| Author | |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 12:13am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
beanie baby size or smaller?
the webkinz have some mini animals (a small fish, bird and such) probably about the size of a softballs.. webkinz are big here right now.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 12:16am | IP Logged
|
|
|
JodieLyn wrote:
beanie baby size or smaller?
|
|
|
Definitely smaller. Closer to the size of Calico Critters, but soft, like a stuffed animal.
And, yep, Webkinz are big here too. If I really wanted to make my almost 6yo happy, I'd buy her all screen-related gifts because she loves them.  Webkinz, Nintendo ds games, dvds . . . . So I'm working on non-screen creative play.
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
sewcrazy
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2006
Location: Illinois
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 735
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 7:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
tallulah23 wrote:
| Those that mentioned kitchen sets...do you have any affordable suggestions? Any that aren't cheaply made but will still last? Dh is on the fence about it since it is pricey for us, but I REALLY think my 2yr old dd will LOVE it! :) |
|
|
We have the wood one from Target. It has stood up to 3 years of hard play at my home.
__________________
LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mellyrose
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 12 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 939
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 9:09am | IP Logged
|
|
|
teachingmom wrote:
Anyone else want to comment on whether play silks are really worth it?
|
|
|
I think playsilks are worth it. My boys have had them since they were around 1, and they have gotten so much use out of them. They use them as capes, blankets for toys, play areas, etc. We have a few different sizes.
You can buy the silks at Dharma Trading for under $5 and dye them yourself with Kool-Aid
I'm going to buy a few and have the boys dye them for Lydia for her 2nd birthday since the silks we have now are getting ratty. They do take a lot of abuse, though!
__________________
Melanie in AZ
Colin (11/00), Nate (05/02), Lydia (04/07)
My Little Patch of Sunshine
Pictures of our Life
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
KackyK
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2007
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1811
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 11:11am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Melanie, very cool do it yourself silks.
I'm a novice at this for sure, when I went to Dharma, there are different "types" of silks. What is the one that is best for this? I have NO fabric experience, but trying to learn
__________________
KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bethany
Forum Pro
Joined: Oct 16 2006
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 299
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 11:12am | IP Logged
|
|
|
My girls also love the playsilks. I bought them from Dharma Trading and dyed them myself for this past Easter. Around here they are usually fancy skirts or a table cloth. They are played with everyday! I think they play so much with them because I tend to limit the dress up clothes. All those pieces and the constant changing of outfits can drive me crazy. The main dress up clothes we have are simple dresses, aprons and bonnets my mom made for them last year. They were made with a Butterick pattern I believe and they even wore them on Halloween as Mary, Laura, and baby Carrie.
We're getting a new wood kitchen since the old plactic version broke and I still have plenty of years of kitchen play ahead.
Also, if anyone is near a Homegoods store, they usually have a great selection of pretty good quality books and toys. The books are a little more hit or miss, but I have bought several Melissa and Doug stacking toys and puzzles at great prices. They also will have Playmobil. They recently had the pirate ship and flower shop. I also bought a set of Mother Goose nesting, stacking tower cubes.
__________________
Bethany
Wife to Mike, Mommy to Amelia (6/02), Sarah (10/03), Martha Grace (10/05), Rebecca Anne (12/07), Laura Catherine (3/10) and Reed Michael 7/4/14.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Chari
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5228
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 11:48am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Irene,
Sometimes I just re-gift the toys I already have for the younger set........that I had put away, of course. my 1, 2 and 3yos never know the difference and I just explain to the the olders that it makes no sense buying MORE STUFF for the youngers when we already have enough, good stuff here.
__________________
Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 12:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MaryM has a great tutorial for dyeing silks.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 1:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
KackyK wrote:
Melanie, very cool do it yourself silks.
I'm a novice at this for sure, when I went to Dharma, there are different "types" of silks. What is the one that is best for this? I have NO fabric experience, but trying to learn |
|
|
Yes, please share which silks to look for at Dharma Trading. I assume you look under silk scarves, but there are lots of choices. Thanks!
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mary Chris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2175
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 2:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
]habatoi, I'm not sure if I spelled that correctly . I am pretty sure this is what I used when I dyed scarves years ago.
Of course, I think your 6yo would enjoy a week at the Van Trapp Family Lodge, I saw a New Year's Eve listing on Craig's List recently. 
If you go the Kool-Aid route, make sure you do bright, dark colors. We did not have a lot of sucess with light pink. I am happy to help.
__________________
Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
graciefaith
Forum Pro
Joined: June 08 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 361
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 3:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
My almost 6yo would love this.
Illustory
There is also a christian edition.
Along the same lines...
My Masterpiece
My dd is getting an art set from her grandparents that i know she will love.
art set
You can add a lap desk that you can get cheap from Micheals or Walmart.
How about a floor puzzle. My other dd(7yo) will be getting a nice big floor puzzle from her grandparents. She loves puzzles.
Or, if you have a lot of baby dolls, maybe a baby set(playpen, high chair, stroller).
Dd's bday is at the end of December and she has been asking for a set like that all year long. I'm finally giving her one. We dont have many baby dolls here since neither of my dd's like them very much. But this same dd has asked for one so along with the baby set, i'm getting her a baby doll.
Now both dd's are getting the Wowee Alive cubs. One is getting the lion cub and the other the white tiger cub. This is the only gift they are receiving from us. They are pricey but very cute. My dd's understand that they do not move or do tricks but just make cute noises and facial expressions. Stuffed animals are big here so i know these will be played with a lot.
Wowee Alive Cubs
__________________
Blessed wife and mom of 3 girls, Sept. '01, Dec. '02 and Oct. '07
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Bethany
Forum Pro
Joined: Oct 16 2006
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 299
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 4:40pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I used these scarves and dyed them with food coloring. I think I bought the 30" square.
__________________
Bethany
Wife to Mike, Mommy to Amelia (6/02), Sarah (10/03), Martha Grace (10/05), Rebecca Anne (12/07), Laura Catherine (3/10) and Reed Michael 7/4/14.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 11:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary Chris wrote:
| habatoi, I'm not sure if I spelled that correctly . I am pretty sure this is what I used when I dyed scarves years ago. |
|
|
Bethany wrote:
| I used these scarves and dyed them with food coloring. I think I bought the 30" square. |
|
|
Thank you Mary Chris and Bethany! I just ordered 6 of the 35" x 35" habotai scarves for my two youngest girls to share. (What a great savings over the ready made ones!) I'm thinking I may package them with the materials for dyeing them and include the older of the two girls in the process. She loves crafts and this could be part of the fun of the gift for her. I am saying this partly because I don't know how I could dye them between now and Christmas and keep them a secret around here. 
Mary Chris wrote:
| Of course, I think your 6yo would enjoy a week at the Van Trapp Family Lodge, I saw a New Year's Eve listing on Craig's List recently. |
|
|
You know her well! She would definitely be in heaven. Last Christmas I found two perfect gifts for her. A vintage Sound of Music book on eBay and a Fraulein Maria Barbie doll!
Thanks! We will likely be calling you in late Dec/ early Jan when we're ready to dye. 
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 11:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Those are really great ideas. I noticed that the same company offers a "Make a Plate" kit. The child does the art work and you mail it in. Then they send you a melanine plate with the child's design permanently printed on it. Both my 8yo and my 5yo have birthdays in January. I'm thinking they may both get the plate kits . . . .
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Virginia Bluebells
Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
|
| Posted: Dec 02 2008 at 11:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
teachingmom wrote:
Another question: A few months back I was at a play rehearsal with some of the girls. A few girls in the play brought small animal toys that looked interesting. They were not Calico Critters, of which we have one set that does not get played with  . They looked like tiny plush toys - maybe a few inches in length. (Close to the size of Littlest Pet Shop animals, but soft.) I think the girls would play with those and enjoy them. Any ideas what they were? |
|
|
I think I figured out what they were.
Only Hearts Club Pets
__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Dec 03 2008 at 12:15am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Irene if those are the plate kits I'm thinking of.. you can send in more than one plate per kit.. you get one with the purchase of the kit (or at least cheaper) but then others are cheaper than buying a second kit. I think when I did them I got one kit per two kids.. maybe even three kids.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Forum Locked) 
4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Christmas gifts for younger girls?
