take him on an awesome vacation!

My kids love anything that I make. A recent thing we have done is to paint a cookie sheet with chalkboard paint. It's magnetic, and so they can do pretty much anything they want to do with it. This would be great for him to play with when he's not feeling well too cause he can use it in bed.

I also think some sort of experience or vacation would be good. Memories last forever. If you aren't able to travel due to his condition, then I suggest looking into Victory Junction Camp. It's put on by the Petty family. There is a hospital there with all medical costs covered. The kids can recieve dialysis, chemo, whatever they need. It's an awesome program, and is open year round....okay, I actually just looked this up on the internet, and he's not old enough but you may want to keep it in mind for future. They have to be 6, and it's like a camp where they go away like normal kids do for summer camp (for a week).