 Marbles: not the greatest toddler gift van Ort / Flickr |
I'll share here, because I just like complaining, and this incident served me right. My son was born on the first of November, so he didn't really remember his first Christmas, since he was just a wee little guy. The next Christmas, however, was a blow out of amazing gifts. We started to open presents and most of them were filled with age-appropriate toys, books and other great stuff. Then came this package that carried a rugby looking fleece shirt. Awww, cute little rugby player, right? No. This thing was a size 10. Yes, as in, it was for a 10-year-old boy.
I was grateful, but confused. Was I really to carry this shirt around for the next 10 years of my son's life? Later, Grandma told me that she'd gotten it for a dollar or something on sale and just couldn't pass it up.
Fast forward 10 years to the coldest winter I can remember (that came on like gangbusters) and I'm the mom who hasn't gone winter clothes shopping. I'm staring at a closet full of thin, too-small T-shirts when what do my wandering eyes see? That rugby shirt, hanging there dutifully in the very back of the closet. I threw it on him along with his coat and gloves and off he went to play in the snow. It was his favorite shirt to wear all winter.
So, that gift was both the worst gift (I thought) that turned out to be the best gift my toddler ever received. Thanks Grandma Sylvia! You truly did know best.
Now, it's your turn. Please share your story:
Hands down best toddler gift ever was Leap Frog’s Fridge Phonics. Reasons:
1) Educational
2) Developmentally Appropriate
3) The magnets give it the perfect storage – never lost a single piece
4) It kept my kiddos entertained while I was prepping dinner. Kept them happy because they were in the same room with me!
What are your favorite stocking stuffers for toddlers?
Those tiny books that have one to two words on each page. They were the BEST stocking stuffers for my son!
What’s the best gift your toddler has ever received?
It was Christmas and my son was just under 2 years old. I had several gifts that family and friends had mailed us, the best of which was this LARGE piece floor mat puzzle. At first I thought, “Oh great a toy I’m going to have to hide from him until he’s old enough NOT to eat it!” However he pulled it out and has been addicted to puzzles ever since! Wonderful!
What’s the worst gift your toddler has ever received?
Someone at my son’s 2nd birthday bought him a toy gun. Now, by his 2nd birthday I had not yet decided whether or not he would be allowed to play with toys guns… Until he pulled out this realistic sized (and realistic looking!) shotgun…. I don’t care if it shot little plastic suction cup darts or not, it creeped me out to see my beautiful and sweet toddler holding a shotgun! (Luckily he forgot all about it by the time he woke up the next morning!)
Best gift: our oldest son (now 9) got an intellitable from the grandparents. Oldest daughter (now 7) her 1st cabbage patch, and youngest daughter (now 2 1/2) got her 1st cabbage patch as well.
Worst gift: son#1 was given crayola watercolour paints, daughter#1 was given make-up, daughter#2 was given a ‘make your own jewelry’ bead kit.
My 18 month old loves her mini-Doodle Pro. She’s getting the full-size version this year. Also, the Biscuit series of books are always a hit in our house.