craftyhunnypie Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 It's my nephew's birthday soon, he will be 2. He is extremely clever for his age! His mummy & daddy are buying him a playhouse for the garden ( wooden one I think) & a few other bits. I've asked her if she thought he'd like a play kitchen to go in it & she's said yes, as he plays with other kids kitchens & the one at tots group. Have looked at sooo many, which seem flimsy. Narrowed it down to Little Tikes side by side kitchen or Early learning Sizzling kitchen. Little tikes seems really well made. Anyone any experience of either of these play kitchens..is this a good idea? What other little presents can I get him? He's already got a teaset in a draining rack from Toys r us. I thought about some plastic boats from Toys r us, for his paddling pool or bath..He loves water! Aunty Em had to get in in Paddling pool last week with him & he poured his watering can over me! He also loves balls & things that makes noises or play music. He likes to dance! As I soon won't be seeing him as often with moving away. I want to spoil him a bit more this birthday. Hope you can help. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emily95 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 What about all sorts of plastic foods for his kitchen? I remember my kitchen being my favourite toy for years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 we had an ELC one, it was orange and green (fond memories!) it stood up to life pretty well as I recall. play food/play packets is a great idea, and a shopping basket to put things in? ELC was always fab for this age group... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 I did think about that, as have seen a few good sets about. Some that don't have those silly cardboard packets that get squashed & wet. I've also seen a little chefs hat & apron, which he would wear..he's into hats. He often wears his bob the builder hard hat, his policemen hat or his mums kitchen funnel on his head! The tea set has ended up all over the place, including in his sand table. Cups of sand - mmm yummy! Any other ideas? What do most 2 year olds play with these days? In my days it was stickle bricks, weebles & Fisher price play houses, schools & tree houses, with figures. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 My son was (and still is) totally obsessed with cars, tractors, lorries, trucks etc when he was two. Oh and trains! And trikes.....in fact anything with wheels!! He also loves stickers and books (especially if they relate to vehicles ) Sorry not much help in relation to play kitchens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 What do most 2 year olds play with these days? In my days it was stickle bricks, weebles & Fisher price play houses, schools & tree houses, with figures.Emma.x In my day too! In fact I missed my fisher price play house so much I got one for my 2 year old off ebay exactly the same as the one I had in the 70s. She loves it and it only cost me £8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 I gave my nephew all my fisher price stuff. He's already got a till , a sit on tractor & trailer, a Thomas electric ride on train & track, a wheelie bug & a rocking horse, that he had for Xmas. He's got colouring books & chunky crayons that he likes. Crayon has appeared on the skirting board. He has a sand & water table & a little tikes climbing thing with double slides. Lots of lovely people spoil him! He's certainly allowed to play! He did have a trolley that he loved, but the wheels broke off. Perhaps I could find a metal kids supermarket trolley, then he can use his play food from his kitchen in that too? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 My god kids love their ELC kitchen. Their mother bought them plastic food to go in it... Burgers, chips etc I bought them the chop and play veg and fruit sets also from ELC. They also love the realistic noise kettles you can get. I'm actually quite can I come and play Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 I know! I love going my sister's house & playing with my nephew..it's a great excuse to play! I wouldn't want a child though. No no! Nice to hand them back! AtEm (Aunty Em) plays for hours with her nephew - I sleep very well afterwards. That cut & play food looks very good. When I've moved & my nephew visits me - I'll give you a shout & we can all play & have a picnic. Do you like wooden apples & plastic eggs? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I LOVE wooden apples and plastic eggs It's a date Emma I know what you mean about loving them and not wanting one yourself. I had my 9month old nephew overnight last night (2nd time in under a week), it was wonderful, it was exhausting, I love him more than anyone else in the world, but boy was I glad to give him back to my sister.... Who said "You look knackered.... Welcome to my world" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I think a good book can be an amazing & lifelong present. A well loved, tatty book can bring back a lot of memories. My daughter was given The Night Before Christmas for her first birthday (august baby) OH read it every Christmas Eve to us as our family grew, after the carrots, sherry & mince pies had been prepared. Actual magic. That was a lovely present that we put out as a decoration now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janepie33 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I think a good book can be an amazing & lifelong present. I agree! Books Books and more books for a 2 year old and pleeeeease not plastic things! Anything wooden is excellent - you can get some lovely sets of wooden fruit and veg velcroed together and a small wooden knife to cut them apart - hours of fun. Also musical instruments - bells, shakers tambourines (wooden if possible!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 Space chick - we have a lot in common, including inventor hubby's & our craziness! He has lots & lots of books too & he is oh so careful with them too. Never seen that quality in a child before, most rip pages, colour on them & pop up books are usually ruined, but not him. He studies them sooo carefully & turns the pages lovely. He has some beautiful books. I will when he is older buy him The Magic Faraway Tree set. Most toys these days are plastic & I will buy them for him as well as wooden ones. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Our eldest had a little ELC cooker for either his 2nd or 3rd birthday, along with matching apron & oven gloves & a lot of food & boxes. The food ended up everywhere, drove me nuts. Our middle son then loved playing with it too & still does when they remember about it We also got the microwave, that was a big hit. I bought for my nephew too. Also the kettle They also both have one of those magic drawing board things, can't remember the proper name now. The one's with the magnetic pen & makes black marks, then you slide the slider and it clears it all. The both still use them all the time & Ben is starting to make marks now too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 Ooo the microwave & kettle are good ideas, as he likes to copy mummy. He is a nifty hoover upper! Drawing board thingy is a good idea actually - would need one with large shapes - so that he couldn't swallow them - but he likes trying to scribble his doggie, his parents & AtEm. Will bear all these things in mind when I go toy shopping for his prezzies. So far on the list I have... kitchen cut & play food kettle microwave drawing board trolley Will see what others want to get him out of that list too. Wish I was a tot again. Any more ideas? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Mega Bloks are brilliant too! Though they only come in plastic Stickle bricks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 He's not bothered with his Mega blocks for some reason. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Magnadoodle!! That's the name of the drawing board thingy, we've got the ELC own version though. They do have 3 or 4 stampers in, but you could take them away until he's older if he puts them in his mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I read this as "Want to buy a 2 year old?" Sorry! Nothing useful to add... I like all the above - proper toys that can be played with, and can fire the imagination! Have fun choosing - and playing with it all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Ooo magnadoodle..off to do some research thanks! I most certainly would not want to buy a 2 year old - Arrrgggh! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sageandonion Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I think a good book can be an amazing & lifelong present. A well loved, tatty book can bring back a lot of memories. My daughter was given The Night Before Christmas for her first birthday (august baby) OH read it every Christmas Eve to us as our family grew, after the carrots, sherry & mince pies had been prepared. Actual magic. That was a lovely present that we put out as a decoration now. Just had to reply to this - this is our Christmas tradition too! We bought it for our eldest son as a baby (he's now 13 our youngest is 8 ) and my OH reads it every Xmas Eve sitting on the rocking chair we'd use to rock our then babies to sleep. Just love kids books - Peepo - Janet and Alan Ahlberg - is a lovely book for toddlers. Also Each Peach Pear Plum. Mine also loved Mick Inkpen - Kipper the dog books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 The Omlet shop has some kitcheny toys for sale http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?product_id=10666 and http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Gifts&sub=For+Kids&product_id=5820&product_name=Box+of+Wooden+Fruit+and+Veg My hubby has just said "you wanna buy a two year old something they can throw around the room and not break!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 There is a fabulous drawing thingy from Tomy that is activated by water - brilliant both indoors and out. Don't ask me how it works but it's a playmat and when the child doodles on it with water they get to see patterms and colous underneath. Best thing is NO MESS!!!!!!!!! When they have finished their masterpieces simply hang it up to dry and it's all ready for another go. Best present aside from books that I have seen in a very long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PurpleTree Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 We've got one of those water drawing mat things, Aquadraw I think it's called. Kids loved it, but when little they had a habit of sucking all the water out of the pens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Better than sucking the ink out of felt tips I suppose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
