Winter holiday gifting: 6, 7 and 8 year olds
November 18, 2022 3:45 AM Subscribe
I have three kids to get gifts for this year. My budget is $50 each but I’d love to spend less if possible.
Help me get things that they will enjoy.
Six year old is my kid. He’s on the very very active end of the ADHD spectrum (according to a recent evaluation, so I’m not exaggerating this) and things that are easily breakable, lend themselves to being thrown or can be swung in a circle like an object on a string are not going to survive or just can’t be brought into the house. He loves Lego but doesn’t assemble kits, just makes his own spaceships and battle ships. He has a bike, skateboard and scooter. We live in an area that gets snow in winter so sledding stuff is on the table. We celebrate Chanukah so nothing overtly Christmas-themed or colored (for those not familiar: holly, red and green, pine trees, doves, etc)
Second kid is my kid’s cousin, 8. He is out of his assembling Lego kit phase, likes math, not a terribly physical kid, lives in a place with less snow probability. Family celebrates Christmas and Chanukah but I’m part of the Chanukah branch of the family. I was thinking board game?
Third kid is my kid’s other cousin. Lives in a place with essentially zero snow. Will be given lots of gadgets by his immediate family so I probably won’t do that. Is also ADHD and very physically active. I don’t know this cousin as well as we live much further away. With this family, I’ve dropped the ball for other Christmases, so the gift can’t appear cheap or thoughtless - so no plastic item that will fall apart instantaneously and name brand might be important too (I’m not good at this kind of stuff but it is important to me to get back on track with my relationship with this part if the family).
Six year old is my kid. He’s on the very very active end of the ADHD spectrum (according to a recent evaluation, so I’m not exaggerating this) and things that are easily breakable, lend themselves to being thrown or can be swung in a circle like an object on a string are not going to survive or just can’t be brought into the house. He loves Lego but doesn’t assemble kits, just makes his own spaceships and battle ships. He has a bike, skateboard and scooter. We live in an area that gets snow in winter so sledding stuff is on the table. We celebrate Chanukah so nothing overtly Christmas-themed or colored (for those not familiar: holly, red and green, pine trees, doves, etc)
Second kid is my kid’s cousin, 8. He is out of his assembling Lego kit phase, likes math, not a terribly physical kid, lives in a place with less snow probability. Family celebrates Christmas and Chanukah but I’m part of the Chanukah branch of the family. I was thinking board game?
Third kid is my kid’s other cousin. Lives in a place with essentially zero snow. Will be given lots of gadgets by his immediate family so I probably won’t do that. Is also ADHD and very physically active. I don’t know this cousin as well as we live much further away. With this family, I’ve dropped the ball for other Christmases, so the gift can’t appear cheap or thoughtless - so no plastic item that will fall apart instantaneously and name brand might be important too (I’m not good at this kind of stuff but it is important to me to get back on track with my relationship with this part if the family).
Some of my students really like these skateboard type things: ripstick
posted by mai at 4:28 AM on November 18, 2022
posted by mai at 4:28 AM on November 18, 2022
And for the kid who likes math, a game my students love: Prime Climb
posted by mai at 4:34 AM on November 18, 2022
posted by mai at 4:34 AM on November 18, 2022
Things my 7-year-old loves:
One Night Werewolf (I warn people not to be deceived by his adorable, innocent-looking face. HE IS A VICIOUS LIAR who shows no mercy.)
Anything Pokemon
Anything Roblox
Anything Indiana Jones-ish (treasure maps, chests with gems, rubber snakes)
Snap circuits
Magnatiles (especially the 3-D ones)
He also just discovered Rainbow Looms, which his sisters adored at that age too. He'll likely get one as a gift this year. He's also getting a pocket microscope in his stocking.
posted by hessie at 5:28 AM on November 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
One Night Werewolf (I warn people not to be deceived by his adorable, innocent-looking face. HE IS A VICIOUS LIAR who shows no mercy.)
Anything Pokemon
Anything Roblox
Anything Indiana Jones-ish (treasure maps, chests with gems, rubber snakes)
Snap circuits
Magnatiles (especially the 3-D ones)
He also just discovered Rainbow Looms, which his sisters adored at that age too. He'll likely get one as a gift this year. He's also getting a pocket microscope in his stocking.
posted by hessie at 5:28 AM on November 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
If any of them like drawing and/or crafting, Posca pens are great - they are (water based) paint pens that will draw on most surfaces.
posted by Kiwi at 6:03 AM on November 18, 2022
posted by Kiwi at 6:03 AM on November 18, 2022
The Soma Cube came up recently on a question about good desk toys. They can scratch a 'need to fidget' itch but also have very neat mathematical properties and will teach kids things without them realizing it. I suppose they can be thrown but don't exactly lend themselves to it. My 5yo (and me) are very pleased with ours! I got this one off Etsy and it is nice and came fast.
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:52 AM on November 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:52 AM on November 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
For the quieter middle child, my kid loves chess and this led to joining a chess club at school which has helped with socializing (he's also ADHD but does take medication so for the really rambunctious kids YMMV). He loves games of strategy and also loves a game played with tiles but no board called Quirkle. Tiles are drawn by players and they must place them according to color and shape to gain the greatest number of points. It reminds me of scrabble in that there are strategies to maximize points, but with shapes and color rather than words.
For the really active kids, he and his siblings - same exact ages as yours - love skiing, skateboarding, and indoor climbing. Climbing is their most recent passion, since a new climbing gym with a kids' program opened. There are potentially equipment/lessons/access charges that might be gifted with each sport. Extra points if you offer to take the kids to the facility.
posted by citygirl at 7:24 AM on November 18, 2022 [2 favorites]
For the really active kids, he and his siblings - same exact ages as yours - love skiing, skateboarding, and indoor climbing. Climbing is their most recent passion, since a new climbing gym with a kids' program opened. There are potentially equipment/lessons/access charges that might be gifted with each sport. Extra points if you offer to take the kids to the facility.
posted by citygirl at 7:24 AM on November 18, 2022 [2 favorites]
For kids that are not your, most kids have tons of stuff, but may not have age-appropriate books and music. Another awesome gift, with parental approval, is a kids' museum membership. It's great to have a place to go hang out safely, have fun, explore.
Your son is a good age for a snowtube (example, have not used this version).
posted by theora55 at 7:31 AM on November 18, 2022
Your son is a good age for a snowtube (example, have not used this version).
posted by theora55 at 7:31 AM on November 18, 2022
My 8 year old has gotten an impressive amount of mileage out of Finger Strings . It's great for 7 years old too.
posted by StruggleBus at 5:02 AM on November 22, 2022
posted by StruggleBus at 5:02 AM on November 22, 2022
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posted by aetg at 4:20 AM on November 18, 2022