What Does a 5Yr Old Boy and an 8 Yr Old Girl Like?

I agree with the others about the MP3 players--they're a bit much for such young kids. As for comforters, a bright and cute comforter with hearts or peace signs or hippie-type flowers (not chintz!) would be great for the girl and it would age with her. Or the black and white and hot pink sounded perfect for her. For the boy, something space-themed or cowboy-themed or sports-themed would be cool and he won't outgrow it for a few more years.

For the "cool toy," my daughter and nieces love craft kits. There are sticky mosaics (my favorite!), beading kits, weaving kits, etc. It's fun to work on these projects, and they are very affordable. For the boy, age-appropriate puzzles, or a set of tinkertoys or k'necs (sp?), or something he can build with would be great. Or if you want more of a "wow" factor, Santa brought my daughter some refrigerator magnets shaped like gears when she was 2. Three years later, it's still the one toy every kid gravitates to when they come over. It's battery-operated, and you hook the magnets together and they spin round and round. The set was not very expensive, but there are some more expensive refrigerator magnet gears that light up as well.

Hope this helps!

Hi D.,

I have a 5, 8, and 11 yr old. Their ideas of what are popular change, sometimes, from day to day. My son has a down comforter with a duvet that has trains on it, but if he gets tired of the trains it can be turned over to show stripes of red, blue, green, etc. I would recommend getting a comforter with age neutral patterns or colors that they can grow into, maybe even something that is reversible (I love Ross for comforters - great prices, often good selection). However, I would stay away from anything theme specific - Hannah Montana, High School Musical, etc. They like it now, but later it becomes an embarrassment.

As for the MP3 players, I think they are both too young and kids often want them but do not think about the cost involved in maintaining, power source, acquiring the music, etc. My 8 year old loves purses, lip gloss, press on nails, barbies, baby dolls, and creating stuff (I got her a self contained scrap book and a kit to create a memory box, etc.). The five year old will love anything that is car related (hotwheels, tracks, storage container, etc), robotic trucks (send extra batteries), hand helds (however, the games are very expensive and require batteries as well), and age appropriate games (sequence, zingo, chutes and ladders, etc.).

These are just my thoughts as I often have to make practical decisions for my kiddos. They do not have MP3 players, game systems, etc. and are perfectly happy with what they have. I would say to stay away from books. Some kids love to read and they all have varying interests (the 11 year old changes interests in reading from book to book, my 8 year old likes barbie or whatever she happens to come across, my five year old loves dinosaurs, question and answers books, anything science related. While I agree that the love of reading is a fantastic choice, there are many libraries (school, city libraries, etc.) that they could fulfill those needs with.

I'm sorry this is so long. I didn't intend for it to be such a long post. I must say, God bless you for blessing the lives of others.

Sincerely,

M.

Any super hero should do for the 5 yr. old boy(comforter) and maybe some purples or greens for the 8 yr.old girl- something that can grow with her a little- I don't think I would do lots of pinks or any barbie themed one- she might like it right now- but it wouldn't last too long.
As for the MP3 player- I would consider getting one for the 8 yr. old- maybe- I personally don't like mp3s or ipods- they drive me nuts! I think the 5 yr. old is a little young for something like that.
My 9 yr.old daughter loves to make things with beads- they have some neat jewlery making sets- she also enjoys reading(she's reading "The Lightening Theif" series and is really enjoying it)
My 5yr. old son loves bionicles and poke'mon- little action figure- not the card game yet. They also both enjoy puzzles and play dough. Maybe a fun cd instead of an mp3 player. I know my 5 yr.old would lose it within a week and it would take slightly longer for my 9yr.old to lose one if we got her one- they are just so small.
But you can get one fairly inexpensivly if you choose to go that route.
Merry Christmas!
~C.

Don't buy anything that needs batteries. Too expensive to replace.

Don't assume the family does not have a computer. Just because they are having a bad year doesn't mean things haven't been better in the past.

In my experience 5 year old boys love action figures, cars, balls, trains, etc... The old stand by stuff.

Remember that it is unlikely your own children get Everything they want for Christmas. Most of us don't. So whatever you do will be very nice and most likely appreciated.

Just my opinion, but you asked: MP3 players are too much for a 5 and 8 year old child. The capability of the volume to be played really loud next to the ear will mean that their ears, the inner sensitivity, could be easily damaged. Remember Peter Townsend, guitarist for The Who? Nearly deaf now, after all that loud music in early years. Also, MP3 players have been shown to be a factor within a family that allow for isolation,(especially in teen years,) and the ignoring or missing out on family input and interaction. Also, they're expensive, and easily lost, broken, or stolen. Kids that age are rarely responsible for such valuables, having little sense of the worth and cost or replacement. If the family has trouble financially already, this may prove to be a potential loss that can't be absorbed. I'd vote No, for this age group. Suggestion: a self-contained handheld game device that the kids can play in the car, etc. One not so costly that, if lost or damaged, will be a huge hit to the family.

I would suggest the disney mix stix(MP3)players. In regards to the computer to load the songs, they probably do have one or know someone with a computer or else the Mom probably wouldn't have listed MP3 players, just my thoughts. Also, for comforters, "most" 8 yr. old girl likes High School Musical or Hannah Montanna Stuff and for 5 yr. old boys, they are into all the superheros, transformers etc. HTH

You can't really go wrong with edu toys. I wouldn't think they have access to a computer to download songs, plus that cost money. I would go for a V-Tech/Leapfrog laptop or handhelp learning system. I think that would be much better used and money well spent.

How about a book for each of them? Encouraging the imagination through reading is a wonderful gift! As for the comforter, if the family is poor, this will probably have to last them a long time. If you get characters, the comforter may get very dated before it physically wears out, so perhaps some age and gender-appropriate colors/patterns would be better than characters like hannah montana or whatnot.

Transformers and Hannah Montana. You'd be surprised who gets on that Angel tree! Last year my mother-in-law delivered the gifts directly to their house and she said they had more than me and my family. Chances are they do have a computer if they asked for MP3 players.

Well I guess I will submit m 2 cents in the pot.
My son just turned 6 and he never liked any of the super heros. But he has been into Disney cars, Hot wheels and Thomas the train. Little boys love Cars and sports. I say you can't go wrong with cars or sports with all balls like soccer football etc.

Girls my daughter name is Hannah and well she learned at 3 who Hannah Montana was and we can't mention her name. Mnay of the girls I know that age are sick of High School Musical and Hannah Montana. They been out for awhile, unless they sd they like that. They have some cute girly ones with flowers or different colors. I saw one that had black and white with Hot Pink it was realy cool. I would do that for my daughter room if she was alittle older. Both my kids like a solid color and they pick out the throw they want and sleep under the throw. My son has a thomas or cars and he picks theone he wants and it changes the room. The Disney MP3 would be good. My son has liked the Disney CARS laptop and great for learning too.