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Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165902 by peaceful Warrior
Dec 19, 2007 9:27am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote You'll put your eye out!!

Lol! Then you definitely did not want to be in our house last Christmas where ALL of us were armed with Nerf guns. That's two kids, one emerging adult, and two actual grown-ups racing around the house shooting each other. BTW, to anyone indulging in this kind fun, don't forget a SHarpie marker to mark you darts. Darts WILL get lost, and marking your darts makes sure you are not without ammo at a key moment. Mine said, "From Mom with love." :)

Florida Sunsets
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165868 by Dale End Farm
Dec 19, 2007 9:50am
Thread (disabled) Board
It kind of depends on what you were planning to budget.

Under 50 bucks: Neopets maybe? Webkinz are popular, but cutesy (my dh is hooked. @@). Somehow, I think neopets will be better received by boys. Games (Uno, phase 10, zigity), board games for grown ups (Risk, Clue, Life, Scrabble, any of the Pirates themed Disney spin offs) oor anything by Cranium, Scene it!, growing rocks, gift cards to fast food spots and/or video rental store/movie theatre etc; cool wallet (with chain), cool keychains for their backpacks, slippers (practical, but hey...at least its a package)

Pricier: Heeleys (with helmet), razor scooters or those new mini skateboards (again, with helmet! I've seen them, but not up close since the riders were zipping by), a ramp for their bikes/boards, a new bike, a digital camera (okay, its electronic. But, its more educational than video games.) pogo stick, moon bounce ball (I think that's what they're called), real tools and scrap wood (just make sure to follow up with time and patience for their developing skill),
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165868 by Dale End Farm
Dec 19, 2007 9:51am
Thread (disabled) Board
How about a Microscope. this is something that is intriguing every time they use it.

gross, fun, and educational.

~Aurora
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165905 by Redefining Normal
Dec 19, 2007 9:53am
Thread (disabled) Board
I forsee this scene at my house in a few years. My boys are 1, 3, & 5 right now, but I'm fully aware of the fact that they will be 14, 16, & 18 in the blink of an eye.

~ 3BG
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165868 by Dale End Farm
Dec 19, 2007 9:55am
Thread (disabled) Board
Scooters, skates, bikes, if they don't already have them. Science kits, chemistry sets, telescopes, microscopes, musical instruments.

I know what you mean about the overabundance of electronic stuff--my 10 yr old keeps asking when he's going to get a cell phone... Geez, who's he going to call that he can't call from the house phone? And if he thinks he's going to text his life away, he's got another think coming!

Good luck! Really though, just take a stroll through the aisles at Target or ToysRUs. I was amazed at what is available now.

Knit Wit
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165919 by The hicks from the sticks
Dec 19, 2007 9:57am
Thread (disabled) Board
Yes! We got a cool hand-me-down one that plugs into a USB port on the computer. The output is shown right on your computer screen. You can take pictures and video with it and then make cool slideshows and graphics. It is called Intel Play.

My sons have examined ants, hair, leaves, skin, and a banana peel so far. Fun, fun.

~ 3BG
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165868 by Dale End Farm
Dec 19, 2007 10:08am
Thread (disabled) Board
This has got to be the coolest thing for boys!!! IF you can find one

Toys R Us sells them
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2671843
or
http://www.eyeclops.com/

~Aurora
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165938 by The hicks from the sticks
Dec 19, 2007 10:16am
Thread (disabled) Board
This has got to be the coolest thing for boys!!! IF you can find one

Toys R Us sells them
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2671843

LOL... I was reading the toys-r-us site on that bionic eye toy... did you see the comment about how the kids love to "look at daddy's bald spot" with the eye? LOL.... that is SO like a child =o)

Cheers!
Rhea
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165905 by Redefining Normal
Dec 19, 2007 10:36am
Thread (disabled) Board
Then you definitely did not want to be in our house last Christmas where ALL of us were armed with Nerf guns.


It's like I've always said: families that shoot at each other every once a while are healthy families! :-D

okay, I've never actually said that, but it's better than "families that shoot together stay together"

*S
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165951 by BrewHiker
Dec 19, 2007 10:55am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote It's like I've always said: families that shoot at each other every once a while are healthy families! :-D

okay, I've never actually said that, but it's better than "families that shoot together stay together"


Is that like: THere's nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your child through crosshairs? Lol!

Florida Sunsets
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165938 by The hicks from the sticks
Dec 19, 2007 10:59am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote This has got to be the coolest thing for boys!!! IF you can find one

Toys R Us sells them
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2671843
or
http://www.eyeclops.com/


These rock! Although you need to be prepared to be totally grossed out. We had to demo these at the store at the beginning of season, and you'd be surprised how dirty your hands are even after washing! Oh, and we watch the sweat coming out of someones pores. Very weird, but actually very cool!

Oh, and just a quick Toys R Us shopping hint: Do not spend your Toys R Us gift cards on the day after Christmas. They don't restock much from Christmas Eve til mid-January in anticipation of Inventory. So, if you ca put the kids off until the end of January or, even better, February you'll be better off.

Florida Sunsets
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165967 by Redefining Normal
Dec 19, 2007 11:04am
Thread (disabled) Board
There's nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your child through crosshairs?


You gun-totin' Floridians make me laugh WAY too much!

*S
off to find Nerf guns...
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165971 by BrewHiker
Dec 19, 2007 11:19am
Thread (disabled) Board
There's nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your child through crosshairs?


In reference to the nerf guns, another fun family activity is those really big, over sized punching gloves that are so padded you really can't hurt anyone. Nothin' like beating on your spouse and having them laugh about it =o) or those stick things with the big padding things on both ends, kind of like an over-sized q-tip? Then you draw a circle on the ground and try to make each other step outside the lines by whacking them with the q-tip =o) Also fun.

Cheers!
Rhea
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165868 by Dale End Farm
Dec 19, 2007 12:53pm
Thread (disabled) Board
BIONICLES and other Lego sets! You can get the small cans for $8 or huge sets for $400! My son is 10 and still loves them.

K'nex are also awesome if they like to build stuff.
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165868 by Dale End Farm
Dec 19, 2007 12:56pm
Thread (disabled) Board
BTW, most rock tumblers SUCK unless you get an expensive one. And then it can be a letdown because the rocks have to tumble for WEEKS and it's very loud. My kid is a rockhound so he was willing to wait, but he's unusual.

He also like science kits where you can make slimy stuff.

There is also a great book, can't look it up now but it's something about Totally gross... look on Amazon. It has info about snot, scabs, bugs, etc.
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #166019 by MO UR4Me
Dec 19, 2007 1:24pm
Thread (disabled) Board
My 8 year old got a remote control "spy" car and LOVES it. It was $100.00 but he sends it all over the house spying on people. It took him awhile to not run into walls, but now he's very stealthy! otg
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #166019 by MO UR4Me
Dec 19, 2007 1:32pm
Thread (disabled) Board
The Dangerous Book for Boys is a totally wonderful book for boys about that age. We sent one to my Brother-in-law and his kids for Father's day and they all love it!

Cheers!
Rhea
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #166016 by MO UR4Me
Dec 19, 2007 3:24pm
Thread (disabled) Board
How about one of those really cool new skateboards that have rollerblade wheels on them? Sharper Image has them - you could go to their site to see what they look like. I know they have to be sold elsewhere, too.

3H
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165868 by Dale End Farm
Dec 19, 2007 3:48pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Anything from Chinaberry.com! Also the Magic Cabin is good....
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165978 by The Gillespie Tribe
Dec 19, 2007 3:51pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Oversized boxing gloves on a trampoline - LOTS of fun!!

~ 3BG
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165868 by Dale End Farm
Dec 19, 2007 6:50pm
Thread (disabled) Board
How about a membership at a local rock climbing gym? There is one here in southern NH and my girls 10 and 12 love it there. It is a little pricy on a one by one climb, but a membership reduces the cost. It is really fun and builds great upper body strength. I took the course to belay so we don't have to pay someone to manage their lines as they climb. I can do it for them. With all the harnesses and equipment, it is really safe and fun too! We can kill an afternoon there when there is to much snow to letterbox...
Mrs. V
Re: Help ME!
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #165868 by Dale End Farm
Dec 19, 2007 8:23pm
Thread (disabled) Board
How about snow shoes or skis, or skiing lessons? Bleacher seat tickets to a Red Sox game or pre-season Pats game? Or maybe to a PawSox game or Worcester Sharks? Beyond Baulderdash and Apples to Apples are two of our favorite games . . . Sequence is fun, or Are you smarter than a fifth grader which has both a dvd version or just plain board game.