Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: boys, Christmas, gifts

This topic has 19 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 5 months ago by missceegee.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 20 total)

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Author
Posts
November 12, 2013 at 2:05 am
my3boys
Participant
I’d love some ideas for handicrafts, book series, science kits, sports, music, baking/cooking items…I could use all sorts of fresh ideas.
Thanks!
November 12, 2013 at 3:00 am
Kristen
Participant
Have you ever checked out JM Kremps catalog? They have great stuff and my boys pour over that catalog when it comes in the mail. My boys play baseball so new bats and gloves and other equipment are always in the mix. I also was thinking of getting one of them a snap circuit science kit. How old are your boys? Mine are 6 & 9. I would love to hear others ideas as well.
November 12, 2013 at 6:21 am
my3boys
Participant
The snap circuits sound great! Thank you. ( My boys are high school and elementary aged.)
November 12, 2013 at 3:12 pm
HollyS
Participant
My kids love Snap Circuits! A few things we’ve done: guitar, digital camera, science kits, all sorts of building kits, erector sets, salt water spider (it was a robot he built that ran on salt).
For the erector sets, there are all different age levels for these…my DH has even done a couple of the more challenging ones. DS got a set of plastic ones that he loves to play with…it’s great for the elementary age.
November 12, 2013 at 5:02 pm
my3boys
Participant
Thanks!
I have some idea of what my dc need, but we usually do lots of TOYS and I’d like to add in the science/building kits. My dc feel like I’m trying to push education on them every chance I get, if you know what I mean, but I think the kits will be a pleasant surprise. So, thank you..these are helpful…and the camera, too. I thought about that awhile ago, but had forgotten…I have a ds who would love that!
Hopefully others will chime in to give us all some more great ideas.
November 12, 2013 at 5:28 pm
LindseyD
Participant
I second the JM Cremp’s catalog! My son (9.5) has poured over that thing for hours! We are probably going to get him the Stopmotion Film kit w/ camera. We also follow the Want/Need/Wear/Read for Christmas gift-giving.
November 12, 2013 at 5:55 pm
my3boys
Participant
I plan to use the Want/Need/Wear/Read as a guide to keep a bit of focus…we tend to overload our kids. I think that will help. Now I just have to convince the hubby.
Thanks so much!
November 12, 2013 at 6:00 pm
crazy4boys
Participant
Love JM Cremps here too. In the past we’ve done: Legos, K’nex (and K’nex Junior), Stopmotion camera, high impact practice swords (from Vision Forum), cross bows, throwing knives, board & card games, science kits, Zoobs, Lincoln Logs, magnets & magnifying glasses & microscopes, Kindle Fire, books like Backyard Ballistics and Dangerous Book for Boys and Art of the Catapult among others, fiction and non-fiction books based on their interests. Subscriptions to National Geographic for Kids and other sciencey magazines.
November 13, 2013 at 2:18 am
Mandi
Participant
My son (age 8) and daughter for that matter, loved Chuck Black’s books…Kindgdom Series and Knights of Arrethtrae. Also my son is very into legos right now. We did some kind of electicity kit from one of those many magazines you get around this time of year and he liked that. Mindware has some great educational games.
November 13, 2013 at 2:13 pm
missceegee
Participant
@momof3boys – we’ve, actually I’ve, always gone overboard with lots of small things. I like the focus of limiting. I think my kids will, too.
We’re using a 5 present approach – something you want, need, wear, read, & something to share with others in need – for the first time this year. We gave each child $15 to fill an Operation Christmas Child box for the share part and my kids were THRILLED to do this!
DS9 likes the JM Cremps catalog, too. He is leaning heavily toward the air soft “stuff” this year though he also likes the looks of the duct tape stuff/books too. For wearing, he wants Under Armour type shirt(s). For reading, he’s getting the Gary Paulsen Mr. Tucker series & the Boy Scout Handbook. The need is still undecided.
Ds3 wants a kid safe bow & arrow set. For reading he’s getting the Brambley Hedge series in a slip case that was a bear to track down! For wear & need, I’m undecided.
November 13, 2013 at 2:40 pm
my3boys
Participant
Oh, yes, my dc love Operation Christmas Child and participate in that project at a few different places. We actually have 5 more boxes to wrap, fill and deliver. They love it!
I’m with you, missceegee. The focus will help us to make better choices for them and I think they’ll enjoy the variety it provides, rather than just toys/movies. I did start them on a collection of Lamplighter books a few years ago, but the focus wasn’t on the “read” part, it was on the collecting of quality books that look nice on the shelf and to be taken with them when they leave the nest . And, they’ve always received quality ornaments so they will have some to take with them for their own trees/families.
Thanks so much for these great ideas. We will be doing a few different ideas this year
November 13, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Kristina
Participant
Missceegee- could you post a link or description of the kids friendly bow and arrow set you’re planning to get for your 3 year old? My son would love one too!
November 14, 2013 at 12:35 am
Polly
Participant
What are your favorite Snap Circuit kits?
November 14, 2013 at 2:41 pm
my3boys
Participant
bump
I’d like to know, too.
November 14, 2013 at 4:11 pm
missceegee
Participant
I have this Snap Circuit set to give to my son for his birthday or Christmas.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CIXVIRQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1384445459&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70