Have you started thinking about Christmas gifts?

Emerald27

I know it's early, but I am a planner.

We try to keep Christmas simple (I mean, DS is only 2 so that's not too hard), but I still feel like we are drowning in toys! DS' favorite thing is trains, and he has lots of them. Cars, engines, tracks...everywhere!

We are trying to come up with some cool non-toy gifts for Christmas. We are book lovers, so that's at the top of the list. DS has blocks and puzzles galore. :P

The ideas we have so far are a learning tower so that he can help in the kitchen (which he loves to do now standing on a chair...which scares mama), and an art easel (you can get these at ikea for just $15. The tower is expensive so we'd share the cost with grandparents. DH has also talked about making DS a busy board, but I'm not sure he'll get to it.

What are some non-toy gifts you give your kids at Christmas?

nosoup4u

We only get our kids 1-2 things for Xmas and birthdays, and relatives give then the bulk of gifts. I also try to find vintage toys or books and buy them used stuff. Fisher Price little people (the old kind) are all over eBay, and my kids have the airport set.

Duplos are great, and my 5.5 y.o. still plays with them. Play doh, paint, drawing/writing tools are all fun, and get used up eventually too. Kid-sized cooking tools might be good if he likes to help in the kitchen, what about cookie cutters that have xmas shapes? There's a Montessori website that has all kinds of great stuff. I'll see if I can find the direct link.

somewhereincali

Yearly passes. The zoo, museums etc.

blu-eyedwife

We celebrate Channukah and Christmas, so that's a lot of presents. We end up giving a lot of things that wouldn't necessarily be considered "presents" because they're things he needs, but at 2, he doesn't know better.  So new socks, shoes, pajamas make the list.  This year he's getting a potty seat, a stool, luggage or a backpack, and a helmet.

musicalmama5

Books for sure, but I know you already said that. This'll be our first Christmas with a kid, so I'm curious what others' responses will be. I hate toys (lol but kind of seriously) so I don't want to get him too many toys. I'll probably get him some PJ's and a cute outfit. Maybe a bike seat and helmet.

SarahandSam2007

I would love to get DS a Jelly Cat stuffed animal--so darn cute!  And I'll be investigating some Montessori toys that he might find more interesting than what he's playing with now. 

I scored a pair of Hannah Andersson pj's on clearance this weekend.  They are the best!  So, maybe some more of those for him too. 

LindsayPDX

I think we are going to get DS a little toy Ukulele this year (because he is obsessed with my DH's guitar) and a balance bike. For those who haven't heard of a balance bike, they look like a tiny bike without pedals. Kids learn to ride by walking their feet on either side and eventually pulling their feet up to coast. Apparently they can ride a regular bike without training wheels this way. 

We'll also get books, although he has so many library books I don't think we'll buy him many. I might also consider a little keyboard (like a Casio or something) because he is obsessed with pressing buttons and making noise.