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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Aug 10 2007 at 8:08pm | IP Logged
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I am trying to get my list together of birthday and Christmas gift ideas to give family and friends. My 4 1/2 year old is easy because she is much more developed and very vocal about the myriad of things that she wants.
The problem is my almost 2-year-old. We have so many toys left over from her older sister that the younger doesn't really need that much, but I need some ideas to tell others what to get. This is especially important because other than my mother-in-law, all of our family lives in another state and my mother has several friends that want to buy for my kids.
I always try to come up with toy or game ideas that don't involve lots of batteries, use lots of imagination or thinking skills, can sometimes be combined with other toys for more fun, will have longevity, and be easily stored. Last year I recommended a few Little People sets and we were inundated. I've now made a rule against Little People and stuffed animals.
Her birthday is October 6, so I may be able to put a few fall/winter clothing items on the list, but I'm really looking for some more ideas. And it would need to be things that can be found easily at the store. My parents don't do internet shopping. I often encourage my parents just to buy one or two things and make up any difference in savings bonds. I've thought about just setting up an savings account for the kids activities and homeschooling supplies and giving my family a stack of deposit slips to hand out to their friends. 
Any ideas would be appreciated.
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esperanza
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| Posted: Aug 10 2007 at 8:16pm | IP Logged
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Duplos...My dc have been adding and playing with ours for the past 16-17 yrs.
I have my eye on these Lego Duplo Tubes  We love Duplos!
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In His Peace,
Tammy Gonzalez in VA
dh-Johnny
mom to Tara-'85, Noelle-'88, Jeremy-'91, Elizabeth-'93, Emma-'96, Dominic-'99, Gabriel-'01, Elijah-03
and Jacinta-06
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Red Cardigan
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How about books? Board books and simple story books for the two year olds are easy to shop for, and the books that really get "loved" at that age don't always survive to be handed down anyway.
Children's music cds don't take up lots of room either, and even if you have some from your older dd there are probably more available. Books on tape or cd are nice too.
Each of my girls gets a "collectible" from their grandmothers. My mom buys a teacup for each birthday--some very special, like the ones she had my sister buy in Rome, and some just fun, like some Mary Engelbreit ones the girls love. My DH's mom loves jewelry and has started a silver charm bracelet/charm collection for each girl. The individual charms are not expensive and are fun for grandma to shop for! And the bracelet can be put away to be worn when your daughter is a bit older.
Another idea for your out of state relatives is consumable art supplies like drawing paper and coloring books. Also, if you've already started a "dress-up box" for your older dd, your relatives could add to it with simple costume pieces--easy to find in October!
Hope this isn't too much!  My dd's are very close in age and we had the same problem for a long time.
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aiereis
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| Posted: Aug 11 2007 at 5:54pm | IP Logged
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For my two-year old the type of gifts that I prefer are ones that are educational or somehow mentally or tactilely simulating. This can be pretty broad at age two. For example, for his birthday he was given a wooden tool set which included nuts and bolts that could screw together. It took him quite a while to learn how to screw and unscrew the bolts, so I would consider that gift tactilely stimulating.
Gifts that I would like (versus merely tolerating or disliking) my toddler to receive:
Wooden puzzles
Books and more books
Things that encourage musical appreciation like a xylophone or classical cd's
Various shaped blocks
Duplos
A ball that's a globe
For Christmas I like the idea of getting a new nativity piece each year.
--Christina
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KC in TX
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Have you seen the stuff from Lauri? These are great. The best thing is that you can get replacement pieces!
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KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
Mama to LB ('98)
Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
The Cabbage Patch
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ann@home
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| Posted: Aug 18 2007 at 6:56pm | IP Logged
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If really don't want more toys or at least not many, then how about clothes or just a savings bond? I know it's not exciting but we're talking about a 2 yr old-they will never know! 
My guy will be 3 this Christmas and I've already given a list to one side of the family that includes shirts/sweatshirts with trains/tractors/animals on them and ONLY 1 Thomas the train car. I told them to coordinate so he only gets the 1 train. That will be the only thing he plays with anyway so why worry about more toys.
I know this will sound a bit mean but for the last few yrs we stressed to both families about cutting back and less toys. My MIL didn't listen and my Dh told her that all but 1-2 toys the kids really wanted would go to Goodwill or a shelter if she bought too much. Well, last yr she bought too much and we took it to a shelter. She was really miffed. My DH told her repeatedly to stop buying so much.
We're hoping this year she finally listens.
My mom just gets the kids 1 thing they really want (might be a toy, clothes, etc) and a book. If there's extra money she planned to spend then it goes in their college fund. Everyone likes this idea.
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Ann, Full-time Mama of a 10yr old Lego master, 7yr old DIVA, 4yr old King of the Mountain and one more in June '09!
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UK Mum
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| Posted: Aug 24 2007 at 2:35pm | IP Logged
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Hello
my daughters are of a very similar age to yours. Rose will be 2 at the beginging of September. I made her a 'waldorf' doll(the large one)
http://www.joyswaldorfdolls.com/doll_kits_and_patterns/16_bu tton_baby_&_9_tiny_button.htm
& i also got her a wicker pram. My MIL has bought her the most beutiful wooden noah's ark. It really is a treasure, filled with wooden animals.
hth
Lynn
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humanaevitae
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| Posted: Aug 24 2007 at 3:23pm | IP Logged
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fingerpaints
small wooden doll sets
bubbles
puzzles
finger puppets
fisher price tape player
windup flashlight
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Nicole-Zane 10, Elizabeth 7, Xavier 4, and John Patrick 2
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Topic: Gift ideas for 2 year old
