4 y/o Christmas Help

13 years ago

We just learned today (with no prior warning) that divorced son and 4 y/o daughter will be here (via airplane) from December 22 through December 26. So a Gingerbread House for her and me is in the plans already, but I need some additional help!!!!!!!

They are flying here - so anything she is gifted from Santa or from us, needs to be either small and light weight for them to fly home with and/or easy to ship back to them. His request is that we not go overboard. I understand that, but SHE IS 4 YEARS OLD fer crying out loud and Santa needs to come!

Any and all ideas are sooooo welcome. Thank you, friends.

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Comments (21)

pkramer60
13 years ago
Woodie, is this the son in Chicago? And for sending home the "haul", I say ship it with UPS or FedEx and forget the airlines.

Isn't that what Grandma's are for? To spoil the littles ones?
sally2_gw
13 years ago
Do you know what she's interested in? Is she active? I'm getting my 3 1/2 year old grandson a wagon for Christmas, which would be out of the question for her, but he loves to make a wagon out of our ice chest that's on wheels. I'd find out from your son what she likes and doesn't like. Dolls? Arts and crafts? I saw a small trampoline (one of those individual size, little round ones) at a toy store last night that folds up. It was just under $100, so I didn't get it, but I'm seriously considering it instead of or in addition to the wagon. It has a handle bar to hold onto. It was labeled for ages 3+. It might be shippable. Of course, a little girl might not be as hyper as a little boy, like my gs.

Sally
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mustangs81
13 years ago
Well, don't get her jeans!! My just turned 4 year old informed her mom that if she had to wear jeans "my life will be ruined!" She does have Repunzel hair on her list, that's light weight.

I bought her a Barbie bike but didn't bring it to her birthday party, instead I wrapped a picture; the bike was waiting at home. Maybe you could wrap a picture of whatever you buy online and have the toy sent to her home.

Check out Amazon for toy ideas and reviews.

Have fun!!

Here is a link that might be useful: 4 Year Old Gift
chase_gw
13 years ago
Oh Woodie how wonderful!

Find out from Dad if there are any family Santa customs, you know cookies and milk or pizza and beer....does Santa leave wrapped on unwrapped gifts. He always left them unwrapped in our house. He's a busy guy! You will want it to be similar what she is used too.

A stocking would be nice. Stuff it with Polly Pockets, lip balm, a bit of candy, ear muffs, silly socks, stickers etc

As for gifts, Peppi is right...ship them home if you have too! LOL

Some things that come to mind, PJ's and fuzzy slippers maybe a housecoat, a cheap digital camera they love cameras, some crafty things, Crayola makes a ton of them!

I always liked to include some science type things, you know experiments, microscope, something to encourage that side of the brain.

Oh and books, don't forget books, good books, don't worry if they are little old for her. A collection of good books is a good thing. Hard cover signed and dated by you. Where The Sidewalk Ends, a collection of short poems, was a favourite of Meredith's.

Do you have Mastermind near you? If so go in and tell the sales person here age and basic interest as well as your budget...they are amazing. Mastermind is a high end (in terms of their products) kids toy store. It specializes in really neat toys and games at a reasonable price.

Enjoy your Christmas Woodie, I am so jealous!!!

PS: Peppi, Sara got her puppy for Christmas : )
chase_gw
13 years ago
Oh and Granddad has to read "The Night Before Christmas" to you all on Christmas Eve !
lindac
13 years ago
Oh my!! I think I can sign in!! hasn't worked all day!!
And if she is at all girley-girl, clothes. fuzzy slippers, fat fluffy full flannel nightgown, sparkley Dorothy shoes, silly sox.....and for your own pleasure....a party dress!
What fun...my grand daughter is all grown up...but I am having fun shopping for her.
Linda C...who is glad to have the GW glitches fixed!
compumom
13 years ago
How about a little china tea set? That way you can have tea parties with her and perhaps a new American Girl Doll?

Have fun-- it will be very special to experience the wonder and joy of Christmas through her eyes and in your home this year!
annie1992
13 years ago
OK, here's something I'm good at, LOL. Depending on how much you want to spend, check out the Leapster, has great games and Makayla informs me that it is "not a video game, it's a learning system". (grin) bud is five and loves his and his cousin Linsey, the cousin with all the heart issues and Down's Syndrome has one and loves hers too. That's why I bought one for Bud, he very wistfully told me that "Winsey has a Weapster". LOL

If you want something less costly, I think the Leapster is about $50 and games are $20-$25, check out the Littlest Pet Shop stuff. Every little girl in the family here loves those things, they are small, portable, lightweigh and there's a million of them. Collect them all. Ahem.

Oh, but have fun, lots of hugs and cookie baking and hot chocolate and cookies and watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the Grinch!

Merry christmas.

Annie
centralcacyclist
13 years ago
My wee ones LOVED their play tents at that age. And they fold up to become something fairly small. Books are grand. We had hundreds. She loved her Easy Bake oven! Not sure about the age requirement for that one. She BEGGED for it.

Alice was the crafty kid. She loved beads and rhinestones, glue sticks and puff balls, glitter, stickers, rick rack, felt, paint, markers, colored paper. Don't forget the wobbly eyes. (When she was old enough to use the low temp hot glue gun she was in heaven!)

When my kids were about that age I cut wide shiny ribbon in about 6 inch lengths. I gave them each a glue stick and showed them how to make chains made of ribbon. I recall my son being very pleased with his ability to really "make" something. We hung those ribbon chains on the tree each year for many years.

We also rolled glue painted pine cones in glitter. Same with large magnolia tree leaves. Those were saved year after year, too. I hot glued cord loops to them for hanging. The glue goes on the knot.

Here is a link that might be useful: Play tents
dedtired
13 years ago
I've been reading this with interest because I need a gift for my 4 yo niece. Tents are a great idea. What is it with kids and tents? We made them out of card tables and blankets or any big box we could find.

My niece loves crafts, too. Last year I got her those magnetic "paper" dolls (made of wood, but remind me of my paper dolls). She played with those for hours. She called them sticky dolls.
shaun
13 years ago
I love Cathy's idea about taking a picture of what you bought her and have it shipped to her home. How exciting to know something is waiting for your return!

Great ideas here. I was gonna suggest an ant farm, but, dont listen me. *wink*
BeverlyAL
13 years ago
My four year old GD loves anything that is "Littlest Pet Shop" and they are very small pieces. (Yeah, send all those little pieces home with Dad so he won't do this to you again) LOL Also another thing she likes are baby dolls as well as those stuffed hamsters and I can't think what they are called. They are on little wheels and you can get all kinds of things to go with them that come apart for easy storage. Good luck Woodie!!
compumom
13 years ago
Zhu Zhu Pets! Oh yes, my DG's love them too!

Here is a link that might be useful: Zhu Zhu Pets
BeverlyAL
13 years ago
Yes, Zhu Zhu Pets! I don't know why they love them so!
woodie
Original Author
13 years ago
OH yeah! Zhu Zhu Pets - we have 2 of them that live here (they came home to this house when they were on sale at Target). They were a BIG HIT 2 weeks ago when some little kiddles came to visit :) Only one little kid cried when he couldn't take his home)and his mom said (privately to me) that one would be under his tree at their house on Christmas Day and so I had to let him suffer.

Thanks all for some truly great ideas. I think sometimes its easy not to see the forest for the trees and this little one is flying here from the 22nd through the 26th and I want to make it special, cause she won't be with her mommy. But she will be with her daddy who adores her and so of course do her grandparents! We'll all do the best we can and I sooooooooo appreciate the ideas. Books are on the agenda and so is baking (although that will be a struggle for me LOLOL).

I already own a low temp glue gun so that should work for both her and me!

No jeans, Cathy! Thanks for the advice!

Thanks all - I couldn't reply and say thanks sooner (I'm sorry to say) because we went to visit the other grands down in Raleigh and had no internet access (surprise to us).
annie1992
13 years ago
Woodie, I once asked my 5 year old nephew what he'd get for Christmas if he was good and he said toys. He then very solemnly informed me that if he was bad, he'd only get clothes, LOL, I guess it's the modern equivalent of coal.

As for the baking, kids that age really like decorating better. Go to Gordon Food Service and buy a box of their cut out sugar cookies. They aren't really so bad. Bake them and then make lots of frosting and don't forget sprinkles. Sprinkles are necessary, as are those tiny M&Ms and little cinnamon red hots for holly berries.

Now, off in a different direction: Sharon, Sara is getting her puppy? Oh yay! I want pictures, lots and lots of pictures!

Woodie, you might want to consider a puppy....

Annie
woodie
Original Author
13 years ago
Actually Ladies, the ant farm and the puppy are being filed in the same category. Thanks for the idea about not baking but just decorating. That is sooooooooooo right up my alley!
centralcacyclist
13 years ago
Yes! Decorating! I used to buy premade cookies and let the kids have at them with frosting and all kinds of sprinkles.
linda1949
13 years ago
A sweet little baby doll of course!!!!
arabellamiller
13 years ago
Lucy is 5, so I am somewhat of an expert in this area! Great suggestions - she loves her pink zhuzhu, her "Rebecca" american girl doll (although I think I could have waited another year or two on that one), and Littlest Pet Shop Pets are a favorite. I love them because they are small and easy to throw in a bag for day trips.

If she likes clothes, Woodkins dolls are great, and you can add your own pieces of scrap fabric.

Or how about a cooking set with small pots and pans and utensils? An apron and chef's hat are great too.

A trunk of dress up clothes? When my daughter's friends come over they always head for the dress up stuff,and I never get tired of seeing them dress up as princesses and play.

Pretend play is so great for kids. Great for their little brains.

Have a wonderful Christmas with your DGD!

AM

Here is a link that might be useful: woodkins
chase_gw
13 years ago
Lucy is 5 !?! Tell me it isn't so. Where does the time go?

Woodie, take lots of pics and write things down, especially what they say. Don't count on your memory for memories.

4 y/o Christmas Help

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