My adorable nephew will turn one on August 27th. Any good ideas for a cool gift for the little guy? I’m thinking about $100 max. My mom just got him a little scooter/bike.
I’ve become the godfather who always gives books. Not too exciting.
How about a $100 head start on an education IRA? Might get his folks to keep up with it and when he’s ready for college he will be set. Might even thank you for it one day. I never see a point in spending money on a “thing” for a little kid. Like they are even going to remember it? Come on, he’s one for crying out loud.
Karma
is there anything his mother needs for him?
My nephew just turned 1 and we got him a set of reallyt cool wooden disney blocks, a toy tool box set (he takes it everywhere now) and some clothes. Clothes always help out as they outgrow them quickly but the kids usually aren’t excited opening them.
An IRA??
Hey-seuss, who are you Warren Buffet? You have kids?
Never miss an opportunity to start 'em young on one of life’s greatest lessons: Birthdays are for presents!! Lots and lots of presents…big presents…small presents…shiny, useless, loud things that they’ll forget they have in two days and will be relegated to the bottom of some over-stuffed closet…patiently waiting to be pawned off at a garage sale at a 99.5% loss…
Here’s a couple of things we had some success with, i.e., our kids played with for more than two days:
Leap Frog stuff:
There’s an endless assortment of Fisher Price Little People sets:
An easel is vital:
http://www.amazon.com/Mellisa-Doug-Deluxe-Standing-Easel/dp/B0002AUWKG/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4122963-2699342?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1186587077&sr=1-1
Oh, KC there are so many possible answers to this question. She is my brother’s wife #2 and lets just say they have made very different life choices than I. She didn’t seek out pre-natal care until she was 6 + months pregnant, and proceeded to smoke/drink. She has always worked in a bar and probably always will. Thankfully my nephew is beautiful and smart and seems to be developing right on or ahead of schedule. He has a tough road ahead though. So, the education IRA is a great idea as I’m sure his parents will not save one dime for his future. A shiny toy is fun too, I may do both. He has some leapfrog stuff, but not the barnyard set. They look fun. Thanks Dan.
I would say go with the education IRA and something fun to open up. It does sound like he’s going to need a little help in the future. Presents are always fun to open, but at 1 he will probably be more interested in the wrapping paper than what’s inside, so you don’t need to spend big on a toy to make him happy.
Even w/o the circumstances you have described I think this is a good plan. My kid has tons of stuff, I think its great if someone other than me wants to invest in her future.
How about some Baby Einstein videos. I bet they are about to go on sale…
I agree about books. I love getting books for children. There are some great ones that make for great bedtime stories or first reads.
The Little People toys were big hits with my kids. We even saved them, and as they have gotten older they have turned into fairly reliable projectile devices and takers of much torture.
Probably a bit young now, but the Creative Labs Thomas the Tank Engine stuff is cool too. Plus there are books and movies that can be gifts with that theme as well. Careful though, that can turn into a small fortune quickly!
Bernie
Never had kids, tried by no Cigar, my lady had some painful moments both physically and mentally as a result. Perhaps one day we will adopt or try again. My sister has cranked out 4 kids so yes, I do know what I’m talking about. They have more useless crap in the garage it’s not even funny.
Compounding of interest is a majical thing my friend. Get his Grandma and Grandpa to contribute too and before you know it the kid will be going to Stanford and his parents won’t have to foot the bill.
I wish I had known 25 years ago what i know now, I would have saved a lot more.
Now I have to dip into savings to replace a busted sewer drain this week. Looks like about a $8000 job. Perhaps that’s why I’m being so fiscally mided today. I’m usually the first one to run out and buy a new gadget, but I’m also an adult, not a one year old kid that likes to play with the bubble wrap more than the item that came in it.
Cheers,
Karma
Don’t overthink this. Get him a Tonka truck and he will thank me later.
Only a vintage Tonka will do though, not one of the new plastic junkers. You need the kind that at 11 years old you can shoot with your BB gun and not even damage it.
Karma
Clothes are always good.
Start an Education IRA or 529 plan
Start putting $$ into a regular savings account for them (just keep it in your name until the time is right.)
Anything from Little People (my 1 yr old loves his Little People firetruck.)
Board books
Caleb had the most fun ripping the paper and playing with the boxes.
right on!
Only a vintage Tonka will do though, not one of the new plastic junkers.
'Til you get hit in the head with it. Then the plastic seem like a great idea.
Bah! Every man needs at least one good facial/skull scar and there’s no better way of getting one than having one of your siblings/little buddies smack you in the side of the head with a Tonka Bulldozer.
Take him to the zoo and give his parents a day off. they’ll all love you.
Open a 529 education account with him as the beneficiary. You control the account and the earnings are tax free. You can even change the beneficiary on down the road if he turns into a stoner and skips out on college.
Does the family have any good children’s museums, science museums or zoos around them? If so, buy a family membership to the museum and get him a wooden puzzle to open.