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Thought-Provoking Gifts For Young Kids?
An anonymous reader writes "Societal norms and my sibling's procreative endeavors have put me in the position of having to buy gifts twice a year for young children. What makes them happy are unremarkable bits of plastic. They already have innumerable unremarkable bits of plastic (from their parents and grandparents). My preference would be to get them gifts that challenge them to think creatively (or at least to think), which they'll be able to pick up and enjoy even after they outgrow their train/truck/homemaking fetishes. Beyond the Rubik's Cube, what thinky toys from your childhood are still in production? What new thinky toys have you discovered that work for the 5–10 age range?"
Absolutely! As long as you don't step on one, they are the best toys in the world.
However, standard convention when buying toys for children of siblings is to buy something as obnoxiously loud and repetitive as possible. In which case, Tickle-me-Elmo and firecrackers would be appropriate. ;)
Thought-Provoking? Check.
Unremarkable bit of plastic? Check.
They'll be able to pick up and enjoy even after they outgrow their train/truck/homemaking fetishes? Check.
Won't have to pick out gifts twice a year after this? Check.
I still remember the lovely combination of little tiny nuts and bolts.. and deep carpeting.. and the sound it made going into vacuum cleaner!
Ignorance is bliss. Give them the greatest gift of all: a TV and a basic cable subscription!
A bigger Rubik's Cube? Rubik's Hypercube?
Shuriken!
What, not thought-provoking enough?
"Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
What about one of these?
http://www.cracked.com/article_18494_15-unintentionally-perverted-toys-children_p2.html
How about a TSA groping? You love your kids, right? Show them with some love-pats!
Buy them porn...When I was a kid, I found it to be remarkably educational.
just to see what they'll come up with
A crippling fear of electricity and computers!
Or they could end up working for FedEx or UPS.
Giant refrigerator sized cardboard boxes too.
My nine year-old made himself a cardboard coffin out of a big box. He actually sleeps in it most nights.
I'm trying to figure out if I should be impressed with his creativity, or concerned about his morbid bent.
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
Timecube. Four toys in a single toy box.
Well if you're ever going to take your kid on a plane in the US, then My First Cavity Search (http://boingboing.net/2010/11/11/tsas-new-book-for-ki.html) is good for all ages!
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson
Do you like the kid's parents, or not?
Worked at Radio Shack many winters ago, and a lady came in and said, "I want your loudest, most obnoxious guns, and a whole bunch of your longest-lasting batteries."
I said, "This sounds like revenge. What did they do to you?"
"My brother bought my kids the popcorn popper on a stick last year." The brother deserved it completely, IMO.
"Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin