What should I bring?

Question

I am going to visit my cousin and her family in a couple of weeks and I need some gift ideas for her 2 kids. Her stepson is 4 and her daughter is 18 months. What would be good to bring them, but also easy to travel with? I was thinking clothes, but thats too boring. Books maybe, but does anyone have any suggestions for their ages. I know that they already have a lot of books so I don't know if thats even a good idea. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

My parents bought my children mini magnadoodles - you know the things where you draw with a magnetic pen and you can wipe it clear. They are fantastic. Not only are they easy to travel with but kids love them and they are great to keep in the car or in a handbag to pull out when you are standing in a queue and want to keep the kids amused. My son was 18 months when he started using one and he loves it too.

Still, with books you ust can't go wrong. One of the best books for kids is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carlisle, although I've probably misspelled his surname. It is pretty famous and if you can get it in a board book it will be perfect for the little girl. My kids love a book called "The Itzy Bitzy House" - don't have the author to hand, but anything by Mem Fox is good. Why not treat yourself and stand in the kids section of the bookshop for a bit and read. You will be in stitches and will see why kids books are often wasted on the kids. Buy something you like to read aloud with rhyme, rhythm and a little predictability. Oh, and if you do go with any colouring books, buy some Crayola washable markers with them. They really do wash off in water and the crayons come off really easily too. the "My first" markers that is, not the other type.

Answer 2

Books are always a good option and one that will last longer than the clothes they'll outgrow. I would advise you talk with your cousin about what your niece and nephew enjoy reading at bedtime. There are many wonderful titles I could recommend to you but I probably don't have the space here to do so. However, if you're interested in a gift that will be useful for both your cousin and her children, then I recommend "The Read-Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease (the sixth edition will be published soon). In the first eight chapters he presents information about why it is so critical that we read aloud to children. The last part of the book, though, is probably the most useful. He provides a treasury of read-alouds, subdivided into categories (wordless books, picture books, etc.). I would also counsel you to go to your local library and request this title (before buying it from a local bookstore) and talk to the children's librarian about some books she recommends for children. Happy reading!

Answer 3

4 year old stepson.... hmmm.... well, if he is like any 4 year old in America, get him an action figure that is related to the newest super hero movie that is out. Super hero movies from this summer were Superman Returns or X-Men 3. Superman, though not the coolest comic hero, does have the most recent movie and will most likely keep his attention longer.

18 month old daugher... either get her a copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice or some little toy that makes noises when you press some buttons. Preferably from a popular TV show and with an educational tone.

Answer 4

Firecrackers and cigarettes.

Sorry...Just had a Paul Lynde moment there....

Seriously....Sounds like the perfect age for a Dr. Suess book or two. Those are classics that even that parents may enjoy seeing again. Every child loves a colorful storybook and a close knit story time.

You say they already have a lot of books? Then you know they probably like them. Be sure to write a nice personal note of somekind in the front. THAT will be more of a treasure in years to come and will also set your book or books apart from all the others.

Answer 5

puzzles, the kind that are wooden with big (3 or 4 max) pieces and easy to get in & out of their spots, my son would play with them for hours, still does only he's graduated to the slightly more complex ones: 5 or 6 pieces. ;-) Anyway, they usually come shrink wrapped and they're more or less flat (not counting the ones with handles on the shapes for ease of use for little fingers). Other ideas: a box of old fashioned wooden blocks, just make sure they're the ones without tiny pieces., another favorite of my son. toys that make noise and other gizmos aren't usually apreciated all that much by the parent and can either scare the littler ones or they lose interest in them fairly quickly. The puzzles and blocks would be items they'd play with for a long time to come.

Answer 6

Books for the 4 year old, or Matchbox car(s)... and maybe a little stuffed animal for the little girl. My daughter still sleeps with a stuffed bear that she got when she was about 3.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Open small bank accounts (like $25.00 or so) for each. That would be a nice gift that can encourage saving in the future. They may not appreciate it now, but they will someday and they will say our cousin started us on the right path.

Answer 9

I know that when my nephews were younger and I would travel to visit them, I would purchase each of them a gift card from a store (Target, Wal-Mart) they could go to get a toy. Then when I got there, we would plan a day to go to the store and they would get to "buy" their toy(s) they wanted. They enjoyed it because it was a day out for them and they got to buy a toy that they wanted, and I got to spend time with them and have a fun day with the two of them. We would make a day of it, including going out for lunch at a restaurant they chose to eat at. It made the gifts things they wanted, they got to spend time with their aunt, and we all had a fun day out.

Answer 10

all children love coloring books, especially at those ages. i would get some of those new "color wonder" books and markers for them, because then you wouldn't have to worry about them making a mess for their mother to clean up.

my son is 2 and he absolutely loves them! :-)