Do you ever feel as if you're just buying tat for the sake of buying something?

[3birthdaybunnies]

My dc don't tend to play with toys much. Have been trying to find 3 things around £20 each in argos 3 for 2 and it is a nightmare. Even the dc looked through and couldn't see much (except ds who is only 3). Dd1 has converted to 'let toys be toys' at school (love her teacher), and she never was v girly girl, she's not quite converted to boys toys though. I just look at things and think 'that will be in 29 small pieces by dec 26th and we will lose the key part'

[StuntGirl]

Could you get presents which are not toys? Days out, subscriptions to magazines, craft/painting sets , etc?

[3birthdaybunnies]

They tend to see days out as a rare treat but not a present, they just occur. I'm not sure that they would see them a a present. I'm afraid that I tend to put craft in with the tat category. We have enough beads to set up a small jewellery shop, and plenty of paint, pipe cleaners etc. I am getting them some 'useful' stuff - personalised swimming bags, towels, pencils etc plus dvds. I guess I just worry that on Christmas Day they won't have actual toys to play with even though I know that half of them will never be played with again.

[justanuthermanicmumsday]

I Don't give for the sake of giving. Showing love and spending quality time together, sharing good food is a better way of expressing your feelings than a material gift especially if there is nothing the receiver particularly wants. My kids are bored of toys and the 3 year old doesn't show any interest at all so why waste the money for traditions sake?

I don't think you should worry unless there's something they are screaming out for the personalised gifts are enough.

[IcedCoffeeQueen]

yes definitely, ds1 doesn't really do toys he thinks he wants everything but will never play with them, ds2 is only a toddler still and doesn't actually need anything, a couple of things would be nice but im looking for stuff to bulk the pile! just money for nothing really

[TheYamiOfYawn]

My kids have pretty much everything they need. Their birthdays are coming up in a few weeks and DS (4) will be getting socks, pants, pyjamas, a T-shirt, biscuit cutters, home-made playdough and maybe a jigsaw, modelling beeswax,crayons or bath crayons. DD (7) will be getting violin lessons.

[bymoonlight]

I didn't buy in three for two as I couldn't find three things I wanted.

I am mainly buying Lego, books and arts stuff for the dd's.

[Meglet]

I used to. This year they're (almost 7yo and a 5yo) getting a Wii to share, plus a lego table each. No tat or bits.

[IsItMeOr]

Have never bought DS stuff for sake of it, although have tried him out with different things, some not terribly successfully (e.g. dolls house only sporadically played with, balance bike not much used).

He loves Lego. And more lego. And some playmobil and dressing up. He's just getting into slightly more complicated board games. He has his own proper camera (DH researched, and found an underwater one, which is tough enough to stand up to the inevitable bumps, but takes decent pictures).

Things that I have on my possible gift list include a grow your own butterfly kit, Catan junior board game, Labyrinth game, Enchanted forest game, Swingball, Pretend play school/post office set, Aladine story kit (pirates, but they make others), fishing rod. When he gets older we'll be thinking about a telescope.

My rule of thumb is to go for things that DH and I will enjoy playing with him. So we're both happy to get down and keep him company while he plays with Lego or Playmobil, board games, etc. My favourite lego sets are the creator 3 in 1 ones and the Brickmaster books (we have pirates and castle, which are great).

Meglet where are you getting the lego table from please?

[3birthdaybunnies]

Labyrinth game is great, reminded me that am planning to get forbidden island for them to share.

[VerySmallSqueak]

Yes. Now the kids are a little older I hope they will understand quality rather than quantity a bit better,as I'm cutting back this year.

[IsItMeOr]

Forbidden Island is on the list for when he's a bit older - I didn't want to look as if I've put a bit too much thought into toys I'm going to buy for the next decade (but I probably have...!).

[WaitMonkey]

moonlights, have a look on amazon, they have dropped the price of a lot of toys by a third to match Argos. Benefiting people who only want two things. Worth a look, you never know the things your after might be reduced.

[pourmeanotherglass]

I'm feeling a bit like that this year, completely uninspired.

DD1 is getting money towards a laptop for her birthday (she's been saving her pocket money for a year, so she'll now be able to buy it), and DD2 had a new bike for her birthday, but I'm clueless about what to get them for christmas.

They have all the board games they need, they don't really play with 'toys' apart from their much loved soft toys (and they have plenty of those). DD2 always has a knitted toy in her stocking (knitted by father christmas's elves of course), I expect she will want one again this year.

They are 9 and 11, so a bit old for new 'toys' but not really into teenage stuff yet.

I can probably think of a couple of things for us to get them, at a stretch, but then all my family and in-laws will want me to come up with ideas as well. I'll end up suggesting things like Annuals (which they will like and read), craft kits (which they will ignore until the school summer holiday, then re-discover), or games (they don't really need any, but it's quite nice to have a new one at christmas).

[bymoonlight]

Thanks WaitMonkey - I will have a look

IsItMeOr - The grow your own butterfly is amazing. We did it last summer and I think I was more enthralled with it then the dc!

[BaconAndAvocado]

OP my answer to your question is YES, YESand YES.

The amount of plastic crap my DCs accumulate every Christmas is obscene, so this Yuletide will be different.

I'm going to put looooads more thought, time and research into their gift ideas and when the GPs ask I'll have a really stupendous, constructive idea at the ready.

NOT a Cabbage Patch Kid (never played with)
NOT a drum kit (never played with)
NOT an Animagic horse (rarely played with)
You get the idea.

This Christmas I want to be all about Meaningful Toys.

Already, when SIL asked today if I have any ideas for DCs presents I asked for a Rapunzel costume for DD as we're going to see Disney on Ice and she can wear said costume on the day.

You see? "Meaningful".

[BaconAndAvocado]

Wow! Love the ideaof the Grow your own Butterfly gift!

[VerySmallSqueak]

I second the grow your own butterflies.
Absolutely mind blowingly brilliant!

[iheartdusty]

I do buy a lot of small stuff, but it isn't tat, it's lovely, quirky, intriguing things. Anyways, that's what the DC and I think. Perhaps it's tat to anyone else...

so for example, stashed away for DD this year is a little solar powered heart with waving arms on it. What's not to like? And DS loves his magic tricks, practical jokes, magnifying glass, prism, calculator in the shape of a chocolate bar, etc from last year.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My DD is 11yo and she's very forthcoming with what she wants (but at the same time she knows she won't get everything she wants )

So far- I've got her some jewellery (she had her ears pierced this summer)

Perfume that she was after ( on Boots points so didn't physically pay)

Her CEH pyjamas.

She wants a gift voucher for either New Look or Primark

I've ordered her a Tangle Teazer brush

But DS will be 14yo in December and he's a nightmare to buy for.
He's got X-Box and I've pre-ordered him a game (early birthday )

What my DS really wants/likes is money
Not to squander though. He saves it.

We gave him a £50 note last year - he kept it until about late April till I put it in his bank,
My Dad collects £1 coins for the DC.
DS counted his into bags and put it in his bank the next day.

So I don't want to buy him a load of tat (though he'll get his stocking and CEH ).
But there's no point buying loads of stuff he doesn't want.

(I am pleased that he's a saver. But he's a bit "Gollum". My precious )

[Marne]

I'm trying not to buy tat but I do struggle, dd2 loves toys and would be happy with almost anything from the argos catalogue so it's easy to buy for her, dd1 doesn't really play with anything, has asked for a game for her ds so then I feel I have to find things so she has a equal amount to open as dd2, I really don't want to buy anything that won't get any use but I don't know what to get her, I am now considering a ps3 or a Xbox but I really don't want another electrical item that she becomes glued too.

Going to look at grow your own butterfly.