I am really new to this buying gifts for toddlers thing. But my nephew just turned two, and his party is on Saturday. So far I've gotten him books and musical toys and fun bath putty soap stuff for this other birthday and two Christmases. I'm...well, I'm out of ideas. I'd be more than happy to buy him more books (he likes them, and they're good for him) but I have no idea of which books are developmentally appropriate for this age. Infants was easy - anything they can chew on. Now he's talking, and I just don't know what's best.
Any advice or recommendations at all would be so wonderful.
Posted by Hot Fudge Sauce (Member # 8025) on :
Duplos. Little kids love those. Especially if they have the little people that go with them.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Does he have the "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" (Mouse a Cookie, Pig a Pancake, etc) books yet?
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
My two-year-old son loves the big Winnie the Pooh book we got him from Sam's Club. It has a read-along CD and songs in between the stories. Of course, he likes all things Winnie the Pooh, especially the movie. He also likes Clifford and Sesame Street books.
We get him non-fiction picture books about cars and airplanes, too, and he loves to look at those.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Taily-po! Taily-po! Give me back my taily-po!
Where the Wild Things Are is good, too.
Curious George.
I'm remembering all my favorites, and my brother's favorites, from age 2.
Things with a simple story and a nice solid rhyme scheme are good.
Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
OMG!
I just realised my brother's birthday is today! I still haven't gotten him a gift, and I'm broke.
And as far as books go, Dr. Seuss is always a good choice. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Strega Nona. We loved Strega Nona. When the spaghetti overran the village, we never failed to laugh.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Duplo blocks. Get the big 100block plain-jane set. They've got all kinds of silly alternatives that don't give you nearly enough blocks, but look glitzy and are more expensive. Don't get those. Get the big 100 block bag. It's the best long-term toy. (Duplo blocks are like legos that grew up.) My 3 year old plays with hers all the time even though she's had them for over a year. I like toys that have a long play life.
Simple puzzles. I'm particularly fond of the Melissa & Doug wooden ones. The best of these are the ones that have doors that open, concealing magnets. They make ones with simple shapes also and are easy to manipulate with toddler hands.
Hats, mittens, socks, scarves. Toddlers love to practice putting on clothes. Different hats in a box would make a great gift.
Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :
My boy is going to turn 2 next month! He loves toy cars like nothing else. He also loves his animal "Baby Einstien" video. But he absolutely adores his marble machine . He's really good at not putting things in his mouth, I don't know about your nephew though.
I'm thinking about getting my boy a rocking horse for his birthday or Finding Nemo ... it's pretty sad that that is his absolutely favorite movie and we don't even own it. I was also thinking about getting him a little train . One of his first words are "Choo choo".
Also sunglasses might be a good choice.. seeing as Summer is coming. My toddler loves to go straight to the sunglasses whenever we go to the store and tries them on.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
My brother had a Mickey Mouse doll that had big buttons, zippers, shoelaces, snaps, etc. to fasten and unfasten. He liked that at 2. I wonder if they still make them.
I agree on the Duplos. Too bad they don't make the Fisher Price people castle any more; if you find it at a yard sale, snap it up!
Posted by Portabello (Member # 7710) on :
Cookies.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
2 year olds are usually getting into dress-up play. A firefighter or police officer dress-up set with age-safe accessories would be a gift used for years to come.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
kq, you can find dolls like that, but so far, I've been really underwealmed with them. Most of them break too easily or are too hard to use. I'd almost be more inclined to find something like that at a craft bazaar from someone who makes them by hand.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Just don't get your nephew any kind of toy that makes loud, obnoxious noise. The parents will not appreciate that. I second the duplo blocks. Our kids have those out all the time. Wooden blocks are also played with very often, although good blocks are usually kind of expensive.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
TONKAS!!! Not the new generation of crappy plastic ones, metal ones. They last forever!
I would ask before getting movies or anything electronic.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
quote:Just don't get your nephew any kind of toy that makes loud, obnoxious noise.
As a matter of fact, this is the description of many of the gifts my little brothers and I give our nieces. Just a little amusement from the unchilded siblings.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
I have one word for you, kat....KARMA!
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
Katie
If he likes books, they are always a good choice. Duplos are cool. Thomas (almost 2!) loves to color. He is getting to the point where he pretends, so things that can feed into that are awesome. Thomas got a grocery cart with some 'food' in it, and he spent the time before bed making me 'beckfast'. Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Depends on how you feel about the child's parents.
Skateboards and tennis balls have been memorable gifts in the past.
-Trevor
Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
Lincoln Logs
Posted by Choobak (Member # 7083) on :
Just a Teddy-bear. It's the most fabulous gift you can do.
Posted by Alucard... (Member # 4924) on :
A refrigerator box.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Veggie Tales tapes with matching stuffed toys.
BEST cartoon about vegetables EVER.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
Thanks for all the great ideas, guys! I was totally clueless, but this helps a lot. Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
Go to Wal-Mart, buy bubbles. Then go to the bank and buy a savings bond. He's going to get a ton of stupid gifts that he will break and ignore in a week. However, when he's trying to buy a new car 14 years from now, or pay for college 16 years from now, you will be the coolest aunt ever.
[Edit, besides, he has no idea who the gifts are from at this point and time, nor will he remember any of it later.]
Posted by Damien (Member # 5611) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kayla: Go to Wal-Mart, buy bubbles. Then go to the bank and buy a savings bond. He's going to get a ton of stupid gifts that he will break and ignore in a week. However, when he's trying to buy a new car 14 years from now, or pay for college 16 years from now, you will be the coolest aunt ever.
[Edit, besides, he has no idea who the gifts are from at this point and time, nor will he remember any of it later.]
Seconded. Posted by mimsies (Member # 7418) on :
finger paints, finger paint paper, and an easle... easel... er... OK no idea how to spell that, everything looks wrong when written (curses my dyslexic brain)
Posted by Tater (Member # 7035) on :
Dinosaurs! Anything dinosaurs!
Has anyone suggested something Star Wars yet? Raise him up right. Posted by BotaLadyG (Member # 7053) on :
I will third the option of bubbles and a savings bond... those are good choices.
My lil man is 17 months and I just picked up this Crayola Color wonders set at Wal-mart... the markers only work on the special paper and nothing else (I love the stain free laundry).
Nicole
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Oh, yeah, the savings bonds! My brother in law gets each kid one for their birthdays, plus a gift card.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Now he's talking, and I just don't know what's best.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Especially if they have the little people that go with them.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Katie