I’m looking for some gift ideas for my niece’s birthdays that are all coming up over the next couple of months. The two older ones have pretty much outgrown toys and the another two have so many toys that you can’t hardly get into their rooms. So I’m thinking about giving them all some kind of gift certificate to different places instead of actually buying them stuff. If I don't do this for their birthdays, then I think I'll do it for Christmas.

Whatever I get for one, I’m going to be giving enough that will cover the cost for both siblings. Example, if I give one a GC for skating, then I’ll have it to cover the cost for both kids.

Their ages will be
11
10 and 7
8 and 3

Here are some places that I’ve came up with…
Bowling
Movies
Skating
Chuck E. Cheese over an hour away
Zoo almost 2 hours away
Adventure Science Museum I’d have to ask about this one because I don’t know if it’d be good, but I’ve heard good things about it. It's also two hours away as well.

I was thinking along the lines of
Skating for the 11 and 10 year old.
Chuck E. Cheese for the 7 and 3 year old.
Adventure Science Museum for the 8 year old.

This way the 8 and 3 year old can go to both Chuck E. Cheese and the Adventure Science Museum. The 10 and 7 year old can go skating and to Chuck E. Cheese.

How does this sound and does anyone have any better ideas that good along with this?

By Colette on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 07:43 am:

Those are great ideas. A totally different idea since you don't want to do toys would be a magazine subscription. Carus Publishing offers all kinds of really great magazines for all different ages. My sister has been getting them for my dks for years and even my 16yr old dd enjoys reading her Muse magazine still. They all look forward to the magazines every month. I don't know how to make a clickable link but you can cut and paste.

http://www.cricketmag.com/shop_magzines.asp

By Keriens on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 02:40 pm:

I think a magazine subscription would be a great idea. I'll check into that as an option as well. But the oldest niece moves around a lot, so does anyone know how easy would it be to have her address changed on her subscriptions whenever they move so she will continue to get the magazines?

By Kate on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 04:17 pm:

If they move around a lot, won't getting a pass for a local place be a problem? I like most of your ideas, but as the parent I wouldn't drive two hours just for a zoo. That's my personal bias, though, as I really hate zoos. I'm not sure about driving over an hour for Chuck E. Cheese, either, unless you know the kids adore it there and the parents are willing.

How about disposable cameras for the older kids and a gift card for developing?

By Kaye on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 04:55 pm:

My dd at age 9 and up just loved crafting kits. Anytime, as long as it had all the pieces and instructions. The plus side from me was it was consumable. what about some nice stationary and a personalized pen? or a gift card to a book store and a booklight?

By Keriens on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 05:50 pm:

If I plan on getting a gift card to some place that isn't closeby, then I'd ask the parents first to see if they are okay with it. I do know that they sometimes take their kids to Chuck E. Cheese.

I like the disposable camera and gift card for developing. I'm sure the 8 year old would like that one because she likes taking pictures. I'll ask the parents if the older two would be interested in that.

My oldest niece has stayed in the same place for about a year now, so hopefully they've quit moving around for a while now. If I got a gift card for skating then I could get it for the area she lives in now or get it for my area and take her when she's visiting us.

I did craft kits for all of them just this past Christmas and it was a hit with them all. So I'm looking for something different and a little unique to give to them. I like the gift card to a book store as well. I've given them books in the past, but giving a gift card to a book store would be better because that way they can chose their own books.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 06:34 pm:

Emily loved Cricket Magazine! Grandma got them that subscription once!

By Keriens on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 02:22 pm:

Bumping... to see if anyone else has any other suggestions. I love all of the suggestions that have already been given.