I bought my 5-year-old son the SW Diesel Freight Set from Lionel for Christmas, my wife managed to talk me into waiting a few more months to have a train set in the house but she couldn't stop me from buying it well in advance and "making sure it worked..."
Anyway, how would you set it up if you were Santa other than the standard oval around the tree?
Best idea I have so far is either set it up on a timer so it's running when we come downstairs or put smaller gifts like some candy in the hopper car.
Someone out there has better ideas I'm sure of it!
I think the idea to have it running when you come downstairs in the morning is a great idea. A 5 year old would be in absolute awe (especially at the thought that Santa set the whole thing up, too). It seems like something that would be a very memorable childhood moment.
The candy idea is good too, and it is something you could do along with the timer, or maybe you could put some small toy cars and things that could go along with the train set or compliment it in some way.
strategically set the presents around and over it so the boxes form a tunnel, etc. this will require some patience as it can be tough to do. when I did this with my son, he was so wide eyed it just brought tears to our eyes. if you order a couple of extra lengths of Fastrack, you can make a square and it will go around the tree a lot better.
Oh, and welcome to the forum! you can come back often and ask questions.
Dennis
TCA#09-63805
My preference would be to wrap the set up and let him open it on Christmas morning. If the pieces are boxed individually, you could also wrap the pieces individually. His excitement will be prolonged because he will be a part of helping his parents set up the train.
Earl
How about this?Set it up to run on Christmas morning.Stack other presents around to form tunnels, etc. as has been suggested.Go ahead and put candy or other small toys on board.Then go out and buy some accessories or additional rolling stock, and wrap those up!See . . . a win-win situation!
At 5 years of age kids want to touch everything. A few diecast cars or trucks would be great for him to play with while the train is running.
A preformed styrofoam tunnel could add some interest, kids love seeing a train going into and out of a tunnel.
And my kids favorite train activity is putting a handcar on the tracks and letting the train chase down the handcar. Lionel makes several handcars with cartoon characters or Santa Claus.
Have fun!
dwiemer wrote: strategically set the presents around and over it so the boxes form a tunnel, etc. this will require some patience as it can be tough to do. Dennis
strategically set the presents around and over it so the boxes form a tunnel, etc. this will require some patience as it can be tough to do.
Dr. John wrote: ...go out and buy some accessories or additional rolling stock, and wrap those up!See . . . a win-win situation!
...go out and buy some accessories or additional rolling stock, and wrap those up!See . . . a win-win situation!
pbjwilson wrote: A preformed styrofoam tunnel could add some interest, kids love seeing a train going into and out of a tunnel. And my kids favorite train activity is putting a handcar on the tracks and letting the train chase down the handcar. Lionel makes several handcars with cartoon characters or Santa Claus.
Great suggestions... Dennis that won't be so hard, "Santa" will just have to get clothes for my wife that fit in a large flat box so go over the tracks.
John great idea I'll try to sell it to Mrs. Claus. If I had my say we'd have about 6 - 30" straights, a styrofoam tunnel, and the freight expansion set with the coal dump car. This also prolongs the enjoyment as we add the pieces beyond the initial oval as chuck and Earl suggested... maybe some 10" straights in the stockings (his and mine).
PBJ, thanks for the tunnel idea, after Dennis' tunnel gets opened it can be replaced... how ironic your kids like to run down Santa with an engine after he's helped you accumulate so many trains!
Keep them coming!
(Jim - I'll probably set it up on the same wall switch as the tree and have the engine in the back so it makes a grand entrance to the front once the tree lights are turned on. That way the stuff won't be plugged in/left on all night.)
Homer, my good man, I have this "t-shirt". Keep it simple, he's only 5. My boy received his first trainset at age 2 (Lionel WM Service Station set #6-11749). That set didn't come with track, so I purchased a loop of Gargraves O-54, and attached it to a 5/8 inch plywood base (already painted gloss white and sifted with FloraCraft Winter snow). I then set up the tree right in the middle of the loop. You could either find an oversize tree skirt to hide the "platform", or plant the seed that "maybe Santa might bring us a real train this year."
But from my experience, after the presents have all been unwrapped, you and he will have some bonding time, and a loop of trainset track should only take 10 minutes to put together. Let the boy participate as much as possible, but don't get heartbroken if his attention is not 100% on the train....it happens bud...
Now, to get MOMMA in on the action, take her to the local collectables/gift store, and let her pick out a Department 56 building to place beside the track.
My boy is 12 now, and each year he has received something to add to his collection at Christmas time. After 10 years, and donations from a dear friend of ours, he has a whole closet full of trains. He is very much into videogames, wrestling, and tv, but he still has a deep appreciation for rail. And although he has "left Santa behind", he understands that when Dad goes to YORK, he is thinking Christmas.
He hinted that a new BNSF diesel (Warbonnet or Pumpkin) would look great in his collection.
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