Question:
Any ideas on what the hot toys could be this year?? I was at Walmart yesterday, and saw an Elmo and Ernie that played the guitar and shook. Those were pretty neat. Perhaps I am thinking ahead, but my son has Christmas and a Birthday in December, and I need to start shopping NOW!! And I am really curious as to what the folks will be scalping this year. Sara
Response:
>Any ideas on what the hot toys could be this year?? I was at Walmart >yesterday, and saw an Elmo and Ernie that played the guitar and shook. >Those were pretty neat. Perhaps I am thinking ahead, but my son has >Christmas and a Birthday in December, and I need to start shopping NOW!! >And I am really curious as to what the folks will be scalping this year. >Sara
I’ve no idea what will be "hot" but I might look at Furbys this year since I refuse to pay the prices (and fight for) for the "hot" toys of the season. Bought Elmo a year later too at a much lower cost. Why not just buy what he’s into? There’s always the possibility that he won’t even care about what’s "hot". A couple of years ago a friend of ours bought our son a Sleep and Snore Ernie (one of the "hot" toys for Christmas). It’s been in the toy box ever since. Kendra Proud to be "Outlandish"! http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Gallery/1796
Response:
>even care about what’s "hot". A couple of years ago a friend of ours bought >our son a Sleep and Snore Ernie (one of the "hot" toys for Christmas). It’s >been in the toy box ever since.
Doesn’t that make it a "Collector’s Item"? — Do not underestimate your abilities. That is your boss’s job. It is your job to find ways around your boss’s roadblocks.
Response:
With the five children that I have I have been doing some shopping on Ebay. I have gotten some great items. I know that my boys are into "Pokemon". And Barbie’s are always a favorite here as well. Shelley
Response:
>>even care about what’s "hot". A couple of years ago a friend of ours bought >our son a Sleep and Snore Ernie (one of the "hot" toys for Christmas). It’s >been in the toy box ever since. >Doesn’t that make it a "Collector’s Item"?
It does in my opinion but you know how picky those collectors are about it staying in the box, yadda yadda. Every time I toss a toy in the box the thing says, "I feel great!". Kendra Proud to be "Outlandish"! http://www.crosswinds.net/~outlandish http://www.crosswinds.net/~graphicsbykendra (under construction)
Response:
I have the exact same problem as to what is in or out depends on age. I have also started to look but have no idea what to get. Hope you find something.
Any ideas on what the hot toys could be this year?? I was at Walmart yesterday, and saw an Elmo and Ernie that played the guitar and shook. Those were pretty neat. Perhaps I am thinking ahead, but my son has Christmas and a Birthday in December, and I need to start shopping NOW!! And I am really curious as to what the folks will be scalping this year. Sara
Response:
I have heard on one of the Star Wars ng that interactive yoda will be the thing come november. $39.99 and Suncoast Video is accepting $5.00 deposit now. I am a star wars fan so I will probably get one or two. (Me and my 14 year old.) 
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Any ideas on what the hot toys could be this year?? I was at Walmart > yesterday, and saw an Elmo and Ernie that played the guitar and shook. > Those were pretty neat. Perhaps I am thinking ahead, but my son has > Christmas and a Birthday in December, and I need to start shopping NOW!! > And I am really curious as to what the folks will be scalping this year. > Sara
Response:
Maybe it’s because mine are a) young and b) not allowed to watch much tv. But I’m just getting them the "usual age-appropriate stuff". My dd gets a doll with clothes to change (cos she keeps asking to put *her* dress-up onto her current doll). The boys have matchbox cars (they’ll finally be 3!!! And no, Hanna just doesn’t like cars). Play food for everyone. Puzzles. Books with big pics of machinery. … dress up stuff from Grandma. With birthday in Oct. and then Christmas, I buy slowly all year and save stuff. –Janet Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Any ideas on what the hot toys could be this year?? I was at Walmart > yesterday, and saw an Elmo and Ernie that played the guitar and shook. > Those were pretty neat. Perhaps I am thinking ahead, but my son has > Christmas and a Birthday in December, and I need to start shopping NOW!! > And I am really curious as to what the folks will be scalping this year. > Sara
Response:
I’m with you, Janet! We are trying to down play the whole "what are you getting for Christmas/birthday" thing and emphasize the real reason for the celebrations. Maybe it is living near Mickey Mouse Land and being over 35 [well, 40] but I find that I resist buying into all these advertising gimmicks with every bone in my body as well as most of my muscles [especially the check writing ones!]. So, matchbox, Thomas the tank Engine trains, books, puzzles and games, for a soon to be four year old. – Aula
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Maybe it’s because mine are a) young and b) not allowed to watch much tv. > But I’m just getting them the "usual age-appropriate stuff". My dd gets a > doll with clothes to change (cos she keeps asking to put *her* dress-up onto > her current doll). The boys have matchbox cars (they’ll finally be 3!!! > And no, Hanna just doesn’t like cars). Play food for everyone. Puzzles. > Books with big pics of machinery. … dress up stuff from Grandma. > With birthday in Oct. and then Christmas, I buy slowly all year and save > stuff. > –Janet > Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96) > Any ideas on what the hot toys could be this year?? I was at Walmart > yesterday, and saw an Elmo and Ernie that played the guitar and shook. > Those were pretty neat. Perhaps I am thinking ahead, but my son has > Christmas and a Birthday in December, and I need to start shopping NOW!! > And I am really curious as to what the folks will be scalping this year. > Sara
Response:
I just had to chime back in! Something that my sister, who has children now ranging from 23 or 24 to 11 has done every year was involve all the kids in making stuff for all us Aunts, Uncles and Grandma/pa’s. I have saved these items for years [and through several long distance moves]. I fully intend to start Alexander into this tradition this year. I feel it is very important for him to understand and appreciate the giving aspect of Christmas and Birthdays than the getting aspect. I also hope to impart him with an understanding that it isn’t the gift but the thought [in other words, not the bucks but the love]. – Aula [again]
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’m with you, Janet! We are trying to down play the whole "what are you > getting for Christmas/birthday" thing and emphasize the real reason for the > celebrations. Maybe it is living near Mickey Mouse Land and being over 35 > [well, 40] but I find that I resist buying into all these advertising > gimmicks with every bone in my body as well as most of my muscles > [especially the check writing ones!]. So, matchbox, Thomas the tank Engine > trains, books, puzzles and games, for a soon to be four year old. > – Aula > > Maybe it’s because mine are a) young and b) not allowed to watch much tv. > > But I’m just getting them the "usual age-appropriate stuff". My dd gets a > > doll with clothes to change (cos she keeps asking to put *her* dress-up > onto > > her current doll). The boys have matchbox cars (they’ll finally be 3!!! > > And no, Hanna just doesn’t like cars). Play food for everyone. Puzzles. > > Books with big pics of machinery. … dress up stuff from Grandma. > > With birthday in Oct. and then Christmas, I buy slowly all year and save > > stuff. > > –Janet > > Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96) > You guys have got it right. I do what both of you do. I buy slowly > throughout the year for the birthdays (August and November) and we’ve > been saving slowly all year for Christmas. This is actually the first > year we’ve saved for Christmas but I already know that it is going to > take so much pressure off us in December – just the extra special food > alone costs a bundle. > We don’t want to fall into the trap of being coerced into getting the > latest fad, instead we make a big deal of surprises and any gift, big or > small, gets the same amount of fuss. And besides, every year without > fail at least one of the six grandparents (we have some great friends > with adult children who have given up getting any grandchildren in the > near future so they have adopted ours!) gets the girls the latest > in-thing so we just don’t worry. I think kids get a bigger kick out of > opening presents then what the actual present is anyway. ;-) > — > Leonie Lawson > Co-Creator of Maia Shea (19/11/96) and Casta Grace (9/8/98) > dum vivimus, vivamus (while we live, let us live)
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’m with you, Janet! We are trying to down play the whole "what are you > getting for Christmas/birthday" thing and emphasize the real reason for the > celebrations. Maybe it is living near Mickey Mouse Land and being over 35 > [well, 40] but I find that I resist buying into all these advertising > gimmicks with every bone in my body as well as most of my muscles > [especially the check writing ones!]. So, matchbox, Thomas the tank Engine > trains, books, puzzles and games, for a soon to be four year old. > – Aula > Maybe it’s because mine are a) young and b) not allowed to watch much tv. > But I’m just getting them the "usual age-appropriate stuff". My dd gets a > doll with clothes to change (cos she keeps asking to put *her* dress-up > onto > her current doll). The boys have matchbox cars (they’ll finally be 3!!! > And no, Hanna just doesn’t like cars). Play food for everyone. Puzzles. > Books with big pics of machinery. … dress up stuff from Grandma. > With birthday in Oct. and then Christmas, I buy slowly all year and save > stuff. > –Janet > Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
You guys have got it right. I do what both of you do. I buy slowly throughout the year for the birthdays (August and November) and we’ve been saving slowly all year for Christmas. This is actually the first year we’ve saved for Christmas but I already know that it is going to take so much pressure off us in December – just the extra special food alone costs a bundle. We don’t want to fall into the trap of being coerced into getting the latest fad, instead we make a big deal of surprises and any gift, big or small, gets the same amount of fuss. And besides, every year without fail at least one of the six grandparents (we have some great friends with adult children who have given up getting any grandchildren in the near future so they have adopted ours!) gets the girls the latest in-thing so we just don’t worry. I think kids get a bigger kick out of opening presents then what the actual present is anyway. ;-) — Leonie Lawson Co-Creator of Maia Shea (19/11/96) and Casta Grace (9/8/98) dum vivimus, vivamus (while we live, let us live)
Response:
> I just had to chime back in! Something that my sister, who has children now > ranging from 23 or 24 to 11 has done every year was involve all the kids in > making stuff for all us Aunts, Uncles and Grandma/pa’s. I have saved these > items for years [and through several long distance moves]. I fully intend > to start Alexander into this tradition this year. I feel it is very > important for him to understand and appreciate the giving aspect of > Christmas and Birthdays than the getting aspect. I also hope to impart him > with an understanding that it isn’t the gift but the thought [in other > words, not the bucks but the love]. > – Aula [again]
Good idea. We also made a special effort to involve the family in hands on charity activities for the holidays [and other times as well e.g. Habitat] From the time the kids were very young, we adopted kids or families through various local programs and bought things for them. When the kids were little, we paid for the gifts but they helped pick them out — we would choose children their gender and age — when they got to be teens, they paid for them themselves. We also sponsored kids their age in Africa and wrote letters and sent pictures etc as well money. We have a collection of wonderful letters and snapshots from these kids. Holidays are a good time to teach kids family tradition, and giving to others — takes a lot off the edge of the greed fest idea. Our kids have grown up with a certain distaste for material excess which I trace back to our emphasis on doing thiings together and giving to others rather than making ‘lists’ of wants and rushing out to buy whatever consumer crap is ‘hot’ this year. I wonder if Moms who sit for hours in line to buy happy meals [often thrown away] to get beanie babies or whatever ever think about the values they are teaching their kids with this emphasis on the importance of acquiring ’stuff’.
Response:
About 1.5 years ago, my dd started asking for things in the store. I would tell her "maybe for your birthday" or "maybe for Christmas". Now I rarely hear "mommy can you buy me …" What they ask now is "Can I have that for my birthday?" Makes for a much smoother shopping trip, if they aren’t wanting to take stuff home every time we go to Walmart! AND I get a grand idea of what kinds of things they would like to have. Now that Emily is reading and writing, she keeps a list of things she is "smitten" with, and edits it every now and then. Made her last birthday (In June) a breeze, and she was thrilled with all of her gifts. I also had answers for her friends Mom’s who called and asked what Emily would like for her birthday. Krystal If evolution really works, then why do mothers have only two arms? Eat the "treat" in my address to e-mail me.
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