I'm having such a hard time Christmas shopping for her this year. I think it's because money is tight and I know she's not getting a lot so I want what I get her to be really good. But I'm going nuts. So far all I've gotten her is a Cabbage Patch Newborn and I got mamas on DS to make me cloth diapers and a sling to go with it. Other than that the only thing she has is an ornament which is a family tradition. Anyone got any ideas what else I can get this poor child. I will probably spend another $60 or so.
MommaBelt
11-16-2006, 04:19 PM
how about some play food/dishes, a couple playsilks, or some wooden puzzles? :goodvibes:
fouradss
11-16-2006, 04:43 PM
Money is tight here too. I'm currently making dolly dipes, bibs, and a diaperbag. I haven't decided what else to get. My dd is also 2.5 so i'll be keeping an eye on this thread.
Mel
11-16-2006, 04:58 PM
The only thing I know for sure Jonah is getting (he'll be 3 in Jan) is a tricycle. He's obsessed with them every time we go to the store. Probably getting play food too...I wanted the kitchen to go along with it but searching around more the one I would like to get him is more $ than I have to spend this month. So I'll wait and get him the nice one in a few months.
bundeleh
11-16-2006, 09:43 PM
How about a toy tool box, or something like that that has several parts (my DD's tool box has a toy wrench, a toy pliers, etc. etc.).
Ooh, I'm so glad to be Jewish whenever this subject comes up!
geckoed
11-17-2006, 03:29 AM
an easel
a ream of paper
a vat of homemade play dough and cookie cutters and a rolling pin
an apron for cooking with you
"helper toys" (kid sized broom/dustpan, etc)
a rubbermaid tub or similar filled with dried beans. It becomes a sort of indoor sandbox. It takes ONE day to teach an autistic child to keep the beans in the box and less than an hour to teach "typical" toddlers/children. Our bean box has brought us THOUSANDS of hours of fun. Add some nested measuring cups and a funnel.
wooden cutting food
puzzles
a toy barn
a wooden dollhouse, you can add to it for years
make her a fleece no-sew blanket out of fabric/colors she likes
a music set (drum, bells, maracas, etc)
ktlady
11-17-2006, 05:06 AM
I am facing this topic as well.
We did get her a wooden dollhouse on craigslist for $60 w/ all the furnature but I am not sure what else to get her.
I have been making dress-up items and trying to make trades for other things.
geckoed
11-17-2006, 07:50 AM
ohhh
when DD was 2 we bought a big sturdy suitcase at a resale and painted it. We bought (horrible) bright and flasty clothes with all sorts of textures and styles, wigs, hats, scarves, and put them in the suitcase. She LOVED it.
From the resale a real picnic basket, and from the dollar store real measuring cups and wooden spoons and pot holders etc
redheadedangels
11-17-2006, 09:14 AM
we're getting annika one of those fold out couches for toddlers...they are around $30...my other 2 kids have them and LOVE them :)
how about those magic color markers or whatever they are called...that only color on the special paper?
wooden knob puzzles, doll stroller, little rocking doll bed, little people sets, paint with water books....these are some things i'm thinking about getting my 2 yo.
tazzae
11-17-2006, 03:43 PM
Duplo Legos; my 2.5 yo dd loves hers. The Duplo people have such exciting adventures!
Unit blocks; the regular old wooden kind. DD would rather build the dolls a new house every day than play with her dollhouse.
Dress-up clothes
Play silks
lilmama2dsndd
11-17-2006, 03:53 PM
an easel
a rubbermaid tub or similar filled with dried beans. It becomes a sort of indoor sandbox. It takes ONE day to teach an autistic child to keep the beans in the box and less than an hour to teach "typical" toddlers/children. Our bean box has brought us THOUSANDS of hours of fun. Add some nested measuring cups and a funnel.
Oh! I just LOVE this idea!!!! I can't wait until DD (15 months) is old enough to not eat the beans, we will so be doing this!!!!
bobandjess99
11-17-2006, 04:41 PM
DD is getting a thomas train set, several books, a learn through music game system, baby doll accesorie(homemade and store bought), foreign laguage videos (Big lots has Bob the builder in spanish for $3!!), a little inside mini-trampoline, a felt board, and partial owndership of legos and a playmobil castle.
She currently LOVES playing with her dolls, especially the slings and dipeys, puzzles (we get wooden), blocks - we have regular wooden cubes, bristle blocks, mega blocks, duplo blocks and legos, play food/kitchen, play vacuum, videos (dora/blues clues), pretend play houses/figures (like little people or weebles), stuffed animals, books, coloring - books, plain paper, crayons or colored pencils, etc. It is too cold outside here now, but she also LOVES her bike, trikes, slide, playhouse, sandbox, riding toys, power ride-on toys
Ack..can't think much.
Sorry. I know there's more......
We have serious materialism issues here, lol!
In general, i think some sort of blocks, books, puzzles, and pretend play items such as food/kitchen, baby doll+accesories, train set/house set/farm set/ etc are generally the most popular, as well as educational.
(I'm so gonna do that bean thing now that I've heard of it...LOL!)
I knwo most people think "gifts" need to be in new condition, but we've gotten a lot of stuff at consignment store, a few even at places like goodwill. They had a huge, trash bag size bag of legos for $15...if you buy legos, you know you can easily spend that one ONE set with like maybe 100-200 pieces? The music system and several doll accesories also were used, but in great condition....the dipeys and slings were homemade.....books are nice board books, but came from the $$ store for $1 each....found a blues clues video at goodwill for $1...got a dora book off the TP at MDC for $1.....
And, my nymber one secret....buy early!!
LOL, the vast m,ajority of the items dd is getting this year were bought well in advance...the train set, table, playmobil sets and trampoline, actually in the after xmas sales last year(I got $400 worth of playmobil for 75% off..that's right, I paid only $100!)....felt board, books, videos...during the summer...
Obviously, it's too late for tehta now...but perhaps something to consider next year....I don't know how tight your day-to-day/weekly budget is...but many people can easily afford $2 here, $10 there...when you buy all year long, you don't even notice the cost....and then at xms time, you have like $200 worth of stuff without the frantic scramble to come up with $200. LOL
I know.....we are so BAD....she'd probably be just as happy with some beans and a rock. lol.
Hello, my name is Jess, and I am a shopping addict!!!
aliyahsmommy
11-17-2006, 05:40 PM
My Aliyah is almost 2 1/2 and she likes
Play dough
Play coins and a bank
Purses and shoes
Water colors, paint,
Dolls and "real" baby clothes, shoes, socks ect for them
Flash cards-she loves them :headscratch: I don't know why but she does
I think the deal with 2 1/2 year old's is they like pretending to be mommy or daddy. If you don't have much money to spend she probably won't know the difference between a $20 toy and a bunch of empty jello boxes and plastic spoons and knives to play cooking with. At least my DD doesn't know the difference. I gave her an empty wipes container and about 20 baby spoons to play with the other day and she played with that forever it seemed. Her toy box on the other hand is NOW at nana's house because she never touched it hardly. She actually looks in it now that it is at nana's for some reason.:headscratch: Oh and one of my purses and some toys to stuff in it makes her day. While she is young think simple. If I had $150 to spend on TOYS. I'd buy a DVD player for the car and the rest be $1 stuff to pretend with.
Commercial toys aren't all that interesting to kids after the first week of having them for some reason.
jenn5388
11-17-2006, 10:54 PM
I got my 2 year old a Elmo TMX, a couple books, A Amazing pet, (she loves dogs) a Camera (Loves cameras) and I'm sure before we are done there will be a couple more little items. One being a ornament which is also a family thing here. :)
Just think of things she likes.. mine loves sesame street, Animals, Getting pictures taken, and books. lol She also loves cars and trucks.. lol
DiapeyMom
11-18-2006, 03:27 AM
Here are a few things I am making for dd (who is also 2.5):
~A tutu: cut 6" x 12" pieces of tulle and tie them onto a piece of elastic sewn in a circle to her waist measurments. I used about 6 yards. Cost: $6.50
~A feltboard/magnet box: Buy a 9 x 13 metal baking pan with lid. Take a piece of cardboard that fits on the bottom and cover it with flannel. Cut shapes out of felt. Buy a set of magnets. Put the felt shapes and magnets inside the pan and decorate the lid with paint pens. Cost: $12
~Craft kit: Buy things when you find them on clearance. Pompoms, foam sheets, stickers, felt, paintbrushes and paint, etc. Put it in a gift box. Cost: $5-10
~Sock Monkey: (Dd already has this and loves it) Buy a cool looking sock. Find directions on the web. Cost: $5
Here is what I am buying her:
~Comfy Easy PC: www.comfyland.com this is her big present. Cost: $60-$70
~Snap n Style Doll & Clothes: These are like the magnet polly pockets, but a lot bigger and made for ages 2 and up. Doll cost: $10, Clothes sets: $6-10
~Medical Kit: She wants to be a doctor when she grows up and loves this. Cost: $5-$15
