HELP--Question regarding a young Katrina survivor...

[gretchenrose]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 12:58pm

Hi there...I usually do not post that often...I like to sit back and watch everyone else, because I really enjoy reading all your posts. But I thought you might be able to help me...

Tomorrow morning at 6am, a Katrina survivor and her 7-year-old son are arriving by BUS (30-hour trip) to stay with my best friend (we live in Sacramento, California). This weekend, we are going to go shopping with them, etc and make surethey get everything they need. But I really wanted to buy this kid, Jeremiah, at least one present before he got here so that way he would have SOMETHING...because they have nothing left from the Hurricane. Problem is...I cannot think of any kind of toy, etc to get for him...does anyone have any suggestions??

Thank you so much!!

Updated On: 9/8/05 at 12:58 PM

[WickedJerseyGirl]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 1:21pm

How much were you wanting to spend? Something like a Gameboy would probably thrill him, but that would be pricey. Maybe one of the other cheaper electronic games?

Kids are so weird now. Used to be that you coculd get them a toy truck or action figures and they would be cool. Now they want eletronics.

Updated On: 9/8/05 at 01:21 PM

[gretchenrose]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 1:24pm

Hahah...I'm so pathetically excited about this kid coming to stay with my friend that I might...but maybe not right away!! :)

Updated On: 9/8/05 at 01:24 PM

[KelRel]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 1:56pm

Get him a cd player and a gift card so he can get a couple of cds. You can get a cheap portable cd player for around $20 anymore.

[WickedJerseyGirl]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 2:18pm

Yeah, I wass thinking the CD player, too. Then you can offer to burn some CDs for him.

[Tired_O_Lurking]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 2:21pm

CDs for a sever year old might not work.

Seeing how he's from New Orleans, just get him a toy gun. JUST KIDDING!!!!!!

Go to Radio Shack and get one of those mini remote control cars (about the size of a HotWheels car) Don't forget batteries.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 2:27pm

I would go to Toys-R-Us and buy some old fashioned board games that you can all sit around and play together. Seems I got to know more people by playing board games with them. Eating junk food,playing games and just sitting around and laughing really can bond people. It's a diversion from just sitting there staring at each other and asking questions.

[KelRel]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 2:38pm

Good point Boobs. I know 7 year olds with cell phones. It is sad and insane all the technological junk kids have these days.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 3:07pm

If it were me, I would get a stuffed animal or two. When I was a kid, I had a few favorite stuffed animals and would have been absolutely devastated if they were destroyed. Geez, I'm tearing up right now just thinking about it...
ETA: I totally forgot to explain! Every kid needs something to cling to when they're sad or stressed, and maybe he would like that.

Updated On: 9/8/05 at 03:07 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 3:11pm

I was thinking legos might not be a bad idea.

I know a lot of little boys love to build things, and love legos.

I would at first try to stay away from video games or anything else that would encourage him to be by himself.

Also, if you have a pet, it would be good to let him play with the pet a lot.

I am sure some folks with kids may have some other suggestions.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 3:41pm

I definitely agree with the boardgames. It'll give the boy a chance to get comfortable with you all and more like a part of things than just imposing on you all.

[etoile]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 3:41pm

I'm a big proponent of books, but they're not something all kids enjoy. So I would go with activity items. Legos and games are a great idea. So is something as simple as coloring books and a box of 64 Crayolas, Colorforms, or Playdough. Crayola had a lot of different activity box sets that include markers, colored pencils, stencils that can run between $8 to $20.

[lildogs]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 3:47pm

Might I suggest taking him shopping for a new outfit? I think he would feel special and have something lasting and practical.

[Mamie]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 3:57pm

I agree with Boobs and for the same reasons Liz mentioned. This child is going to feel awfully isolated as it is. (Even with Mom around). He needs to feel like he's a welcome member of his new social group. Rather than giving him something that allows him to stay isolated, give him games that make him join in with others. It actually will help all of you to play those games together!

[gretchenrose]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 6:09pm

THANKS!! All of these are great...

I plan to go shopping with them this weekend and I am really looking forward to that.

But my firend and I just wanted to get him something, so that when he wakes up from sleeping afters 20 hours on a bus, after losing his home, and after being in Texas in a shelter for days...he has at least one present right there...maybe a teddy bear and some crayons, Legos, etc...

[Mamie]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 6:16pm

All of those are good. You might even consider a little backpack that would be all his own. All of those things, crayons, books, a stuffed animal, etc. could be packed inside. It would be his own possession and he could dig into it whenever he wanted. (You might even consider packing a couple of personal grooming items that would belong just to him. A hairbrush, toothbrush and paste, etc.)

Updated On: 9/8/05 at 06:16 PM