Top Holiday Gifts – Noisy Toys for Nieces and Nephews
One of the joys of parenting a toddler is watching them learn and grow by leaps and bounds. Clever parents encourage genius with appropriate gifts:
• sketchpads and watercolors for their budding Leonardo
• stuffed animals to nurture Dian Fossey instincts
• a microscope for Einstein Junior
All well and good, but when does the kid get to have fun?
It’s up to uncles and aunts to supply their nieces and nephews with Christmas Contraband. Yes, I’m talking about top holiday gifts every parent hates – noisy toys.
I asked some noisy toys experts (my kids) to list the top holiday noisy gifts for kids. Here’s their finding:
Top Holiday Gifts, Noisy Toys Edition
5. Fisher-Price: Laugh & Learn Learning Mower
4. GP50 Starter Drum Set, sticks included
3. Tonka Lights and Sound Engine – Rescue Force
2. Vtech – Pull & Lights Phone
1. Schylling Curious George Pounding Bench
My brothers should consider themselves suitably forewarned.
Make sure every kid gets a noisy gift for the holidays. Click to Buzz up some Yahoo holiday love for this post!
- Flip Video Mino Flippin’ ROCKS
- Prank Phone Call
- Old Home Remedies
- Miley Cyrus School Gear
- Tivo Killed Family TV Night
- Back to School Shopping in a New Age Pharmaceutical Church
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Comment by lisaq
| December 15th, 2008
Haha or the messiest. My ex sister-in-law used to be notorious for buying my girls the craziest, messiest gifts. They drove me crazy but were, of course, the girls’ favorites!
lisaq´s last blog post..Mortal Danger
Comment by mama llama
| December 15th, 2008
Wow!! I get a headache just imagining those toys!
We hava had a no-battery toys rule in our house from the beginning. When they get into the gameboy, etc. age, that will undoubtedly change, but we have thus far been able to sidestep the great noise issue…other than that they make on the various musical instruments they have to play around on.
…which is enough of a headache.
Now to go plug myself into my battery-operated iPod and hit the gym! Happy Monday, Dads! Be well.
mama llama´s last blog post..balance
Comment by Jeff Mac, manslations.com
| December 15th, 2008
Oh yes. My role as the uncle is DEFINITELY about this. Last year, my sisters four kids received “Rock Band” for their Xbox. The full version, with the drum set, the guitar, and the microphone. You give them one of these charming little torture devices, you get the kids going absolutely nuts…and then you fade back into your quiet, quiet home.
Jeff Mac, manslations.com´s last blog post..Manslations Sales Going Strong — Keep ‘em Coming!
Comment by debra
| December 15th, 2008
David….you’re twisted! (In the best way possible!) Great list. I’d like to add to it, the southern redneck lawnmower version, given to my son when he was 2, not by an uncle, but a friend of my ex. This gem exclaims, in a nails-on-a-chalkboard, toothless southern redneck accent (a la Jeff Foxworthy)… GET ‘ER DONE!!! It mysteriously disappeared after it made my son cry!
Comment by Susan
| December 15th, 2008
Ha, this reminded me of my pre-parenting days when I got a set of maracas and tambourine for my then niece and 2 nephews. I thought it was a great idea because I didn’t have much money to spend and there were 3 items in the kit for the 3 of them — no fighting!
My brother- and sister-in-law weren’t all that pleased, though. After my ex and I had our first they responded in kind with something really, really loud. So loud I can’t recall what it was; I only remember the evil grin on their faces as we opened it.
Susan´s last blog post..Holiday Traditions and Tips, Single Parent Style
Comment by Ryan
| December 15th, 2008
Cool list with the exception of the drum set. I’m a drummer and a dad and I would rather my child got a good quality drum set so not only will he be able to play them for a long time but I will also be able to teach my son the value and importance of a good investment of high quality musical instruments. I’d recommend something like this Ludwig LC135 Accent Nomad CS 5 Piece Drum Set. It’s definitely not a toy but if your children show any interest in music it is a much better investment than something they will destroy in a weekend.
Comment by SDMktg
| December 15th, 2008
I actually got the fire engine for my 1 year old nephew so I think this is really funny. Of course my 7 year old son has enough legos to build a house or make a 1/2 inch layer across our whole apartment so it’s probably even.
Loud is bad loud and reptitive is worse. Nothing like hearing the same tune or saying 100+ times in a day.
Comment by T
| December 15th, 2008
Ugh! I agree… makes my head hurt just thinking about the noise!
But you’re right. The kids love ‘em!
Hey, whatever keeps them happy… and I can always drown it out when I’m on the bike trainer. :)
T´s last blog post.."You look like somebody famous"
Comment by The Girl You Don't Bring Home to Momma
| December 15th, 2008
I had kids before all my friends did, and they used to buy sand art and poppers, with 1000 piece bead sets, drums, etc.. I always told them that paybacks were a bitch…Now I have fun when shopping for the kids. I get the most biggest pieced fun loud toy I can possibly find.
The Girl You Don’t Bring Home to Momma´s last blog post..Busy Weekend = Tired Girl
Comment by single mom seeking
| December 15th, 2008
My sister used to get me like this… and give the noisiest toys to my toddler. Aaaah!!
single mom seeking´s last blog post..Holiday giveaway: How do you handle loneliness?
Comment by krn
| December 15th, 2008
Mwahahahaha! You’ve inspired me this morning, yet again~
My poor cousins are now at a life stage where generosity for certain gifts given in years past is surely in order.
*grinning a slightly evil grin*
Never one to miss an opportunity to multitask, let me say that you are indeed quite brilliant, dad’s house. <—–another flirt of the day directed your way, there. Happy shopping, smart one!
Comment by krn
| December 15th, 2008
Just wanted to add that I like Ryan’s recommendation for a “keeper” drum set. Hmmm, I could have used that while going through mediation! ;) We had a big ‘ole Remo floor drum that did the trick, though.
Comment by Leah
| December 15th, 2008
Dad’s – you’re diabolical. :) True to form, my aunt bought S a fantastically noisy talking cash register for his birthday.
Just in case anyone needs some additional ideas.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015KTSQG
Leah´s last blog post..Zealous patience: here we go!
Comment by Mad Cartoonist
| December 15th, 2008
Hey, we had all these! The fire engine, the “phone”, the toy lawn mower/vacuum cleaner–all were definitely favs of my kids, played with long (long!) after they got bored with that stupid and expensive robot dog.
But we’ve never had a drum set. But I’m already regretting getting my kids the Chipmunk’s Christmas CD—I’m not at all sure I’m ready for drums!
Comment by Cathouse Teri
| December 15th, 2008
Fun suggestions!
But I don’t really get into buying kids a bunch of gifts, so I’ll just teach them some swear words. :)
Cathouse Teri´s last blog post..The Land of Oz
Comment by dadshouse
| December 15th, 2008
Ryan – now I feel bad! To restore karma, here is Jimmy Chamberlain and Smashing Pumpkins on Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP1yIfMeIQ0
And a video focused entirely on Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron playing Evenflow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j9Hka8F_cc
Let the xmas drum set buying begin!
Comment by ilinap
| December 15th, 2008
Wow am I glad to not be on your Christmas list. I’m linking to this at Morningside Mom’s blog. http://morningsidemom.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/muvee-reveal-blogger-cheer-giveaway/#comments
Comment by America
| December 15th, 2008
Is it wrong that I bought MY son bongo drums for his first birthday… what can I say, I’m a masochist!
Comment by Laura
| December 15th, 2008
That pull phone and lawn mower are hits here too! I dont have a friend with kids who doesnt have one or often both :)
And you are right – my brother buys my kids fun stuff. Mainly cos he wants to play with it and then a fight ensues after its been opened :)
Laura´s last blog post..Questions and Answers
Comment by Solo-Dad
| December 16th, 2008
I had to chuckle when I saw the little toy lawnmower. When Little Elvis was, um..little..he used to trail behind my father with one we found at a garage sale. To him, it was a cross between a car (having four-wheels) and a tool used in the yard. Hence his term for it: ‘Car-Yard.’ One Christmas, Santa brought him a new ‘Car-Yard’ with all kinds of bells and whistles. He mowed the carpet, the kitchen floor, the yard and the driveway: all before breakfast.
Funny, now that he’s 12 I can’t get him near the real one!
Comment by Exception
| December 16th, 2008
I have a wonderful nephew who I enjoy giving the most loud and obnoxious (educational of course) toys. I have kind of focused these toys on him because he, unlike his brothers, will use and enjoy them. (I just hope that this doesn’t mean he gets in trouble more than the others… though he does)
While at the Kennedy Center over the weekend, my daughter found a thunder simulator!! Talk about loud. Talk about portable!! Talk about fun!!! She thought it was great. Visions of torturing my brother played through my head! (And right now, he needs to be tortured!)
Unfortunately my Christmas shopping for my five nephews is complete and shipped… and my nerves were already quite frayed by the time we found the gift or I would have purchased to be given later… but… I have a plan for his next birthday!!
So I add to your list a thunder simulator…
And the most annoying gift my daughter ever received… a toy tape recorder that allowed her to record herself and change tones etc… it was loud and annoying and portable!!
Exception´s last blog post..The Christmas Birthday
Comment by dadshouse
| December 16th, 2008
Thunder stimulator? Sounds like a sex toy!
Oh, you wrote “simulator”… got it. My bad.
Comment by SDMktg
| December 16th, 2008
I had drums in high school and unless you live in a house with a fair amount of space from your neighbors they can be too loud. A carpeted room can help dampen the noise too. Otherwise it can carry a few blocks away.
SDMktg´s last blog post..Gift Ideas for Tailgaters
Comment by Mandy
| December 17th, 2008
This is awesome! I remember as a kid my mom and aunt had a unspoken “contest” and took turns giving eachother’s kids the toys parents hate for them to receive, along with lots of noisy goodness, we also got paint and makeup. Fun times!
Mandy´s last blog post..Oh Christmas Tree