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Post by wineallthetime on Nov 5, 2019 5:30:31 GMT -6
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guster
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Post by guster on Nov 5, 2019 5:35:11 GMT -6
@nam, I was where you are about a week ago. I had to stop and watch Josie for a few days really intently to see what she always gravitated toward. When I think of your kids, I think about playing outside. Do you get a lot of snow— would he like snow shoes or cross country skis? What about a little indoor garden he could plant and grow? We had one that grew micro greens this summer that the kids got a kick out of.
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nam2013
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Post by nam2013 on Nov 5, 2019 5:58:39 GMT -6
wedding he loves baseball (duh) but we have plenty of gear already (thanks to dh). He would love that pitching thing, but I have no idea where to put it. Same l when it comes to camping gear, we have a lot! Mu did sister just got him a pocket knife, for sharping sticks etc. guster our winters are a bit like New England falls, I think, alternating between crisp/wet/sunny/cold, with a little snow. So no heavy duty snowfall unfortunately 🤷🏼♀️. ETA and yes your right in thinking outdoors with our kids, I get the mom guilt daily with our townhouse city garden...
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inthekitty
Emerald
My eyes are up here.
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Post by inthekitty on Nov 5, 2019 7:23:27 GMT -6
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Post by flamingo on Nov 5, 2019 7:26:32 GMT -6
nam2013 I love this blogger and her gift guides always have really cool ideas for kids—I have purchased several items after seeing them recommended here. She loves the classics and well-made/quality items. Maybe you’ll see something that strikes your fancy. She organizes by age, etc. dosaygive.com/gift-guide/
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guster
Emerald
Posts: 11,536 Likes: 67,147
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Post by guster on Nov 5, 2019 7:34:07 GMT -6
What about a microscope or a set of binoculars, @nam?
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inthekitty
Emerald
My eyes are up here.
Posts: 10,679 Likes: 69,742
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Post by inthekitty on Nov 5, 2019 7:36:27 GMT -6
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guster
Emerald
Posts: 11,536 Likes: 67,147
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Post by guster on Nov 5, 2019 7:47:49 GMT -6
inthekitty, Marble run was a bit Christmas hit here last year!
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nam2013
Emerald
Posts: 13,873 Likes: 69,348
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Post by nam2013 on Nov 5, 2019 8:05:53 GMT -6
flamingo that site is great! I found a woodworking kit I think he’ll love (can’t order it from here, but it’s something to go on!
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Post by lahdeedah on Nov 5, 2019 8:37:25 GMT -6
In the past week, I’ve paid attention to what M2 likes. He is currently obsessed with taking pics with my phone and he found a little paint set of M’s that kept him busy for almost an hour!
So now I have that vtech kids camera and some crayola paint sets on his list.
I’m still kinda lost on M. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he shrugged. 🤦🏽♀️
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wedding
Emerald
Posts: 14,402 Likes: 77,820
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Post by wedding on Nov 5, 2019 16:08:58 GMT -6
wedding he loves baseball (duh) but we have plenty of gear already (thanks to dh). He would love that pitching thing, but I have no idea where to put it. Same l when it comes to camping gear, we have a lot! Mu did sister just got him a pocket knife, for sharping sticks etc. guster our winters are a bit like New England falls, I think, alternating between crisp/wet/sunny/cold, with a little snow. So no heavy duty snowfall unfortunately 🤷🏼♀️. ETA and yes your right in thinking outdoors with our kids, I get the mom guilt daily with our townhouse city garden... Do not have mom guilt! When I was in NYC and C looked out of place I teared up that he wouldn’t be a city kid and experience real city life growing up. Since then I am trying to come to terms with being a suburban family and embracing what we have that he wouldn’t see or learn in Boston. The grass is always greener.
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Post by peachsmama on Nov 5, 2019 16:10:49 GMT -6
wedding he loves baseball (duh) but we have plenty of gear already (thanks to dh). He would love that pitching thing, but I have no idea where to put it. Same l when it comes to camping gear, we have a lot! Mu did sister just got him a pocket knife, for sharping sticks etc. guster our winters are a bit like New England falls, I think, alternating between crisp/wet/sunny/cold, with a little snow. So no heavy duty snowfall unfortunately 🤷🏼♀️. ETA and yes your right in thinking outdoors with our kids, I get the mom guilt daily with our townhouse city garden... Do not have mom guilt! When I was in NYC and C looked out of place I teared up that he wouldn’t be a city kid and experience real city life growing up. Since then I am trying to come to terms with being a suburban family and embracing what we have that he wouldn’t see or learn in Boston. The grass is always greener. And I feel guilt that my kids will never have that neighborhood group of friends like i always wanted as a kid.
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Post by flamingo on Nov 5, 2019 17:51:59 GMT -6
flamingo that site is great! I found a woodworking kit I think he’ll love (can’t order it from here, but it’s something to go on! Glad you got some ideas--I was thinking about that kit for B, as well. I love just about everything she does; her children's book selections are always on point, too!
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Post by wineallthetime on Nov 5, 2019 18:27:10 GMT -6
nam2013 I love this blogger and her gift guides always have really cool ideas for kids—I have purchased several items after seeing them recommended here. She loves the classics and well-made/quality items. Maybe you’ll see something that strikes your fancy. She organizes by age, etc. dosaygive.com/gift-guide/ This is great! I'll be looking at every single one at work tomorrow!
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vino
Opal
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Post by vino on Nov 10, 2019 10:42:51 GMT -6
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wedding
Emerald
Posts: 14,402 Likes: 77,820
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Post by wedding on Nov 10, 2019 11:30:46 GMT -6
I got C the super ultimate hot wheels garage from Target in the Black Friday preview. I had the 25% off one toy coupon plus a $10 gift card offer if you buy $40 in toys and the price was down to $119.99 from $199.99. All said and done I got it for $93 or $83 if you count the $10 gift card.
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Post by flamingo on Nov 13, 2019 14:22:17 GMT -6
So! Balance Bike.
C has had a classic Radio Flyer trike that was passed down from B. She can ride reasonably well on it but it's heavy and a bit cumbersome. We've been debating getting her a small bicycle or balance bike. We never did the balance bike with B, he went straight to a regular bike with training wheels and has done fine.
She is 41" tall, so I wonder if balance bikes are going to be physically too small for her (is that even possible?) I feel like the kids I've typically seen on them are either younger, or very tiny (or both).
Anyone here have experience with balance bikes? I've read about them online and it seems like people loooooooove them, but I'd appreciate any first-hand recs/thoughts.
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nam2013
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Post by nam2013 on Nov 13, 2019 14:30:54 GMT -6
flamingo ds had a balance he loved loved loved! Dd is just starting to use it. From what i hear it saves the kids from needing training wheels once they have a real bike, because they got the balance part down. Which for us was true. This is the one we have; www.veloretti.com/products/mini
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inthekitty
Emerald
My eyes are up here.
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Post by inthekitty on Nov 13, 2019 14:43:55 GMT -6
flamingo, my kids did not take to balance bikes--at all. It was annoying and I had no patience as Maddie shuffled on that thing slower than walking. And yes, for bigger kids they are kind of awkward. I know they get a lot of love, but I found it frustrating.
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Post by flamingo on Nov 13, 2019 14:50:55 GMT -6
flamingo , my kids did not take to balance bikes--at all. It was annoying and I had no patience as Maddie shuffled on that thing slower than walking. And yes, for bigger kids they are kind of awkward. I know they get a lot of love, but I found it frustrating. This is what I'm kind of worried about. C already gets annoyed with the trike b/c it doesn't go as fast, plus she is giant.
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tallb
Amethyst
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Post by tallb on Nov 13, 2019 14:53:53 GMT -6
flamingo we got J a balance bike but he never got proficient on it. Now n wants to use it and we are getting j a 20" bike for his bday/Xmas (and then need to teach him to ride). Since he doesn't have a bike now, when we go out, they use their scooters. I personally think the woom bikes look lovely, but probably will get something a bit cheaper. I think there is a strong resale value though for them..
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jewels
Opal
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Post by jewels on Nov 13, 2019 14:55:42 GMT -6
So! Balance Bike. C has had a classic Radio Flyer trike that was passed down from B. She can ride reasonably well on it but it's heavy and a bit cumbersome. We've been debating getting her a small bicycle or balance bike. We never did the balance bike with B, he went straight to a regular bike with training wheels and has done fine. She is 41" tall, so I wonder if balance bikes are going to be physically too small for her (is that even possible?) I feel like the kids I've typically seen on them are either younger, or very tiny (or both). Anyone here have experience with balance bikes? I've read about them online and it seems like people loooooooove them, but I'd appreciate any first-hand recs/thoughts. My BIL who lives over seas bought 1 for S when he was about 18 months old. S LOVED it and now B does too. But they were/are both small for their age. I honestly can't see B riding it much longer as the seat is on the highest setting now. He has one like the first one on here www.puky.de/en/vehicles/learner-bikes.html I just looked and I think some of them might be good for larger kids.
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jewels
Opal
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Post by jewels on Nov 13, 2019 14:58:15 GMT -6
OK My gift question.
S wants the following "Big" gifts - Scooter, hover board and video game console.
MH is a strong no on video game console (which is stupid since the kid plays games on the ipad all the time but I digress) and I think he's too young/uncoordinated for the hover board, so we've settled on a scooter. As noted before, he is not the most athletic kid, and he's definitely small (both in height and weight - he's a petite kid). Any firsthand recommendations?
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Post by flamingo on Nov 13, 2019 14:58:33 GMT -6
flamingo we got J a balance bike but he never got proficient on it. Now n wants to use it and we are getting j a 20" bike for his bday/Xmas (and then need to teach him to ride). Since he doesn't have a bike now, when we go out, they use their scooters. I personally think the woom bikes look lovely, but probably will get something a bit cheaper. I think there is a strong resale value though for them.. Yeah, B got a 16" (I think) at 4, and Santa is upping him to a 20". We took the training wheels off this fall and all of a sudden he looks way too big for it. The Woom bikes are pretty! But yeah, probably not happening...B's Schwinn has been great and was around $100 or so, lol.
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jewels
Opal
Posts: 8,456 Likes: 44,438
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Post by jewels on Nov 13, 2019 15:01:43 GMT -6
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Post by flamingo on Nov 13, 2019 15:04:44 GMT -6
jewels B got a Razor scooter last year and it's been fine. Nice price, too. However! His first one (3-wheel) that he got when he was maybe 3 was a Globber. It was more expensive than the Razor but has lasted through 2 kids. It feels a little more sturdy/well-built than the Razor. So I might go in that direction (with 2 wheels, obviously). I think they were back-ordered last year so we went with the Razor, but Globber was my first choice.
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guster
Emerald
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Post by guster on Nov 13, 2019 15:07:02 GMT -6
flamingo, my kids did not take to balance bikes--at all. It was annoying and I had no patience as Maddie shuffled on that thing slower than walking. And yes, for bigger kids they are kind of awkward. I know they get a lot of love, but I found it frustrating. Same! Charlie actually hated it. It’s in our garage back on the box. Never been ridden beyond d once around the island in the kitchen. Josie’s micro mini scooter is the biggest hit and they both love it, so we’ll do that for Charlie for his birthday.
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Post by wineallthetime on Nov 13, 2019 15:18:56 GMT -6
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Post by lahdeedah on Nov 13, 2019 15:22:41 GMT -6
flamingo I definitely say forget the balance bike and just get a regular bike for her. She is taller and will outgrow it, if she hasn’t already.
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tallb
Amethyst
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Post by tallb on Nov 13, 2019 15:34:12 GMT -6
jewels we have the micro maxi for j and the micro mini for n...that j passed down to her. I very much like them. They often have sales and I think we got ours at Neiman Marcus(random! Don't normally shop there) on sale plus a rakuten cashback.
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