<p>I Spy books would be great for the 7 year old, and you can never have too many of them. There are simpler I Spy books suitable for the younger one, too. Holiday-theme stuff could be fun – for October, scary decorations or silly costume stuff (glasses, those ever-popular teeth, wig). December, if suitable, Santa hats, advent calendars. Small stuffed animals, parachute men, nerf basketball hoop. I’d skip any kits or activities that require following directions, careful assembly, management of pieces/parts, or clean-up aiming to send things that won’t cause problems if the kids play with them on their own.</p>
<p>Books are great for an ailing household. You can read them quietly, you can read them to each other, they don’t need batteries. There are lots of graphic “novels” for new readers (Jeff Smith’s Little Mouse series for example) and there’s always Spot (Eric Hill) for the 4 year old. </p>
<p>Paper, crayons – especially the Crayola fancy ones. A Dover coloring book or the Anti-Coloring book series. Dover’s little sticker/activity books are only $1 each and lots of disposable fun. A disposable camera and a WalMart gift card for the developing (you can download online and have the photos mailed, so the sick parent need not get in a car). A new stuffed animal. Matchbox cars never get old. Slinkys!! Ravensburger puzzles, simple card games like HiSSSSSS or Moose in the House. </p>
<p>Duplos maybe for the 4 y.o., but I can’t think of a preschooler with the reading and fine motor skills to do legos. The 7 y.o. might like something like the RushHour puzzle/game. Digital games are fine, but the withdrawal phase (that 30 minutes when they re enter the actual world) tends to make for cranky kids, and who needs that when you are sick?</p>
<p>How about something different each month?
- A drawing box with stamps, stickers, sticky notes, tape, washable markers, paper, coloring books.
- A fun movie they can watch with their parents.
- Legos/duplos
- Simple game…maybe Connect Four?
- Books…get something fun for each of them.</p>
<p>I think variety would be good. That way they will have fun wondering what will be in the gift when it arrives.</p>
<p>I just bought gifts for 2 boys just the same age. I love legos but I would veto them in this case. Legos are expensive - it’s hard to find a good set for under $15 that would keep the 7 year old occupied for long. By 7 a lot of kids have most of the sets and it is hard to make them happy by inadvertently sending a duplicate. The 4 year old most likely would want help. </p>
<p>If I were a sick parent I would be so happy if someone sent my kids stickers, or an interesting book or puzzle, something that sparked creative play like matchbox cars or costumes or a non-messy or non-difficult craft, or even an interesting/educational dvd. Barnes and Noble has a pretty good children’s section - I have found some interesting 3-d maze like puzzles for the boys though I can’t remember the price.</p>
<p>Brings back memories! Hot Wheels (can never have too many), Legos are great but do tend to not get put away before painfully stepping on them, Transformers were/still are a favorite.
Something else really fun is a marble race way.<br>
Fisher-Price and Legos have age ranges printed on their boxes which always seemed very accurate.</p>
<p>There are also Duplos for the smaller fry who have difficulty with Legos. My younger son adored all the Playmobile stuff - unfortunately it’s kind of pricey.</p>
<p>My kids both spent hours playing with Pattern Blocks. [Pattern</a> block - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_block]Pattern”>Pattern Blocks - Wikipedia) I expect it helped both with mathematical thinking.</p>
<p>As for games:</p>
<p>My kids loved Rivers, Roads and Rails a game by Ravensburger. It’s fun to play with the pieces without actually having a real game.</p>
<p>Snail’s Pace Race was a suprisingly enjoyable very simple game too.</p>
<p>My 2 1/2 year old grandson just got his first transformer and he loves it.</p>
<p>Wow! Thank you so much for the wealth of ideas!</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Ultimate Sticker Book: Truck (Ultimate Sticker Books) (9780756602390): DK Publishing: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Sticker-Book-Truck-Books/dp/0756602394/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344355865&sr=8-2&keywords=truck+sticker+books]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Sticker-Book-Truck-Books/dp/0756602394/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344355865&sr=8-2&keywords=truck+sticker+books)
here is a link to the larger sticker book</p>
<p>I second mathmom’s suggestions of Playmobiles and Rivers, Roads, and Rails. My S loved both of them. Ravensburger makes great, high-quality games and puzzles. Another game that is good for that general age group is any form of “concentration”: the game where players match cards of tiles that are face down. We had a version that had attractive wooden tiles that came in a drawstring cloth sack. The I Spy books are good for that age group, as are Where’s Waldo. (I gave some of the latter to a nephew who was around 5, and he loved them.) I’d also recommend Stephen Beisty’s books, especially for the older boy. They are extremely detailed “cutaways” of things like ocean liners, skyscrapers, and castles, and in every one there is a tiny little person going to the bathroom: something that is sure to appeal to little boys. :)</p>
<p>I second the magnet sets. So much easier than Legos! I recommend one set to share or two of the same sets to avoid fighting (easier on sick parent). My 3 year old nephew spent hours at Christmas just attaching/detaching the magnets. His 6 year old brother was trying to make something cool, but the 3 year old was just mesmerized by the magnetism.</p>
<p>You can buy many of the above suggestions at Marshall’s and TJMaxx.
I suggest pop up books.
Ask around to your friends if they have any Happy Meal type toys their kids have outgrown.
A bag full of those will be great.
I agree with the box of costumes.
If you sew only a little, make capes, cut masks out of felt and hand sew elastic for their head, wrist covers plus they can use at Halloween if the parents are too overwhelmed to do costumes.
For Mutant Turtles you will need red, purple, orange, blue felt for masks.
Make 2 of everything so they can dress alike.</p>
<p>We loved marble runs. We had more than one set and also had a wood board with a groove to catch the marbles. Lots of marbles, including chinese eyeball marbles. </p>
<p>I have saved them for the grandchildren.</p>
<p>Stomp rockets are great for burning off excess energy.</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Kit: Toys & Games](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Stomp-Rocket-Jr-Glow-Kit/dp/B00000K3BR/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344370953&sr=1-2&keywords=stomp+rockets]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Stomp-Rocket-Jr-Glow-Kit/dp/B00000K3BR/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344370953&sr=1-2&keywords=stomp+rockets)</p>
<p>How did I forget to mention Where’s Waldo? Great suggestion. The Waldo and I Spy books will keep kids occupied for hours, repeatedly, and they’re fun to do with a friend. I also thought of Stomp Rocket but was concerned it might require too much supervision, depending on where the family lives of course. You kind of need a very large (safe) space clear of trees, fences, etc. Unique items can captivate kids in this age range – something that transforms, is unexpected – a cool crystal, a pen that has different ink colors you can click up, or a box for treasures, stuff like that.</p>
<p>You’re a very thoughtful friend to think of this extra support for the boys.</p>
<p>Something to make a fort under a card table (think giant cardboard box) along with flashlights. Toy walkie talkies.</p>
<p>As much as I love legos and playmobil, there’s a LOT of cleanup involved, which may not be appreciated in a household where someone is ill.</p>
<p>One nice way to support the whole family would be to take the boys off somewhere like the zoo or the playground for the day - someplace where they could run and burn off energy and be as loud as they want. Feed them dinner, and return them ready for bed. (Much more of a commitment than a trip to the toy store, I know!) (Just realized you may not be in their area to be able to do this, however.)</p>
<p>something else not thought of often for boys–GI Joe dolls. My nephews loved them at that age.
Magnet sets are great at that age but lego sets are longer lasting–as in they are kept forever (must be a guy thing!)</p>