Stocking envy?

[3bunnies]

I have 3 dc, dd2 would love to keep up with dd1 who is 2 yrs older. Last year I made most of the items in stockings similar - makes sense as FC can clearly source 3 instead of 1. Generally I do variations on a themes - e.g. this year giving blu tack, white tack and pink tack. At least this keeps the arguments to a minimum, then their main presents from us are all different. I have to deal with sibling rivalry every other day - is nice not to do it on Christmas morning.

Just wonder if it makes it too samey and tend to gear towards oldest - so have seen memo notes which look really cute and ideal for dd1 to mark a vocab word she wants to check with me later, but does 4yr old ds really need these? though he does have access to years worth of toys/tat from his sisters I do put a few different bits in tailored to the child, but would say about 7/10 items in stocking are similar. What do you tend to do? Age range 4-8.5, and all fairly similar interests. So do you give similar stuff or completely different?

[supermariossister]

completely different but then one is a girl . They have little cars. trashies boy type things like mini torch she has jewelry hair things music voucher maybe. I did get it wrong one year and assume she wouldn't want a blind bag with a dragon in but she wasn't too fussed . I like the stocking to be tailored to the person so 9 yr old boy would not have the same as 6 yr old boy either

[insanityscratching]

I have five ranging from 26 to 10 so they are all very different even if there are only eighteen months between the two oldest and 21 months between the middle two. Where there might be similarities it would be that I buy them all a tub of sweets or I might buy them gloves or fluffy socks but all different.Our lot like their stockings best so I tend to put a lot of effort into them and they open them together so if they were alike whoever opened first would spoil it for the rest of them.

[Maryann1975]

I have 3dc, 7,5,3. I try to get similar stuff for the stockings, like you say it decreases sibling rivalry and they can't declare that Christmas is ruined beasue they didn't get a pack of memo notes, or whatever. Stockings tend to be similar in this house, maybe more practical than some would like, but it works for us. Shampoo, shower gel, felt tips, colouring books, choc coins, satsumas (although none of the dc like them), little glider planes, finger lights, post it notes, socks/tights. Anything that's small enough to go in really. They do will have a couple of more personal bits, but mainly similar to keep arguments down while I sleep on for another 10 minutes. (Even on Christmas Day, I begrudge being woken at 5am, so the dc are allowed to open stockings with each other and play with whatever is in there, until I deem it an appropriate time to be disturbed - it works for us).

[3bunnies]

I can see that when they all have very different interests it is easier to give v different stockings but even in my dc's main presents that I have selected so far - although some suit/were asked for by one, I could give to any of them. Dd1 wants a remote control car - but could equally see dd2 or ds enjoying it, likewise with ds's lego or dd2's kapla lookalike blocks.

I do tailor for my dc in that none of them would like cars or hair clips but I know that they will all enjoy blue tack and personalised pencils so do I give to one and ride the tide of 'why didn't fc bring me one of those?'. It is mainly dd2 who finds those situations challenging - the other two are fairly happy with anything.

[3bunnies]

Realised committed MN sin of contradicting myself - none of my dc have played with cars for more than 15min before getting bored - I imagine it will be the same with the remote control car too - dd1 will love it for 15 min, dd2 will put it on her birthday list and then never play with it and both will end up in ds's vehicle box to be ignored until it goes to charity shop. It is the only thing other than scooby doo mega trap that dd1 has asked for though.

[3bunnies]

:) Maryanne you are me last year!

[SpockSmashesScissors]

I have 3 DC, 9, 6, 4 all tend to get pretty similar stuff, am sure 4 year old would like some post it notes as much as the 9 year old.

I tend to go for lego figures, post its, fancy pens, little cars, paper glider plane, very popular last year was a keyring each - they were animals and when you squeezed them brown goo came out of the bottom, sounds disgusting but you couldn't help squeezing. these

Blu tack is a good idea, will include that this year, in different colours.

[Primrose123]

I would say that normally your DS might not be interested in post it notes, but, if they were in his sisters' stockings and not in his, he might want them more than anything else in the world! Definitely put them in!

[attheendoftheday]

I mostly put similar items in, but my two are both girls and close in age. I include a few different items (though always the same number of things).

[JustbecauseIcould]

Similar items. Mine will be 3yo and 6yo (both dd's) at Christmas and its just not worth the arguments of putting completely different things in.

I am doing pink post it notes, the 3yo will no doubt use them in a completely different way to the 6yo but she will still have fun with them so who cares?

They each have colouring pencils, crayons, gliders, light up rings, socks, knickers, bubble wands, tube of sweets, satsumas, choc coins, a play doh pot, finger puppets, watercolour paints, glow in the dark bracelets, wind up torch and a choc father Christmas.

Where they differ is that DD1 has a wooden recorder while dd2 has a wooden harmonica.

DD2 also has a cheap disposable camera and a new skipping rope - there could be arguments over the camera but frankly I'm not paying to get pictures developed that were taken by a 3yo.

Am also thinking of getting dd2 some 'story cubes' from Amazon but I know for sure dd2 will want them so am hesitating.

Having one dc must be so much easier at times like these.

[3bunnies]

Mine enjoy story cubes - dd2 was given the green pack - am going to get them each one of the add on packs dd1-clues, dd2 - enchanted, ds - prehistoric. Glad I'm not the only one dodging arguments! The post-it memo notes are v cute - animals on ebay for 99p. I imagine that ds's will be all over FIL house by boxing day though.

[pukkapine]

pretty similar... DS (7) and DTD's (will be 4). The girls get almost identical but different colours of things... then there is some similarity to DS but some things will be different but for example if the girls are getting Disney Princess sweets then DS is getting Monsters Inc etc... then they are all getting things like toothbrush, glo-wands, xmas punch balloons - so same but different colour or whatever.

[RosieBloom32]

pukkapine - Where did you get Christmas punch balloons?

Can you link to those post it notes 3bunnies?

[Sheeparefluffy]

3bunnies you have made my day! my DD has SEN and carries blu tac with her everywhere due to sensory problems. She is also obsessed with anything pink, I didn't know that pink tac even existed.

Just ordered some from amazon, she will be thrilled with it! Thanks

[misspontypine]

father christmas my mum made mine and my brother's stockings pretty simalar.

We had strict rules about opening the presents at the same time as each other so the supprise was not ruined by the other child racing through their stocking and the slower child opening exactly the same gift a few moments after.

[chicaguapa]

I would say about 50% of DC's stockings is the same and the other half is appropriate to their age and interests. It seems to work ok.

[3bunnies]

misspontypine we do that two - well dh insists on one present each in turn and I pack them roughly in order although a little randomness so that it's not always the same one opening them first.

I'm really pleased that it has helped sheeparefluffy looks as if pink-tack and led finger rings are the MN stocking filler of the moment!

[hallowisitmeyourelookingfor]

I tend to do a mix of similar items and different for the DDs. They are close in age, but have some different interests.
Some items where I buy/have bought 2 but a diff one for each are things like...
Coin purse (accessorize)
badges
novelty magnets (they use these on their radiator, it's covered!)
Scented rubbers
Melamine plates/bowls/cups depending on age
fluffy socks (fat face do some nice kids ones although they wriggle down)
slippers
Moshi characters
Lego stuff (keyring torches/minifigures)
PJs
Lush bath bomb
lip balm
letter writing set
cookie cutters
cake cases
Diary

My main places to go for their stockings are Paperchase (loads of the same things in multiple designs), Urban Outfitters, Accessorize and John Lewis. Along with bloody Amazon of course!
I love doing their stockings, it's my absolute favourite bit of Christmas!

[3bunnies]

post-it notes think was a different supplier but same selection. There are other similar sets on ebay too if you search for similar items. Couldn't choose so hope I get 3 different ones.

[MissLurkalot]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121052108470

Naughty Animal Poo Keyrings!!

[notagiraffe]

Hi,

I do some the same (or versions, like your blutack, pink tack) - so a book each, a tee shirt each, box of favourite sweets each (DS1 loves Turkish delight, DS 2 wouldn't unwrap a sweet that doesn't contain chocolate) and then do equivalents, so DS1 might get three things related to survival kits and DS 2 will get three things related to playing guitar, because those are their interests.

[Pogosticks]

My 2 have v similar stuff - mainly coz its all practical - socks pants stationery toiletries... Then something that they have asked FC for. I do try to keep to same sort of amounts and 'type of item' but without filling house with duplicates. so eg this year DS will have a survival bracelet and DD has a caribiner screwdriver.

[BeaWheesht]

I have an almost 7 year old ds and a 3.5 year old dd.

They get some of the same in their stockings so this year for example they've each got:

Wind up torch
Foam glider plane
Hexbug
Notebook
Annual
Mini selection box
Thumb doodles book
Stickers
Mini water pistol
Wind up dog

But then ds will get things like a spy pen, small lego set, shin pads etc and dd will get hair clips, Santa duck and peppa pig pens.

[WaitingForMe]

Two oldest (8 and 5) get the same and I plan for DS (1) to be having the same from 2015.

It's a bit tricky as DSSs always want to play with what DS has but I think bath books and basic cars are a bit beneath a kid who read novels and build hugely complicated Lego models.

[wamabama]

Same stuff, different variations on the same item perhaps but overall the same. I have a boy and two girls all under four but stockings are practical above all for me. It's the smaller gifts that weren't worthy of being under the tree .

I got them a small book, toothbrush, wash mitt, cutlery, Happyland figure, small toy, socks and they each get a satsuma for traditional purposes of course.