What should I mail to my nephew for Valentine's Day?

February 9, 2007 6:17 AM

I'd like to mail my 4-year old nephew a cute valentine & would like to include something in the envelope that isn't candy. I'd like there to be

more inside the envelope than just a card. Does anyone have any ideas for inclusions that can be sent easily in an envelope that a 4-year old would love? He wants to be Superman when he grows up, if that helps any.

posted by Alpenglow to Grab Bag (14 answers total)

Best answer: Stickers, confetti, flat photo magnets, a hand made drawing, construction paper hearts, pins, cool postcards, a link to a website that you can post stuff to him on?
posted by blackkar at 6:28 AM on February 9, 2007

Best answer: my kids are big on tattoos. and dover has tons of tiny $1.50 sticker/stencil/maze books - you can find them at independent craft/gift shops and book stores. (i've never seen them at chain craft stores or B&N.)
posted by chr1sb0y at 6:33 AM on February 9, 2007

Send a fun comic strip - either snipped out of the paper or printed off the Internet (comics.com has a bunch of strips).

Stickers are always fun.

A fun bookmark & a gift card to a bookstore so he can get a book to learn more about honing his superhero powers.
posted by tastybrains at 7:01 AM on February 9, 2007

Best answer: Stickers and a Five Spot. It doesn't get any better than that when you're four.
posted by milarepa at 7:07 AM on February 9, 2007

Best answer: Scratch and sniff stickers seem to rule the roost in my house. Both of the kids have great fun with them and like to show their friends. I think the favorite right now is this character called "Stinky Cheese Man".
posted by bkeene12 at 7:23 AM on February 9, 2007

Stickers, small bills, cheap magnifying "glass" (they make very thin low-quality ones, I've seen some that are basically just transparent plastic strips). Bookmarks. Trading card with favored branded characters if some have hooked marketing talons into him by now (I'm pretty sure that stuff's airborne and uses quantum electron tunneling to pierce all seals). Temporary tattoos.

More elaborate, collaborate with the parents to hide a non-envelope friendly gift somewhere in the house shortly before he receives the card; include in the card a "treasure map" to it.
posted by Drastic at 7:42 AM on February 9, 2007

I've drawn a blank about what you could send, but I would not give him anything containing Kryptonite.
posted by welephant at 7:43 AM on February 9, 2007 [1 favorite]

If you send confetti, please warn his parents ahead of time. I'm a total slob but I still get annoyed by confetti-filled envelopes.

Craft stores usually have jigsaw puzzle postcards that are pretty easy to put together. Write a message (print and use simple words if he's already a reader), take it apart, put it in an envelope and mail.
posted by gnomeloaf at 7:55 AM on February 9, 2007

Temporary tattoos are great for that age - many toy stores have them with insects, dinosaurs, etc. Also the mini maze or coloring books were a big hit with my nephew.
posted by marginaliana at 8:36 AM on February 9, 2007

Best answer: Stickers, stickers, stickers. Stickers. Stickers. Stickers stickers.

Signed,
mother of a four-year-old
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:51 AM on February 9, 2007

Best answer: Stickers. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
posted by plinth at 10:49 AM on February 9, 2007

I have a 4 yr old and a 5 year old. Everyone has covered good stuff already, but let me reiterate: NO CONFETTI (or glitter, which is way worse mess-wise).
posted by serazin at 11:44 AM on February 9, 2007

a cd?
posted by twistofrhyme at 2:37 PM on February 9, 2007

How about a packet of confetti soap? Festive, fun and not messy!
posted by necessitas at 3:53 PM on February 9, 2007