Gift Ideas for a 6 year old
November 26, 2013 1:28 AM Subscribe
My nephew is 6 years old and will be 7 in a couple of months. Looking for Christmas gift ideas. He's really interesested in becoming an actor/director. A few snowflakes though...
He has (possibly severe) dyslexia and cannot read or write - so that needs to be taken into consideration. He also is an only child and has trouble making friends - so board games are probably not ideal.
I tried looking for a kids video camera setup and surprisingly came up empty handed. I found one or two Fisher Price type cameras but I think they look like they are more for 3 and 4 year olds. He currently has my sister record him act/sing on her phone.
He wants a clap board (I found one of those) but what else could I get him?
Besides the film idea - he also likes dressing up and/or playing princess, singing, fashion and science (space/anatomy/experiments).
My total budget is $100 or less. He lives in the Florida Gulf Coast and I live in a different state - if that matters.
He has (possibly severe) dyslexia and cannot read or write - so that needs to be taken into consideration. He also is an only child and has trouble making friends - so board games are probably not ideal.
I tried looking for a kids video camera setup and surprisingly came up empty handed. I found one or two Fisher Price type cameras but I think they look like they are more for 3 and 4 year olds. He currently has my sister record him act/sing on her phone.
He wants a clap board (I found one of those) but what else could I get him?
Besides the film idea - he also likes dressing up and/or playing princess, singing, fashion and science (space/anatomy/experiments).
My total budget is $100 or less. He lives in the Florida Gulf Coast and I live in a different state - if that matters.
Get thee to the Goodwill and amass him the most outrageous and awesome dress up collection. OMG, I would have killed for that as a kid. For that and legos.
I think EZ-bake ovens aren't as cool as they were when I was a kid but, really, what is baking but edible science? Along those lines, if you have the time, maybe you could audio record him a "lab experiment manual" where all the things are sciency stuff he can do with a little help. Things like dying water red and then putting in a white carnation, baking soda and vinegar. There is a lot of messy stuff a kid could get into.
posted by Foam Pants at 2:27 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think EZ-bake ovens aren't as cool as they were when I was a kid but, really, what is baking but edible science? Along those lines, if you have the time, maybe you could audio record him a "lab experiment manual" where all the things are sciency stuff he can do with a little help. Things like dying water red and then putting in a white carnation, baking soda and vinegar. There is a lot of messy stuff a kid could get into.
posted by Foam Pants at 2:27 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's hard to get a specific video camera at that price, and perhaps unnecessary - there's a lot of fun to be had learning about photography, visualisation and scene setting before getting into the more difficult arena of live action, plus most still cameras can take video of sorts.
I looked into a lot of these kids' cameras (stills, not video) a while back and they just seemed - very, very overpriced for what they were. Consistent feedback was that they took rubbish photos. I would be more inclined to just buy a cheap "tough" point and shoot camera. They can take videos, and for a 6/7 year old portability and toughness are probably more important than anything else if the quality is acceptable.
posted by MuffinMan at 2:33 AM on November 26, 2013 [2 favorites]
I looked into a lot of these kids' cameras (stills, not video) a while back and they just seemed - very, very overpriced for what they were. Consistent feedback was that they took rubbish photos. I would be more inclined to just buy a cheap "tough" point and shoot camera. They can take videos, and for a 6/7 year old portability and toughness are probably more important than anything else if the quality is acceptable.
posted by MuffinMan at 2:33 AM on November 26, 2013 [2 favorites]
How about talking to the public access station in his area and arranging a tour for him to see all the equipment and how things work? And how things go from being recorded to being put on television?
If he's interested in acting, then he's an okay age to start with some light voice lessons. Maybe offer to pay for some with a teacher in his area and see if he likes it? Learning how to sing now will help him with acting if he does pursue it (and should be fun at his age.)
posted by zizzle at 4:25 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
If he's interested in acting, then he's an okay age to start with some light voice lessons. Maybe offer to pay for some with a teacher in his area and see if he likes it? Learning how to sing now will help him with acting if he does pursue it (and should be fun at his age.)
posted by zizzle at 4:25 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Why not just get him a video camera? At $119 these are almost in your budget and have very simple button operation. Or, among those lines, an old no-network iPhone and a mini-tripod so he can shoot himself.
(I realise he's six and has learning deficits but given that the average 3 year old can operate an iPad, I think the chances he can master this are good.)
posted by DarlingBri at 4:34 AM on November 26, 2013 [3 favorites]
(I realise he's six and has learning deficits but given that the average 3 year old can operate an iPad, I think the chances he can master this are good.)
posted by DarlingBri at 4:34 AM on November 26, 2013 [3 favorites]
The LeapFrog Leap Pad. $89
It's a tablet for kids and it has a camera and video recorder. There's rudimentary editing as well, so kids can make their own movies.
Games, etc. The bonus is, there's learning software, so that when he starts reading, there are apps for that.
I'd get it for the moving making capability alone.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:18 AM on November 26, 2013 [4 favorites]
It's a tablet for kids and it has a camera and video recorder. There's rudimentary editing as well, so kids can make their own movies.
Games, etc. The bonus is, there's learning software, so that when he starts reading, there are apps for that.
I'd get it for the moving making capability alone.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:18 AM on November 26, 2013 [4 favorites]
A Flip camera! Perfect for a kid that age, easy to use and tons of fun. You can find one for around $30-40 on eBay.
posted by jbickers at 5:33 AM on November 26, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by jbickers at 5:33 AM on November 26, 2013 [7 favorites]
Magic tricks!
posted by Scram at 5:41 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Scram at 5:41 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
I agree that a flip camera is an easy kid-friendly item. I think learning the idea of making a story board is a fun option. Moleskin makes storyboard notebook or you could just get any blank notebook for him to use. I would also print out some examples with simple drawings to show him what is being done with a storyboard.
It also kind of highlights how you don't always need written words to get stuff done.
posted by InkaLomax at 5:45 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
It also kind of highlights how you don't always need written words to get stuff done.
posted by InkaLomax at 5:45 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Do they have a computer? If so, how about a second hand camcorder from eBay or craigslist, either digital or miniDV. Nobody wants those anymore, super cheap. My 7yo uses my old one, then we transfer the video to the computer. We have iMovie but he could use moviemaker if they have a PC.
Also, completely commercial crap but my 7yo was given one of the Dr. Dreadful toys on his birthday (alien autopsy) and it was a massive hit.
posted by Cuke at 8:04 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, completely commercial crap but my 7yo was given one of the Dr. Dreadful toys on his birthday (alien autopsy) and it was a massive hit.
posted by Cuke at 8:04 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Could you give him a handful of new costumes? For 100 bucks I bet you could really stock a dress-up wardrobe. Maybe his parents can clue you in on what he already has and what he wants. He sounds like an awesome kid!
Maybe get his parents the TV series Home Movies on DVD ;)
posted by like_a_friend at 8:08 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Maybe get his parents the TV series Home Movies on DVD ;)
posted by like_a_friend at 8:08 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Masks and capes. Stick on moustaches.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:37 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by ocherdraco at 8:37 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
A kid-sized director's chair with his name on it.
posted by clearlydemon at 9:56 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by clearlydemon at 9:56 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pipeski at 1:43 AM on November 26, 2013 [6 favorites]