My nephews b-day is next week. He is really into video games, but I'd rather not get him one as I'm sure everyone will be getting that. Normally I would just ask my SIL, but it seems that I am the only one in my family who calls to see what the kiddos want/need...so I feel like I'm being annoying!
Any suggestions on what a 7 year old boy would like to play with? I was thinking of getting him new crayons, coloring books and stickers...but I don't know if that is stupid! Any advice is appreciated!
Gift card to Barnes and Noble. Kids play too many video games. Reintroduce the joy of reading. They also sell science kits and how to draw books. If all else fails they have a really nice cafe. My 7 yo loves legos and going to the book store.
Ask him......I always tell family & friends to ask my kids.....tell him to give you 5 ideas....if you don't want to ask him then here are some ideas:
anything nerf
legos
remote control car/boat
gift card
take him to lunch & toy store so he can pick out
Trios
Roller blades
Skateboard
certificate to take a class at a park district
But please no crayons, coloring books or stickers
My son is 11. For a 7 year old, I'd suggest lego's or knex or a science kit. At 7, they're usually past the point of coloring books (more preschool age) and looking for something a little more challenging.
One thing that my boys are not that into is crayons and coloring. They don't have the patience for it-and Ihave tried! It turns into a couple minutes of scribbling and they are bored. I would get him a LEGO set-my boys love to play with those!
legos legos legos....
I dont think it's annoying at all to find out what your nephew is interested in. I know my 8yr old son goes through phases. It's Star Wars last spring and now that he is bored with that, everything is about Bionicles/Hero Factory.
If it's not something he is interested in right now, he'll be a little bit disappointed. Like in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, you don't want to be the aunt who gives him PANTS. I think crayons/coloring books is a little young for him, especially if he is already into video games. If you go with art supplies, get him some cool ones like watercolor pencils and a real art pad.
You may ask his mom if he likes ClubPenguin. You can buy gift cards at Walmart/Target for membership anywhere between 1 month for around $5 to 6 months for $30 (prices may have changed a little).
Boys that age love Marbleworks from Discovery Toys www.toysofdiscovery.com. It's a construction toy that teaches about gravity, balance and logic while you're racing marbles down the structure you've built. It's different everytime you play!
My 7 year old loves anything Star Wars!! Does he do any sports?? He might like something for that.
I would suggest Lego's such as the Star Wars lego or space police or power miners. I wouldn't go with crayons and coloring books unless it's a favorite of his - my son at 7 would not have been happy with crayons (too baby-ish). Building toys or action figures like Batman, Spiderman, Ironman, etc. Good luck.
Zhu Zhu pets. They are like little battery operated hamsters. They have accessories you can buy too. My son is almost 8 and wants more for his bday. If your nephew has siblings, buy him a couple so they can play together. They are cute, have wheels and run around the floor making little squeeky noise. My son is also begging for a "Pillow Pet" (the dog) which I thought he might be too old for but has been saying he wants one for several months. Good luck!
He's beyond crayons and coloring books and stickers. Get Star Wars lego sets or Playmobile.
To be honest unless he is artistic crayons and coloring books are not "usually" a 7 year olds go to toy. My son loves all things Star Wars especially light sabers and now there is a Spinning Light saber, anything Lego, Bakugon, anything remote control cars, helicopters etc. Since your nephew is a video player they have mastered almost all things tekkie, so they are looking for a challenge and remote control stuff is great. Does he need video game accessories, like another controller, carrying case, dual charger, head phones (if he plays on line). I also agree if you are the only one who asks how can you be annoying. I am sure his mom has an exact list of wants and you can pick from the list. Also my son completly digs any pop-up book from Marvel comics and X-Men. Maybe a movie DVD he wants? 7 year old boys are fairly easy just DO NOT buy him clothes, they don't consider that a gift(lol)
A lot of videogames have BOOKS that go along with them (either strategy books, backstory books, comic books, encyclopedia type books). My son is a more than capable reader... but getting him to read can be challenging. Amazing how he just POURS through books on his favorite games. ;)
Other things my son loved and adored from last and this year (7/8)
- Starwars & Atlantis Legos
- Nerf
- "Gross" Science experiments (like make your own slime)
- Bakugan
- music - for his ipod
- filming stuff
He might be bored w/ a coloring book & stickers. Instead, try LEGOS, a set of books like a collection by Roald Dahl, or a scooter for outside.
If you're the only one in the family to ask what the kiddos want or need, I wouldn't be worried about being annoying. Unless I see something that I absolutely know my nephew will love, I always ask. My nephew can like something one minute and be over it a month later. Plus, he grows so much I don't dare buy anything to wear without checking his new sizes for things.
Even at 7, both my nephew and son were avid fisherman so things for their tackle boxes were never a miss.
I'm one for getting educational games and toys. They can play and have fun too.
Most boys aren't really into stickers, but you might get a coin or stamp collecting kit.
It's not really a toy, but I also got my nephew a cool piggy bank and put $10 in it and got him a coin counter and some coin rolls from the bank. He loved it! He put his other birthday money in it and saved up for something he wanted.
It might just be me, but I don't really like buying toys. Kids get so many of them. I buy things like flashlights or battery operated lanterns that the kids can have in their rooms in case the lights go out...gadgety things that they can use, a sleeping bag. Boys are really happy with that kind of thing. They end up getting more use and lasting longer than a toy.
Just my opinion.
dont know how much you want to spend or if he science-y... my son is 7 and loves science stuff. that eye-clops has stood the test of time, he has been playing with it for a few years now,. he also loves bakugons, and he loves spy gear stuff. he has this toy safe with a combination where he can hide his treasures, he likes that.
My 7 yr old son loves wrestling. He has everything you can imagine that has anything to do with wrestling. What is he into? I don't think it would be annoying at all to call and ask. I know that wouldn't bother me. At least I'd be sure he was getting something he really wanted.
I love the idea of gift cards, he's at the perfect age for that.
My son never got into coloring and stuff like that. But every boy is different.
Good luck.
my 7 year old son is into magic and science stuff.
My son will be 7 on the 12th. He likes anything "Army" and chess. He loves the little green plastic Army guys! He likes playing with castles and anything that involves battles...(He watches too much History channel with Dad)!
He wants his own poker set and his own kid chess board too!
He loves anything Star Wars and anything sports related!
Personally my son would be bored with crayons and stickers, but every kid is different...I think you are absolutely right to call and ask what he is into these days...that is not being annoying, that is being a caring Auntie!
Legos; cars; nerf stuff.
This may be the year to get him a gift card. I know my son (just turned 8) LOVES to get gift cards and purchase stuff that he really, really wants. :) Plus, I love them because when we go shopping, he doesn't have to bug me that he wants this, he wants that, etc...
R.
I second the Legos, science things, or boardgames
Dominoes.
Scrabble (the letters can help with spelling).
Checkers.
A rubber kick ball, soccer ball or a Nerf football.
A book about dinosaurs or fire trucks.
No boys here but I do have nephews who are 6 and 9 and Nerf guns always are a hit. This year I got them all Bogs boots for their birthday. They all love them. Not only do they protect in -30 deg weather but you don't need liners They're easy to put on, super comfy and comes in cool prints. I got my nephews the dragon, the spider and the ants.
My son just turned 7. He loves Legos and Bionocles, Nerf guns, swords and other things, action figures, Batman, Baukagaun, and yes video games are is favorite things.
Legos, or any kind of construction / building sets. Also magic tricks.
