Christmas toys not as good as they were back in the day!

[craste]

My sons 9 years old and I'm really struggling to get him something different for Christmas.

He has a nice bike, tablet, ps4 etc already.

When I was a lad we had Tin can alley, steer n go!, big track, etc!

The toys today seem crap by comparison.

Look at the best sellers on Amazon, its naff!

[northwest monkey]

Use your imagination then and not just the "best selling" lists!

We've got our 8 year old son loads of random stuff - some of it obvious like Lego, some of it less so like a "grow your own crystals" kit or some Famous Five books.

I'd say the toys of today are in some ways better but don't forget though, you're looking at them through a Dads eyes. I bet when you were 9 & wanted Action Man, TCR or a ZX Spectrum, your Dad probably thought they were a load of st as well!

Actually - a good suggestion is a load of Meccano with wheels and a pack of elastic bands. We got him this for his birthday & we've had great fun making pull back cars to zoom about!

[dudleybloke]

Get one (or more) of these.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B015QU7DOE/ref=mp_...

[Impasse]

http://www.wickeduncle.co.uk/

[CR6ZZ]

The best thing I gave my granddaughter when she was around 9 was a book of projects she could do or make. Some needed adult help, but she still does stuff from it three years on.

[Evolved]

Kids are spoilt nowadays, technology is king so things that used to amuse us a kids seems boring in comparison.

[hornetrider]

craste said:

My sons 9 years old and I'm really struggling to get him something different for Christmas.

He has a nice bike, tablet, ps4 etc already.

When I was a lad we had Tin can alley, steer n go!, big track, etc!

The toys today seem crap by comparison.

Look at the best sellers on Amazon, its naff!

How about something awesome from Tamiya?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TAMIYA-RC-58525-Wild-One...

[NRS]

Evolved said:

Kids are spoilt nowadays, technology is king so things that used to amuse us a kids seems boring in comparison.

Same goes when you were young too, compared to the generation before.

[hornetrider]

NRS said:

Same goes when you were young too, compared to the generation before.

When I were a lad, all we got was a box and a stick to play in the mud.

[Aldos Army]

to be honest the games we had as a kid have now been "cheapened" so much that they are crap too

I had a play of Connect 4 recently, felt like it was going to fall apart the pieces were so thin. Also bought mouse trap for my kids a few months ago. Broke it putting it together.

[CorbynForTheBin]

Meccano, a toy crane and a chemistry set!

Those were the days


One year I got a lathe!!!

[road hog]

what about something retro..

steam traction engine...?

http://www.forest-classics.co.uk/Mamod.htm

[steveo3002]

had many hours of fun with my tamiya rc cars around that age upwards , they do afew of the 80s ones as re releases too

[Puggit]

CorbynForTheBin said:

Meccano, a toy crane and a chemistry set!

Those were the days


One year I got a lathe!!!

Just dug out a simple meccano set for my 9 year old he received last year when he had a day off from school. He was a whizz at Lego from a young age, without adult help. He just gave up on the meccano.

[P-Jay]

I'm sorry, but I had tin-can alley when I was a kid, it was rubbish it never worked like it should do.

Nerf Guns on the other had!

Check this thing out!




http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nerf-N-Strike-Elite-XD-Rhi...

[Stig]

My son has a Nerf Rhino (above)

Top tip - instead of running on uber expensive D-cells, get some AA battery holders (they only cost a couple of quid). That way I can run them on rechargeable AAs (of which I have leads) and avoid spending £15 a set for the D-Cells!

Yes, I did say £15 for D-Cells!!!!

Re. Tin Can Alley. I was desperate to have this as a child and never did. I got a modern equivalent from Maplin (IIRC) a few years back for a tenner. It's worked perfectly since the day we bought it (a goot 7 years ago I'd say) and both my sons still play with it.

[Matt_N]

P-Jay said:

I'm sorry, but I had tin-can alley when I was a kid, it was rubbish it never worked like it should do.

Nerf Guns on the other had!

Check this thing out!




http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nerf-N-Strike-Elite-XD-Rhi...

Holy st my 1 year old needs that

[opieoilman]

I remember getting Meccano when I was about 9 or 10 and loved it. Technic Lego was always a good one as well.

[L1OFF]

road hog said:

what about something retro..

steam traction engine...?

http://www.forest-classics.co.uk/Mamod.htm

I had one of these Mamod steam engines when I was a nipper. The boiler blew up but it was great fun. I've just ordered another one

[road hog]

just seen this on tv ....want

slot cars controlled by your phone ,,

https://anki.com/en-gb