Gifts

I'm going to try to finish my Christmas gift buying really early this year so that we can relax and really enjoy the last month with DH. I need some advice, please. I want to get a play kitchen for DD2. We don't have one and I know that she would loooooove it. . .I also feel a teensy bit sad that she doesn't seem to get anything "new" (I *know* - I KNOW she doesn't notice and/or care. . .it's all me).

But what to get DD1 that has the same "wow" factor? DD1 is 4.5 and is very much into assessing what she got and what DD2 got and seeing if it is equal.

Or give the kitchen to both and enjoy watching them learn how to share.
What is on your list for your kids? How old are they?

P.S. At what age is it appropriate to give play make-up? DD1 keeps circling play make-up kits in her catalogs but I just don't think I want to go there yet.

[DCJenn]

Re: Gifts

I say do the kitchen for both- and they can then get their own aprons, etc.

Jenn

Re: Gifts

I agree- I bet they would both love playing with the kitchen together. I don't know if you already found the kitchen you wanted to get, but this site has a bunch of really cute ones!

http://www.uniquewoodentoys.com/cart.ph ... e=view_all

[Phoebe]

Re: Gifts

The kitchen is a great idea that the kids can share for years to come. It is a big hit in our house for the girls and all their friends (including boys) We got this one last year for all three. I searched the internet and found one on sale and free shipping. I saved over $50 bucks.

http://www.uniquewoodentoys.com/cart...ategory_id=320

Does your daughter have a leapster? That is a big hit with my oldest.

[houseelf]

Re: Gifts

Both of our kids have played with our toy kitchen through several developmental stages. We went uber-cheap with a Walmart plastic version for $20. Both kids, and their friends, consistently play with it.

RE: makeup. My mom just purchased my three year old "play" makeup in a Hello Kitty case. It is all clear, but she will not know the difference.

Kelly

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: Gifts

The "best toys" issue in Family Fun had high marks for the "cottage" thing- if you're in a market for a kitchen, you probably know what I'm talking about. It's a house that folds in half, but that might work. Then when open, there's plenty of space for a kitchen, and maybe a play table for serving the kitchen stuff. It's not too expensive either- if we were not so short on space I'd be tempted to get it. We don't have space for a kitchen, so our kids use paper plates and rings from stacking toys to play "kitchen."

(pathetic...)

Anyway, happy hunting! Whenever I try to "finish my shopping early" I end up spending wayyyy too much.