Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Holiday gifts post mortem: best toys?

*google* We have one of those, but I've never heard of that name - they sell them here as wiggle cars. DD's had one for 3 years or so, and it's a hit with any kid (or kidlike adult) who visits us, too.

It is excellent. My niece got a 3DS this year, and Pilotwings Resort to go with it (along with a couple of other 3DS games), and Pilotwings is the only one that got any playtime.

If you have Wii Sports Resort, and like the game where you fly around the island picking up the "i" spots, Pilotwings is the DS equivalent.

(My DD really wants a non-3D version of Pilotwings. She loved the game, but would only play with the 3D off - she said it hurt her eyes to have it on.)

yes I heard some folks don't like the 3d part, at least you can turn it off...but ds11 has been ok with it so far.

This game has been a huge hit for everyone, from my 3yo to adults. It's not demanding, but very fast-paced and fun.

http://www.amazon.com/Funstreet-409..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325356778&sr=8-1

DS's Automoblox have also been popular--no one can resist playing with them.

http://www.amazon.com/Automoblox-Mi..._2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325356848&sr=8-2

DD likes her Sleeping Queens game. I am not as enthralled, but the other children seemed to enjoy it as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-23...mp;ie=UTF8&qid=1325356904&sr=1-1

We are all enjoying the new magnetic poetry kit as well.

We got frog juice made by the sleeping queens people - very cute. DS 5 loved his gifts, I'm not sure one stood out for him - but for me I am in love with Lucy Hawking. DS did not wait to read George and the big bang with me, and is still talking about it. I read it on my own, and I can't get over how skillfully she created a story with characters he adores with such incredible science woven in!! I hope she does more!

DeHe

We love Frog Juice! Also Forbidden Island.

DS9 got Risk, and is quite interested in mastering it. (They have revised the rules so that the game need not take 6 hours, which is a plus.) Muse magazine is also a huge hit.

DS5 got a beautiful stuffed snowy owl puppet with a head that rotates (Hedwig, naturally) and will be carrying it around for the foreseeable future. Legos are also very big with him.

DeeDee

Forbidden island looks awesome - I love these collaborative games, we got castle panic for a nephews birthday, kind of like starter D&D!

DeHe

Thanks, DeHe-- I didn't know about Castle Panic. We are doing well with collaborative games, so that's going on my list for DS's birthday.

Forbidden Island is great because it is exciting every time, it highlights how every person's different skills/jobs contribute to the win, AND it takes only 30-40 min. to play. It's good for squeezing in between dinner and bed.

The other thing that's been played all day today is the Harry Potter Hogwarts lego game. It is ingeniously designed, with moving staircases and cute little classrooms.

DeeDee

I see a lot of my kids' favorite toys on this thread. Here were our favorite gifts of the season:

DS7:
Lego: Space Needle, MBA, Millenium Falcon.
Happy napper dragon was a surprise favorite.
Also a cool Woot T-shirt (Darth Vader teaching math).
Kid got so many books, we had to buy him a new bookshelf.

DD5:
Lego: pink brick boxes, airplane.
Happy napper ladybug.
Silver sequin purse from Target.
Pop-up book kit:
http://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-O..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325388979&sr=8-1
She was not as happy as DS was to receive a stack of books. Ah, well, maybe when she learns to read.

Forbidden Island- the only game my 8 year old has ever cried while playing. He was appalled that he was beaten by a cardboard box. He couldn't handle it. :-( He is a very graceful loser, but not to an inanimate object!