Does anyone have ideas for Christmas Presents for a 2 1/2 year old?

Question

My son is 2 1/2 but he is very advanced. I am thinking of books and puzzles. I saw that aqua mat and I put that on my list. But any other suggestions would be great. Oh yea and we are on a tight budget!

Answer 1

Some awesome books available in paperback:
Click Clack Moo, (Cows That Type)
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
No, David!
Knuffle Bunny (I think in ppbk)
The Monster at the End of This Book (Starring Grover) (A Little Golden Books-not paperback but cheap at walmart)
Make Way for Ducklings
Are You My Mother?---you can probably find it cheap in hardcover

Here's a list of books which have won the Caldecott Award---check them out. At the very least its a good list to bring to the library:
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal.htm

Other inexpensive toys for a 2 1/2 year old boy:

Play doh. Buy a set with stuff to build/mash the plahdoh and a few extra cans. Hide the extra cans away and let him use one color at a time. He'll be using it for years.

Crayons, paper, coloring book, water color paints. All cheap and hours of fun. If you look for sales next year before school starts you can get lined notebooks for 10 cents each at Walmart, plus great deals on paints and crayons . When he's 3 he'll love having his own book to write in.

Look at second hand stores for duplos (legos) that other kids have outgrown. Wooden blocks are another good toy that will last.

I'm on a tight budget too, so I've always tried to find toys that my kids could keep using as they got older. All of the stuff I've listed is used by my kids ages 3-10.

A great toy series is Rescue Heroes. They can use them to rescue people now and as they get older they'll be incorporated into older games.

My oldest had a "Pokemon meets rescue heroes game" that went on for months. Most recently, the knights from the castle set, a couple of rescue heroes and the small army soldiers were battling against darth vader and some storm troopers.

Good luck with your shopping!

PS When he gets older, get some hot wheels cars---forget the track sets they sell. Go to home depot and get some short lengths of plastic pvc pipe and a plastic rain gutter than can be cut into one foot (or whatever) lengths.

Use books, boxes, whatever to line up the pipes and gutters to make ramps and tunnels and have races. My kids love to do this outside in our driveway and they've got other kids hooked on it too.

It is cheap, fun, always different and they are learning math and science (even through they don't know it) while they are doing it.

Answer 2

I know my son loooves to paint. I also got him this tracing book at Target a couple of weeks ago and can't believe how much he likes that too. I copied some of the pages to use again. I forget the group that makes it but there was a series of different things there.
You could get him a computer game from ebay. The reader rabbit games are awesome!

Answer 3

I am getting my 2 year old a Little Peoples Farm. They make a Little People City with cars also. These are great for imagination play and safe for little ones. They do make puzzles and stuff for young toddlers also. If there is a Target near you they have a great sellection at a reasonalbe rate.
Good Luck

Answer 4

i might bypass with the three-6 because of the fact if the different one is going as much as 3 she'll be out of it in some months the place because of the fact the different has some toughness. another suggestions: * fake kitchen * a doll residing house * a swing or slide * a doll and dolly stroller * some gown up clothing to play fake in * books * crayons and paper/coloring books * a youngsters tea set * her very own little play handbag with a play telephone and play keys in it * somewhat tikes MP3 participant for infants/preschoolers (my son is almost 2 and he's getting one. it relatively is for like 18 months - 4 years i think of on the age selection) * a magna doodle * my niece enjoyed fake plastic animals to play with at that age. * a ball * some new jammies or clothing * if her hair is long sufficient perhaps some lovable clips or bows for her stocking

Answer 5

Playdough, our 2 1/2 year old loves it and teaches creativity. Also Target makes a Mr. Potato Head set for younger kids - teach him some combinatorics out of it.

Answer 6

2 1/2 is a good age for "pretend play." A play kitchen is a great gift for boys or girls. I bought one last year at kmart for $30, so it's a big gift for not a lot of money.

Answer 7

Fisher price always have some interesting toys for toddler and make sure you get them at the wal-mart and not Kids-r-us
cause if it is new it will be at the kid-r-us and the price will be very high by the time it reaches wal-mart you will notice the price has drop sufficiently low good luck

Answer 8

You could always get him a My First Leapad. It is kind of pricey initially, but if you get just the actual Leapad then you just ask relatives to get him the books/cartriges for it. My son has had one since he was 2 1/2 (now almost 4) and he still LOVES it. We just got him a few new books for it to give to him on his birthday. It's a really fun education tool.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266091&cp=&f=Taxonomy%2FTRUS%2F2254197&origkw=my+first+leappad&kw=my+first+leappad&parentPage=search

Answer 9

one of those cute little learning toys. You know how they used to have the ones that you turn the middle piece and it makes a different animal noise depending on the animal it lands on, well now they have them and they say hello in different languages. Im sure you can find one online on ebay or amazon for cheap

Answer 10

well go to 99 cent shop you can get cool bags paint paper bollons clay for so so cheap and the little one will be happy when she/he opens it and his/her hands will be so busy makeing thing for mom and dad and it will be chep to buy