NSBR: non-toy gifts for 3yo boy

[iJenny]

Ok, I need some help. On Nov 1st, my "baby" is going to turn three years old.
I don't want to get him any toys for his b-day because 1) we have way too many toys aready and 2) the grandparents/aunts/etc are going to get him plenty of toys.
So... I need some suggestions for non-toy gifts.

I know that I'm going to get him some fun Playdoh stuff because he LOVES playdoh. And I"m steering away from books because my boys have about a million books.

Any suggestions? Anything he just simply can't live without?

Oh, and I should put this disclaimer: when I say "no toys" I mean very typical toys like action figures, trains/cars, etc. I'm not opposed to getting him some cool toy that is exciting and different and will get a lot of use out of (like a play kitchen for example)

[kscwgirl]

What about a leapster? I'm getting one for Abby for Christmas and I know Stacey said that she got them for her boys for their 3rd birthday. I think it was Stacey. Someone said that. LOL

[aggiefamily]

Does he have a bike or scooter? Lance got this toolbench for his 3rd birthday:

http://www.littletikes.com/toys/2-in...?Ne=1&N=26+144

Only I found it much much cheaper.

[LenaGardner]

http://www.leapsandbounds.com/catalo...tegoryId=86276

http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_comp...trace_pets.cfm

http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_comp...et_theater.cfm

http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_comp..._broom_set.cfm

[Misty Cato]

Pass to a Children's Museum, zoo, movies or bouncy castle type place.

Board games, washable art supplies, new piece of 'big boy' furniture

Poster or artwork for his walls or whatever he is into (we are doing dinosaurs at the moment).

[breakingbrie]

I like the little broom and dustpan idea! My girls would love those! I love the workbench that Amanda showed! That is cool.
I don't have any ideas for you, just wanted to peek in and see what was popping up in here(to steal some gift ideas for my 3 year olds!)

[Linz]

My little guy turns 3 in December, so I'm totally stalking this thread.

I will say he looooves his play kitchen though. We have this one.

[hhleung]

I only have a daughter so I can't help you much with boy-specific gifts but I have found that the toys that imitate "real life" are the ones that get the most play. For example, for my daughter (who's almost 7 now), the play food and kitchen, the doll stroller/crib/highchair, etc, were gifts she got when she was around 2-3yo and she still plays with them from time to time. So you may not be that far off with the play kitchen. Maybe you could start with some play food first. Oh, and maybe one of those toy shopping carts. Even when she turned 6, my daughter was still asking for a shopping cart (but she didn't get one because she's just too tall for the ones that are sold at TRU and Target)

A tricycle could also be a possibility.

Helen

[lizzyfizzy]

some new DVD's. does he have Letter Factory? (If you don't have it, it's SUPER cute, educational and fun to watch yourself)

what about a new super adorable backpack (no characters ) filled with goodies he can take to your Moms during the day? you'll get double use cause he'll need one to start pre-school this next fall anyway.

how about this fun counting game.

a photo of his best friend, wiz. better yet a life size poster he can take with him anywhere he goes.

you know how he loves his hoodies his wiz gives him. what about a couple new ones.

p.s. i love misty's ideas about the fun pass and the room decor (it's time to update his baby room anyway...i'll help!).

[iJenny]

These ideas are great girls!!

We did a zoo pass last year and didn't use it as much as we'd have liked. So we're gonna pass on the "pass" idea (lol) for this year.

The tool bench is sooooooo cute and Connor adores tools so this is a great idea!!

I love the dustpan idea. Last year for his b-day we got him a working vacuum that he still loves. I'm sure he'd like a broom and dust pan because he loves to "swiffer" our kitchen floor.

The backpack of goodies is a brilliant idea, Liz! And so are the hoodies because a boy can never have too many hoodies. As for the life-size cut-out of Wiz, I think thats something YOU should give him for his b-day. lol

Keep those ideas coming girls!!

[Misty Cato]

My mom got Jamin a subscription to High Five for Christmas last year and he loves it. He especially likes getting his own mail.

[iJenny]

Originally Posted by Misty Cato

My mom got Jamin a subscription to High Five for Christmas last year and he loves it. He especially likes getting his own mail.

Oooh!! We love High-Five!! Cameron still looks forward to it every month.

[Denise2987]

Does he have a train table? Nico will be three in March but he got the train table last Christmas and still plays with it daily!!! His 5 and 7 year old cousins have had a blast with it as well!

[Shawna]

Originally Posted by Misty Cato

My mom got Jamin a subscription to High Five for Christmas last year and he loves it. He especially likes getting his own mail.

My MIL got my girls a subscription to Zoo Books mag last year and they loved it, they thought it was so cool getting their own mail too! I see they also have different mags for different age groups so that is great too.

[*Kelly*]

I'm getting Kaydan a drawing board you can erase *can't think of the name* for working on his letter and number formation. Bub has a small travel size one that he loves, but you can't get much on the screen.

Kaydan also has a subscription to Animal Baby. I love it because it has non-fiction and fiction stories. There just aren't enough good non fiction readers out there for non readers and beginning readers (IMO).. so this works great. HTH

[CA Dreamer]

Hi
My son loved this game when he was 3.
http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_comp...ggy_boogie.cfm

Also, maybe a deck of large, strudy funny cards. We have this one with vegetable faces(I know, sounds weird), but you can play concentration with them. Matching pictures. We started with just a couple of pairs and built up to more pairs as he was able to handle them.

I love the backpack idea! And, the Leapster. I got one for my niece who just turned 3.

[rach3975]

We have a little indoor tent and tunnel that my 2 and 5 year old both like hanging out in. They also both like musical instruments.

[emilyscout]

What about a bunch of art supplies and a little table to work on crafts at or an easel?