It's Birthday Time! What should I get my ds who is turning 4 on Monday?

[JudoMom]

He'll be getting a bike. But I'll need to get him 3-4 other gifts (relatives send money).

What are the best things you've gotten that occupy a...uh...spirited ;) 4 year old?

[Mamagistra]

My 4yo is loving the Kapla blocks that we got on clearance at Target. :) He also adores Play-Doh and Playmobil. And sand. ;)

[sdWTMer]

That seems soooooo long ago! :(

[Old Dominion Heather]

Big Trucks, several... fire truck, garbage truck, back hoe, excavator, dumptruck. Always hits at our house.

and

Legos, blocks, puzzles, scooter, helmet and horn for the bike, ball cap.

oh! and our new favorite gift: STOMP ROCKETS!

[Brenda in FL]

My 5 yo has loved playmobil, kid k'nex, duplo lego (still!), play doh, books, cars.

[GreenKitty]

Legos
Magnetix
Books
Remote truck/car

[Andie]

He'll be getting a bike. But I'll need to get him 3-4 other gifts (relatives send money).

What are the best things you've gotten that occupy a...uh...spirited ;) 4 year old?

A MagnaDoodle? ;)

Leo is big on his View Master right now.

[Adrianne]

Experiment kits (they make them for 4 and up) Wild Goose etc.

Bath fizzes and bath finger paint (we make our own experiments with these!)

play-doh, cowboys and indians, army guys, a honky horn for his bike.

My Ds5 says, his favorite gifts last year were a bow and arrow set (play) and playmobile.

HTH
Adrianne

[gandpsmommy]

My 4yods is loving the Tinker Toys that he got for Christmas. He also really enoys his bop bag, and a pirate ship.

[Janna]

I agree with the big trucks stuff - my little guy got big firetrucks that make noise and the lights light up and all that fancy stuff. Oh, and it was a big deal to have a working ladder on it too. Same with dumptrucks. He loved those when he turned 4.

Also, what about a "marble machine" (as my ds calls it, lol) similar to this (http://www.hearthsong.com/hearthsong/product.do?section_id=0&bc=1005&pgc=1321&cmvalue=HS%7C0%7CNormal%20Search%20Result%7CP1)? That was a big hit here, especially since my little guy likes to build.

Also, since you said he had a lot of spirit, what about a bouncy ball like this (http://www.fitbuy.com/pd/bd5408009.html)? My ds still uses his so much. It's not the kind I just linked, but close enough. Now he needs a bigger one because his legs are so long, LOL. Anyway, that has been great around here to burn off some energy. In fact, someone mentioned one that has a base for doing school work on that interested me. It's here (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-2129767-6653704?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fitball+base&x=0&y=0).

Lastly, doesn't he have Geotracks? Maybe some additional pieces for that?

Hope that helps you some. You always gave me good ideas for Christmas - I'm sure you'll come up with some great gifts!

[Amy in VA]

I don't think there is a better gift for a 4yo boy than a stomp rocket! It gives them such feelings of power to see that thing shoot WAY up in the air. But get the name brand one, b/c the knockoff did not work for us. It is the best $12 you will ever spend, and you will be the absolute hit of any park, neighborhood, etc. And the kids will even enjoy it if the adults will let them use it too. :D

[momtolgd]

A box of art supplies? My oldest two love tape, colored pencils, scissors, lots of paper, crayons, markers, glue sticks, etc.

A new board game? Games are another big favorite here.

A helmet and pads to go with the new bike?

[JudoMom]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. One of the major problems is that he's 4th born boy, so we already have just about everything suggested! I took him out the other night, though, and found a Thomas the Train bed set on clearance for his toddler bed, he fell in love with this pirate ship (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2718740), this dinosaur (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2466340), and this Leap Frog thing (http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-21151-WordLaunch-Learn-to-Read-It-System/dp/B000NRRXQY).

I looked for the Kapla blocks on clearance, but they were gone. But I wanted to thank y'all for your help :D.

[HappyGrace]

and has already put his Cmas presents all aside to go back to playing with it! Big hit around here!