5:52 I really recommend No Stress Chess for kids just learning chess. It has cards that remind the players of how the pieces are allowed to move and it has a “randomness” aspect that helps level the playing field between players who already know some chess strategy and those just starting out.
If your kids are really interested in learning to play chess, Story Time Chess was a great way for my kids to learn! Each piece is a character in the story and they can only move across the garden in certain ways. It was so cute and really memorable for my 6, 8, and 10 year olds. My 6 year old regularly beat his dad at chess after learning through Story Time Chess.
My 11 yo son taught himself how to code using the Coding Games in Scratch book! Since then, he has moved from Scratch to Python and also learned some Java. Great buy!
My boys (8 and 10) LOVE the gravitrax. there are so many great expansions to go with it. We are just starting into Coding as well so thanks for some great recommendations!
Thanks for doing this video so much! Just an FYI -- ThinkFun the maker of Zingo now have these tile sets to add onto your basic Zingo game where you use the tiles to expand the kids skills but do not have to buy a new game so they are much more affordable. Maybe good Easter basket ideas if your kiddos love Zingo. They are called Zingo Boosters. Merry Christmas!
I'm curious to know if you like sleeping queens 2 and dragon realm as much as sleeping queens and dragonwood? I got my kids those games based on your other video and we are loving them!
My twins are 7. Last year I got them completely different gifts, thinking they would like toys/items they were interested in. Nope. They complained they didn't have the same things. 🤣🤣 Not making that mistake this year!
Haha, that makes me laugh so hard! I have also thought of getting different gifts but I wasn't sure if they would just fight over all the different stuff!
I read the first book to my big kids when they were 6.5 and 5. I think I will aim for about next summer for my twins (when they are 5.5). I highly recommend the illustrated copies to help keep them engaged!
I got the second game in the series (ie sleeping queens 2 and dragon realm) because they loved the first games. Haha, I might have said it wrong because I was filming fast to keep my kids from spotting their gifts 🤣
Investigators series is one of our favorites. It is funny, it reads well aloud and is just great.
That is so good to know, thank you!!
Oh man I didn’t know there was an expansion set to that marble run. My kids got it last year for Christmas and they’re always wanting more pieces.
5:52 I really recommend No Stress Chess for kids just learning chess. It has cards that remind the players of how the pieces are allowed to move and it has a “randomness” aspect that helps level the playing field between players who already know some chess strategy and those just starting out.
I got him no stress chess after so many people recommended it - thank you!!
My 7 year old girl was the hardest to shop for this year too! I think it’s that in between age not quite a “big kid” not quite a “little kid” either.
Yes, you are probably right!!
If your kids are really interested in learning to play chess, Story Time Chess was a great way for my kids to learn! Each piece is a character in the story and they can only move across the garden in certain ways. It was so cute and really memorable for my 6, 8, and 10 year olds. My 6 year old regularly beat his dad at chess after learning through Story Time Chess.
Thank you!!
3:35 Is dragon realm worth it? We have dragon wood and we LOVE it!
My 11 yo son taught himself how to code using the Coding Games in Scratch book! Since then, he has moved from Scratch to Python and also learned some Java. Great buy!
Hooray, I'm so happy to hear your son loved that book!
Loved seeing your picks! I always loved those science activity kits (like the volcano thing) when I was a kid. The marble run looks fun!
My boys (8 and 10) LOVE the gravitrax. there are so many great expansions to go with it. We are just starting into Coding as well so thanks for some great recommendations!
So excited to hear they love gravitrax!
Loves these ideas! My kids are 6 and almost four and we had a lot of similar ideas!
Thanks for doing this video so much! Just an FYI -- ThinkFun the maker of Zingo now have these tile sets to add onto your basic Zingo game where you use the tiles to expand the kids skills but do not have to buy a new game so they are much more affordable. Maybe good Easter basket ideas if your kiddos love Zingo. They are called Zingo Boosters. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for letting me know!! Hopefully we love the game 😊
Your hair is so cute!!!
I'm curious to know if you like sleeping queens 2 and dragon realm as much as sleeping queens and dragonwood? I got my kids those games based on your other video and we are loving them!
They are loving Sleeping queens 2 - although it is a bit more involved than the original! I’m getting the other one for my sons birthday in January!!
Love thes gift ideas!!
Thanks!
My girls are 6.5 & almost 5 - lots of Legos this year!
Love legos over here!
My twins are 7. Last year I got them completely different gifts, thinking they would like toys/items they were interested in. Nope. They complained they didn't have the same things. 🤣🤣
Not making that mistake this year!
Haha, that makes me laugh so hard! I have also thought of getting different gifts but I wasn't sure if they would just fight over all the different stuff!
My twin boys are 4 and I can't wait to introduce them to Harry Potter. When did you read the first book to your kids?
I read the first book to my big kids when they were 6.5 and 5. I think I will aim for about next summer for my twins (when they are 5.5). I highly recommend the illustrated copies to help keep them engaged!
Quick question. What do you do with old toys?
We donate or sell ours.
We donate if they are still in good condition or else we just toss them 🤷🏼♀️
You said you got your kids these games because they love them... how did you play them if you didn't have them? Did you borrow them from a friend?
I got the second game in the series (ie sleeping queens 2 and dragon realm) because they loved the first games. Haha, I might have said it wrong because I was filming fast to keep my kids from spotting their gifts 🤣