<p>Anyone know what small boys are into these days? I’m looking for something relatively inexpensive (say about $15) gifts so I can spend about $30 a month for a few months to add fun or cheer (sick parent). I can’t visit their house and check out what they play with now. I don’t want to ask. This CC parent crew generally has answers to any question. Thank you for suggestions.</p>
<p>Legos 10char.</p>
<p>I go for the Cars stuff for cousins that age. Or the latest DVD…easy for the ill parent and distracting for the kids. Maybe a Thomas the Tank DVD with a couple of trains–you could add to the pieces over time. Target has a bunch of toys on clearance right now, you might look there.</p>
<p>Legos seconded. Not only fun, but great for building spatial awareness.</p>
<p>Legos is a great idea for the 7 year old - but a bit much for the 4 year old. And even at 7, my sons needed help.</p>
<p>It’s been awhile - but I seem to remember maybe Little Tykes making sets of toys (castles, pirates ships, etc) - that would be easy to “add” to. Maybe a little more pricey at the beginning to get the basic item, but them lots of additional things to buy.</p>
<p>Also - Hot Wheels tracks (I think they make some for younger kids) are always great. Lots of things to buy to add onto an initial purchase.</p>
<p>Absolutely legos. If you can find out if they have a particular favorite area or movie you can cater to those… Starwars, or pirates, or Jurrassic Park (boy, am I dating myself here) or Nascar for example. You can give a series of sets that will work together.</p>
<p>Crossposted withGrc. Matchbox/ Hotwheels cars and tracks are also great. My 4 year old could put the tracks together by himself. There are tracks that do loops which he loved.</p>
<p>The legos or Duplos with action figures or animals will be fun for a four year old.</p>
<p>Definitely legos.</p>
<p>playdoh with a cool set of playdoh tools.</p>
<p>any set of "guys’ that comes with accoutrements…batman, teenage mutant ninja turtles, wrestler guys etc.</p>
<p>Dress up clothes. Super hero capes come to mind. My kids played with theirs for years.</p>
<p><<there are="" tracks="" that="" do="" loops="" which="" he="" loved.="">></there></p>
<p>LOL! Even I loved the loops!!!</p>
<p>Also boxes of “junk” to build all kinds of creations…nuts, bolts, metal pans, pipe cleaners, buttons…glue, paint etc.</p>
<p>I teach four year old preschoolers. They don’t spend a lot of time with Legos because they want to “make something” but can’t figure out how to do it and lose interest after a few attempts. They always ask me to build something for them. </p>
<p>They love magnet sets like these…
[108</a> PC Magnetic Building Sets, Magic! : Toys & Games : Amazon.com](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/108-Magnetic-Building-Sets-Magic/dp/B000IOK5I0/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344309627&sr=1-3&keywords=magnet+sets+for+kids]108”>http://www.amazon.com/108-Magnetic-Building-Sets-Magic/dp/B000IOK5I0/ref=sr_1_3?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344309627&sr=1-3&keywords=magnet+sets+for+kids)</p>
<p>Sets like these work well for both ages and the sets are big enough for each kid to have plenty of pieces. I’ll admit it…I like playing with these magnets too:)</p>
<p><<they always="" ask="" me="" to="" build="" something="" for="" them.="">></they></p>
<p>Yup - that’s my memory!!!</p>
<p>I would look for simple science kits–like the one where you stick the probe into a potato and it makes a clock run. I would google “cheap science kits” and see what comes up.
The problem with the little lego kits is that they may already have the one that you pick.</p>
<p>Beyblades…for the 7 year old. They are the coolest things. Manga AND physics!</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Beyblades-JAPANESE-Starter-Includes-Launcher/dp/B004774X5U/ref=pd_sim_t_1[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Beyblades-JAPANESE-Starter-Includes-Launcher/dp/B004774X5U/ref=pd_sim_t_1</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Beyblade-Metal-Masters-Triple-Battle/dp/B004SGS3B0/ref=pd_ts_zbs_t_2408026011_3?pf_rd_p=1289250122&pf_rd_s=left-2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=2408026011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0404WJZ88XZV9JYJ6EST[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Beyblade-Metal-Masters-Triple-Battle/dp/B004SGS3B0/ref=pd_ts_zbs_t_2408026011_3?pf_rd_p=1289250122&pf_rd_s=left-2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=2408026011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0404WJZ88XZV9JYJ6EST</a>
<a href=“http://www.beyblade.com/splash?redir=1[/url]”>http://www.beyblade.com/splash?redir=1</a></p>
<p>Gears! Even cooler! See if you and parents don’t want to play too!</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Beyblades-JAPANESE-Starter-Includes-Launcher/dp/B004774X5U/ref=pd_sim_t_1[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Beyblades-JAPANESE-Starter-Includes-Launcher/dp/B004774X5U/ref=pd_sim_t_1</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Tomy-6526-Gearation/dp/B00000ISEH/ref=sr_1_8?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344311151&sr=1-8&keywords=gears[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Tomy-6526-Gearation/dp/B00000ISEH/ref=sr_1_8?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344311151&sr=1-8&keywords=gears</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Tomy-TY6995-Gearation-Refrigerator-Magnets/dp/B00004U95L/ref=sr_1_5?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344311151&sr=1-5&keywords=gears[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Tomy-TY6995-Gearation-Refrigerator-Magnets/dp/B00004U95L/ref=sr_1_5?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344311151&sr=1-5&keywords=gears</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Quercetti-Georello-Kaleido-Gears-pieces/dp/B00000J048/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344311151&sr=1-1&keywords=gears[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Quercetti-Georello-Kaleido-Gears-pieces/dp/B00000J048/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344311151&sr=1-1&keywords=gears</a></p>
<p>Oh…just noticed the price limitations…</p>
<p>^^I’ve had a couple of four year olds bring those in for “show&tell”.</p>
<p>They also like Transformers.</p>
<p>The beyblades seem to vary. I edited.</p>
<p>PS I hate stepping on errant legos…</p>
<p>Do check out the kids reviews for the blades…, funnier than " chance me and I’ll chance you back…"</p>
<p><<ps i="" hate="" stepping="" on="" errant="" legos…="">></ps></p>
<p>Little plastic army men are worse, MUCH worse!!!
(speaking from extensive experience!)</p>
<p>Kapla blocks. They can be used for years to come.
Also if you are looking for quiet activities large sticker books. They have some that have whales, horses, dogs.
Legos sometimes need adult help. It might be nice to give things that the boys can use independently.</p>
<p>Side walk chalk</p>
<p>I’m stunned at some of the responses here about legos at 4… I was playing with them by myself at 3 (not that I remember this myself). Of course you can’t freelance that well at first, you just follow the instructions. I think the earlier you start the more you love them. At 7 nowadays most kids are starting to transition to digital games already.</p>