adoption gift ideas???

[Blueberry]

Something like a hand print cast kit? Gift certificate for them to have a portrait done?

CA

[Tuckervill]

My friend gave her best friend's baby a large library of her favorite children's books. I thought it was an awesome idea, especially since she can keep adding to it on the child's birthdays.

I have a couple of children's books that were translated from Russian. Perhaps a little search will turn up something quaint and appropriate along those lines. It would have the added bonus of showing your thoughtfulness towards the children's heritage.

I make sure to give my grandson books on every occasion. Now I've gone on to add music, too, most recently the Barenaked Ladies' new kids CD, Snacktime.

Karen

[SadieKate]

Where do they live? Any other kids in the house? If not, I'm guessing they're short on everything. Sled for the winter, big wheels, kid size picnic table, toy bins, big ol' box of books (no time like now to be immersed in the Amurican language, etc., etc., etc.

[Kano]

My grandsons are 3 1/2 and 18 months. Large motor type toys. There's tons of energy in there! Anything that makes noise. (earplugs for the parents) There are some great jungle gym type things out there, and you can have them delivered when you buy online. Consider that things like Little Tykes "flintstone mobile" is a delight to small children. Dad got one for my oldest when she turned one, and my girls loved it for years. Dad bought his great grandson his first car too! The one my girls had was beloved by the whole neighborhood, to the point where kids up and down the block fought over it. By then, the girls were past it, and it got a new home with a family several miles away!

Trikes or tiny bikes and helmets are good, but the bikes will be outgrown almost as fast as you get them. Anything Elmo. Only things with many pieces (think Legos) if you are mad at the parents.

Musical instruments -- and more earplugs! Other musical toys -- LeapFrog does some cool stuff with letters and animals and such. The kids LOVE the. Here, we have the farm thing -- you made a match look what you've done, you made a match, hear a pig sound! Add the foot stompin' banjo tunes, and you've got serious fun: there's nothing like watching them struggle with stomping a foot and clapping at the same time, much less in time to the music! (now my dog has learned to make music with farmer tad, cuz he gets treats!)

Books -- hardboard pages, cuz paper gets torn. One Fish Two Fish is incredibly well loved here. Won't be long and the Walter the FArting Dog series will be incredibly well received! (fart humor starts early, and lasts forever in my experience!)

note that everything seems to turn into guns, swords, and other weapons. Doesn't matter what it is.

Both boys love build-a-bear workshop bears. They particularly love to make their own! We've gotten around the millions of bears in their own lives by having Xander make them for other people. He does have a couple of his own, and Rion recently did his first one. I hear there's a remote control car store like this now -- I look forward to it coming to Boise. I think the boys and their grandpa will have a blast making RC cars together!

Ooh! Gotta add: locked storage units for mom and dad to stash everything in. Boys this age will get into anything and everything that's not securely stashed. A whole new houseful of non-porous furniture and flooring. As the older grandkid says "messes happen"

Car seats too -- they're going to want a set in each car. I've got my own set for our grandboys. Life is just easier that way!

Karen in Boise

[Trekhawk]

Lego the stuff for little kids so they can't choke on it.
My three boys love the stuff and have always played with it from toddlers right up to now and my oldest is nearly 11.
The Danes sure know how to make some good stuff.

If postage is a problem I am sure Lego do gift vouchers.

[mimitabby]

I always buy books for little kids. So many people in my family don't read!! but I hope for the best. There are lots of great books for little kids.