Step-siblings: Ideas for gifts to help them cooperate/work together & bond

Well, I will give it a shot…

We love our game books that describe the rules of lots of different children’s games (many that we played as children, but forgot)! So first, I would recommend a book on games like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Big-Book-Childrens-Games/dp/0071422463/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356149340&sr=1-1&keywords=children%27s++games

We also enjoy board games and card games like Uno, Wahoo, Chinese Checkers, Dominos, Jenga, Quirkle and Pictionary.

Don’t forget puzzles – these can be fun to work on together in the winter.

And sports are a great way to spend family time doing something active and healthy. We have played golf, ping pong, tennis, basketball, baseball and football with the kids. So lots of supplies are needed for those, obviously!

I did an arts and crafts box for all the kids for Christmas with various supplies (paper, construction paper, glue, pom-poms, glitter, felt, etc…) so that we have what is needed for most craft projects on hand.

We also did some homemade ‘coupons’ for activities that the kids enjoy (like a visit to the archery or shooting range with Dad, or tea and antique shopping with Mom). These are sort of ‘freebies’ as you cash them in later. But our ‘Quality Time’ kiddos love knowing that they are going to get a special date later in the month.

Merry Christmas to your new Family!

Congratulations, Betsy!  =)  Too tired to “think” of something cooperative, but wanted to wish you well!

I’d get a whole bunch of dress-up clothes….  especially things that go well together.  This might encourage co-operative play.

ie, my kids have a doctor outfit, a policeman, fireman, chef, a couple of princess outfits, a prince, a knight, pirate stuff, etc.  They often dress up as various things and act out stuff.

speaking of puppet shows….   I like the finger puppet shows.  We have a little stage and I have bought finger puppets for them.  I loved it because we could act out more without having to step on each other. It also worked great to do history too.  Our came in themes.  goldie locks and the 3 bears, 3 little pigs, prince and princes, farmer with animals, ect…  I bought them at a schooling function but don’t know who the lady is.  So, I couldn’t help you there but I have seen some similar ones on line.  Anyway, You could just by felt in different colors sew a face on them and some hair and there you have them. You just put them on your fingers.  I would look them up for you but I am pretty limited to looking up things. It takes forever to load a page and it is terriable if it is the wrong thing. I could spend all day.  Sorry.  

   Anyway, legos draw my kids in. 

  Also, I have seen them bond really well on the ice.  If you have a skating rink near where you liveor a pond, I think I would try out some time on the ice.  Then, invest in some skates for the girls. 🙂  They don’t even have to be new. Usually you can pick them up at a thrift shop pretty cheap and if you have to shoe polish them.  They would make a great gift. I just happen to pick up a pair for myself and my son. They were brand new.  Only wore once. We were pleased with the purchase.  You may even find that a rink will have skates for the kids to borrow until you get yourself some.

   Maybe you are into snowshoeing or something like that. Maybe tubeing. 🙂 

  I like the dress up clothes idea. You could take it a step further and reinact some history.  I also love thrift shop gloves. You know the kind they use to wear with prom dresses.  I have seen some in great condition. We use to buy those and old hats, purses and scarves. (the silk type) Accessorize!!!  We also bought a tea set. A really nice one. I would make cookies or something and about once or twice a week we would have a tea party at snack time.  We would practice manners. LOL  or at least speaking English and pretending to do manners. Tehe he…  As a matter of fact my son said to me two days ago, “We haven’t had a tea party in a while. ”  I was thinking the same thing. I guess we should break the set out and have some mookies!  🙂

   The game idea is a good one too. I think we play the simpler games. Either that or they make up their own because the game co. has made the rules a little diffficult.  I think my favorite game that I liked to play with them was the strawberry shortcake game.  I thought of ways we could revamp it and make it a History, science, ect… game.   But that is just me.  My brain is wired that way. Tehe he I thought it was a nice game that even little ones could play on their own. My daughter was learning to count at the time and it worked great for counting spaces. We have a ton of educational games too. I like those better but for a over all game that little girls can play that one was a fav. in our house.

  Good luck and have a good shopping day!