If I have said it once, I have said it a million times: My boys don't like toys. At least it has never been the case that manufactured toys are their playthings of choice. My boys like real things, my things, my husbands things, things not meant for kids.
Did I create this in them, possibly, I myself think most toys are rather lame.
Here is a quick list of some of the things I have chosen for their gifts in the past that they loved:
They really love office supplies. I often spend a bit of time in the office supply store and find things they would like. Clips, boxes, stickers, labels, but the one stand out is Receipt Pads with carbon/duplicate. We call it magic paper, these my friends, are a HUGE hit.
My older son simply loves filling out forms and tickets. He loves checking the boxes, fake writing, tallying, calculating. It never ceases to amaze me how entertaining this is for him. I also give them old check books, deposit slips, order forms. Pack it all up in a bin or a box with real ballpoint pens and that there is a gift!
Real Calculator (not a dorky made for kid one) or better yet adding machine that has a paper roll - they love making tickets. Again, hours I tell you, hours of work and pleasure.
The Out of Reach Grabber Tool. While this belongs to them I use it often (this past weekend hanging outdoor Christmas lights for one). They get the biggest kick out of my needing to borrow one of their tools. It is a long standing favorite, we have been through many.
Spray Bottles. We are huge spray bottle fans. There is lots of work to be done that often requires a spray bottle. The boys do lots of outdoor painting with their spray bottles, in that when they spray something it temporarily changes color . . . we have miles of fence that needs painting regularly. The bigger, the sturdier the better, just add water.
Shovels made for kids are so bad, so poorly constructed that if they do actually attempt to shovel, well you know what happens. I found these a few years ago, they have been worked hard and are still going. We take them to the beach, shovel snow, dirt and anything else we can find. They are still going strong. Look for Collapsible Snow Shovel, it's meant to go in the car for emergencies, it's quite sturdy and great size for kids.
A good bucket is hard to find. Again when you buy a bucket that is intended for kids it will last about 2 uses depending on the job at hand. I try to find sturdy worker guy buckets that are intended for real work. We have added a pulley system to their tree fort, attached at the end is a strong bucket, this little set up has been a hit for years and had a total cost of about $12.
There is so much you can find at the hardware store: Caution tape, tools, clamps, tape measures, keys and locks, flash lights (always the real kind), nuts & bolts, rope, tape, pulleys . . . . the list goes on. Just see it through new eyes. I once bought long tubes of foam pipe insulation ($1.29 each) and should have won a mother of the year award. They were swords, they were flags, hurdles, megaphone - they used it for so much, for so long until the foam finally disintegrated.
Legos. I prefer to buy lego lots on Ebay. I am not a huge fan of the licensed and packaged sets. Where is the creativity in that? Give me the freedom! Granted we normally build it once and there is skill in that - then take it apart and build what we want. You pay so much money for that package and the Star Wars or Indiana Jones license. Why not go for these big ole bags of good old fashioned legos.
Books. You knew I was going to say that. Books Books Books. You have to give them books, good books. Aside from much of the above mentioned, books will most likely be the only thing you give them that will still be in use in February.
You choose, you can chase Zhu Zhus, Bakugan and whatever else the advertisers and marketers tell you kids want OR take nice leisurely stroll to the local hardware store and exercise your own creativity.
I promise I promise I promise - it's much more fun (and you won't be un-wrangling all of that toy packaging on Christmas morn!) Fa la la la la.