Gift Guides » Stop, Drop and Blog

Five Year Old (Boy) Gift Buying Guide

Nov 162010

BigBrother turns five tomorrow (no, I don’t want to talk about it yet). All of his presents are wrapped (in Toy Story wrapping paper). We give him the gifts from us — FireMom and FireDad — on his birthday. I can’t wait to see his face as he unwraps some of this goodness.

I decided to share this list as I created one two years ago and it remains a highly searched post. Apparently people don’t know what to get boys. I always have the opposite problem and google “what to get x-year-old girl” when I’m shopping for the Munchkin or the boys’ female friends. As such, feel free to add your ideas in the comments of this post.

1. LeapFrog Leapster Explorer. Much to my dismay, I did not win one of these on the 86 billion blog contests I entered this summer when the new Leapster-like hand-held was released. I was hoping to win, knowing that I would save it for his birthday. I eventually bought it and I’m hopeful it will be a big hit. I know he’ll love the Toy Story game, and figure he’ll also enjoy the Star Wars one as well. He has absolutely loved his Leapster, and as this is supposed to be a bit more advanced, I’m hoping it takes him to the next level of fun-based learning.

2. Iron Man Action Figure. This is the only thing the kid asked for this year. Thank you, preschool! No, he hasn’t seen the movie. Nor will he. Anytime soon. But action figures are action figures. I figure Iron Man will be hanging out with Buzz, Woody, and a group of dinosaurs in the backseat of a big dump truck in the very near future. I hope the batteries on this particular action figure die quickly. I wonder how many times I’ll hear “I am Iron Man!” before I start to twitch.

3. Where’s Waldo?: The Complete Collection. Oh yeah. You may have caught his Waldo Halloween costume. He’s big into Waldo, both from the books we constantly borrow from the library and the computer game. I know that owning all of the books will be a big hit. I’m actually way excited about this present myself.

4. Jumpstart 3D Preschool & Kindergarten for PC. He’s big, big, big into the computer right now. I’ve been trying to find fun, educational games for him to play on a regular basis. We’ll give this one a whirl. He already plays Jumpstart online, so he’ll be familiar with the “characters.”

5. Toy Story Yahtzee Jr. We have a “Disney” Yahtzee Jr., but — and I’ll be honest — my kids don’t really know who Mickey Mouse is. I know. I’m a bad mom. Plus, it was a used version and we’re missing some of the stickers on the dice. So, I thought we’d update with something they like to make playing a bit more fun. As an aside, I had never played Yahtzee, Junior or otherwise, until this year.

6. Bolt. Okay, maybe he also asked for this movie… last year. But it wasn’t until after his birthday and Christmas. And I kind of forgot. And remembered when I was trying to pick a movie for this year. He loves Bolt. I am 100% sure this movie will annoy the heck out of me as both he and his brother will then pretend to be dogs for weeks on end. But it’s okay. I think. Anyway, we go with the three-disc combo pack when we buy any movies nowadays.

7. Melissa & Doug Space Voyage 48-piece Puzzle – The kid loves puzzles. I love Melissa & Doug puzzles because they’re sturdy, the pieces fit together well and they’re colorful. He loves space, so this was an obvious winner.

We also got him a pair of Buzz Lightyear jammies in a size that makes my mommy heart weep. And a Steelers hat in youth size as he hasn’t been able to wear “toddler/preschool” sized hats since he was two.

We outsourced some other ideas to querying grandparents. How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story Duplo Train Set and the Trouble Board Game (which, by the way, I just saw that they have a Star Wars Trouble game — GASP!).

Oh, and we obviously got both of the boys Toy Story 3, but they don’t get it until their party on Saturday. Because we’re mean, mean parents. (But mainly it is a gift for both of them, not just BigBrother or LittleBrother. So party gift it is.)

I can’t guarantee that all of these gifts will be a hit with BigBrother. I can guarantee that LittleBrother will attempt to paw all over these gifts before BigBrother has a chance to and there will be minor drama. I will give an update early in December as to how these gifts went over, if there were any evident losers and tell you what we’re doing for Christmas presents this year.

The Christmas Gifts Getting the Most Use

Gift Guides, Holidays 3 Responses »

Dec 302008

It’s been a few days now. Certain gifts have been tossed aside by both BigBrother and LittleBrother alike. You know, like clothes. They are, however, also fighting over certain gifts. I thought I would share the few that are definite hits in the FireFamily household.

Hits with BigBrother

Other than his bed, BigBrother is digging his Dinoco Helicopter from the movie Cars. It was the only thing that he asked for this year: a blue helicopter. He was enthralled with it on Christmas morning. It had to travel with us on Christmas Day. It went with him to visit Papau and Yia Yia this weekend and rode with him, in his seat, on his way back home. It is rather noisy, I admit, but it also makes me smile. (Recommended for ages 4-8 due to small pieces.)

Second in the love line is the Fisher-Price Little People Fire Truck Ball Pit (that I mentioned in one of our fire fighter themed gift guides). In fact, this is greatly loved by both boys. I will admit that the 25 balls that come with the ball pit are not enough to cover your foot and, as such, you need to get more balls. We have 100 more in there now and it seems to be enough (though I could probably fit another 100 in there just fine). BigBrother loves this fire truck. He likes driving and pretending that Fire Pup is sitting next to him (as he is painted on one window). LittleBrother loves climbing in and out. This was a dual hit.

Hits with LittleBrother

As you can see in this picture, LittleBrother loves his Vtech Sit to Stand Alphabet Train. I’m really liking it as well even if it doesn’t have volume control. (I really like when toys offer two options for volume. It’s my sanity switch.) All the same, he likes putting the letter blocks into the engine and watching them shoot into the caboose. I think that in itself is doing wonders for his manual dexterity because he also, probably the day after Christmas, was able to put money into his piggy bank. Yay for toys that aid in development! BigBrother also likes this toy and has been telling LittleBrother all about the letters. A bit above him, yes, but right now sitting, riding, pushing and playing with blocks are acceptable as well. (Recommended for ages 12 months – 3 years.)

He also likes his Playskool Wheel Pals Triple Track Tower (that’s a mouthful). This was a gift from someone and, I must say, a good one. LittleBrother will play with it without sound, just simply enjoying sending the cars flying with a press of a button. BigBrother insists on sound. I’ve had to help LittleBrother learn how to place the cars but he even enjoys when they tumble down sideways. He’s rather easy to please. (Recommended for 12 months – 3 years.)

Hits with FireDad

I’m sure that his answer will eventually be his laptop. But it’s being sent off for return and repair due to a backlighting issue (or lack thereof). So, right now? Call of Duty: World at War for Wii (with the shot gun thing) is his favorite. (A small note: no, he doesn’t play it when children are awake in the house.) I would like to brag a second about this gift. Three days before Christmas, he was talking about it. He hadn’t mentioned it before but he was suddenly raving over it and how someone at work said it was awesome. As he is telling me all of this, I logged into Amazon, put it in my cart (along with the gun thing), used a gift certificate, used my free Prime shipping and smiled and nodded at him the whole time. I’m rather sneaky.

Hits with FireMom

I’ll be honest. I’m pretty easy when it comes to gifts. But my favorite gift this year? (And I got some really nice things, folks.) It’s a laundry basket. With reinforced handles. No, I’m serious. Not only do I now have enough baskets for my laundering needs but this one is now my haul-up-and-down-the-steps-to-the-laundry-room basket. You know, since it has reinforced handles and isn’t all broken and, therefore, doesn’t fold in half when I try to pick it up and hold it against my hip. The lack of folding in half, of course, allows the clothes to stay in all the way up the steps. It’s a miracle!

There were many, many other toys and books and articles of clothing and games and so on. In fact, we’re going to have to make a new rule about presents and birthday/Christmas season for next year. But more on that tomorrow.