I don't have boys, I don't know what boys like. My dh is no help. I need cool gifts for an 2nd grader, a 5th grader and a 7th grader. I don't want to overthink it this year. I just want to go to toysrus or whatever and get them something they will love even if I think it's a hunk-a-junk. (I told this to my dh and he said what did I do with his wife, lol). Ideas pleeeez?

I have an almost 5 year old boy, so I don't know if I'll be much help. But his artistic abilities are that of an older child, so my mom got him the $60 easel from costco (the one with the colorful bins). We got him a bunch of art supplies, and since he is an action figure junkie, we got last seasons giant power ranger robot for $25 at the toys r us clearance. This years is on the commercials and is like $60. He'll also probably get some costumes for dress-up games at the after halloween clearance. HTH.

board games, harder puzzles, magic kits, experiment type kits, sports equipment, Books such as Hardy Boys, Animorphs (sp?), Goosebumps.

That's what's hot around our house. Art supplies would be welcome also.

I try to keep things somewhat educational so they aren't a total "heap of junk". ;)

bump. . .

any more ideas? As much as I would like to get them educational stuff I know it wouldn't get used unless it was in video or computer game form. Believe me, I get the educational stuff for my own children but I am tired of my gifts getting thrown in a corner after I put so much thought into it. Maybe I'll just give them money.

well, the video now things are popular, but expensive. maybe something harry potter? baseball hats, sports equipment? movie passes? my dd is in 2nd grade, but my ds is only 2, hope some of this helps;)

:thumbsup: Geomags/supermags

http://www.toymagnets.com/supermag/index.cfm

My kids are getting some of these they love them and so does my dh.

Does the 7th grader have a stereo? I'd get him a cd or two or a gift certificate to a music store if he does. If he doesn't maybe a personal cd player and a cd he'd like? (We got Chloe one at Best Buy with anti skip for $20. She's already really into music). The 2nd and 5th graders I don't have a clue, sorry. Maybe the 2nd grader would be into Hot Wheels or something?

for 2nd grade, Yu-Gi-Oh is the rage right now; hot wheels are more for the younger crowd imo. Or, my sis got each of my kids a toys r us gift card and I went and got movies for the kids at the after Christmas sale.

i'm shopping for my 11yo nephew and sil says he's into lego - bionicles mostly

what each child is into. I find as kids get older they are more picky and have specific interests. If you could ask the parents what they are all into maybe it would help you narrow it down or not repeat something they already have. Or if they have something like a game system you would be able to find that out and maybe get a game title they dont already have. Kids are o different like my dd loves to read but doesnt care for board games. Anyway, she has been asking for a game system but we told her for now we will be sticking with computer games. Then the day after we told her that she wanted Lazertag (a shooting game and we dont generally do the war toys thing but I am considering this). A lazertag set is like 50.00 but you could give it to both the 5th and 7th grader to use together unless their folks would object. Good luck!

I had a 5th grade nephew with a b-day a year or two ago and ended up getting him a bmx racing game for his PS2 and some paintballs for his paintball guns even though those arent up our alley because that is what his mom said he would love. Good luck!

Wow, those magnet toys are VERY cool!! Dh would love them too. Whodathought. . . cool and educational. LOL.

My third grader is very passionately into the Lego Bionicles. You can get Lego.com gift certificates and he can spend it himself. Or, ask the mom what he doesn't have and get him one of those. Max personally doesn't care if he gets duplicates. Can't have too many of a good thing ;)

He also loves Barnes and Noble gift certificates.

He's not huge into sports, but some kids that age are and getting them equipment (new balls or whatever) go over well.

Max loves movies. He also LOVES gift certificates to Toys R Us which he spends on Gameboy games.

My ds is in 2nd grade...and I will ditto on the magnets. He loves them, I am getting those for xmas for him. Also as I just asked him what he would recommend...and I will tell you I had no idea about these..lol, but he said http://www.etoys.com/Results.html?textSearch=1&FirstSearch=YES&previous_keywords=&D=Fuelers&place=ajnv&formState=&formInfo=T%7CD%7C0%7C255&formMap=

I guess he gave me another xmas idea in the process! lol

Good luck, but I agree with you, I would rather get something the kids will actually play with other than it getting tossed aside whether it be by the kids or the parents..lol. I leave the educational stuff to the parents-I am all about getting fun stuff. I personally think I would rather pick out the educational things for my kids anyway!

Originally posted by 3boysandme
Also as I just asked him what he would recommend...and I will tell you I had no idea about these..lol, but he said http://www.etoys.com/Results.html?textSearch=1&FirstSearch=YES&previous_keywords=&D=Fuelers&place=ajnv&formState=&formInfo=T%7CD%7C0%7C255&formMap=

We gifted one of those for a bday last Jan and it was a HUGE hit!!