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From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Christmas

Sibling joint presents

19 replies

Shemozzle · 31/10/2016 10:12

Does anyone do these? I've only noticed negative comments about them in the past.
There is a 6 year age gap between my first and second (9 and 3) but still a lot of things I'd like them to share or both have and too expensive and unnecessary to buy double. Things like a CD player for the playroom, a keyboard or other musical instruments, board games etc
So long as they have their own gifts too, are joint ones acceptable?

OP posts:

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GoldenYorkies · 31/10/2016 10:22

Yes that's fine. I have three aged between 4 and 11. They'll be getting a few presents each, probably just 2 or 3 as money is tight, and I think we're getting a games table thing for the playroom for the three of them.

SpotTheDuck · 31/10/2016 10:34

So long as they're genuinely gifts for both (i.e. That both would like) I think that's ok

MrsGsnow18 · 31/10/2016 10:46

We always had joint gifts when I was growing up. we always got s family board game which we loved. I think it's a great idea as it can sometimes provide activities that siblings can do together even despite age gaps.

CMF1812 · 31/10/2016 11:16

We did loads of joint presents last year, mainly games. We had no complaints so i think it's fine!

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 31/10/2016 21:12

We give them joint presents if it is something we expect them to share and don't want to buy three of e.g. disco light, chocolate fountain etc. My dc are great but I could see them saying I don't want x to use my chocolate fountain with her friends. We have done it for a while now and they seem happy with it.

EmGee · 31/10/2016 21:15

Mine get joint presents especially from family members - keeps the amount of 'stuff' down and enables them to get something bigger/better. Mine are fairly close in age and play with the same things so it works well.

Love51 · 31/10/2016 21:22

I started a tradition last year (I may have nicked it from here) that fc brings a joint board game. And I know some siblings with birthdays in the same week who have had joint presents too. My kids sometimes get an awesome xmas present from an auntie, which is to share. The younger one has sometimes been a bit young initially but grows up to enjoy them.
One year in my childhood FC brought an atari computer (very modern at the time) clearly labelled as being for all of us, including mum and dad! Definitely a good sharing experience:)

Cherryskypie · 31/10/2016 21:26

9 and 3 is a big gap. I can see the shared CD player working but it must be very difficult to find things that aren't too babyish for the 9 year old but the 3 year old will be able to use.

BaggyCheeks · 31/10/2016 21:31

Nothing wrong with that at all. My siblings and I used to get joint presents, usually stuff like people mentioned like a CD player for our room, board games, if we got a games console they would be joint (though we would get individual games if we had different tastes). My DC will be almost 2 and almost 4 this Christmas, so we haven't done any joint gifts yet, but I can see it starting next year for us.

BadToTheBone · 31/10/2016 21:33

Ds is and I used to get shared gifts, we were always happy with them. 5 years apart in age.

SheldonCRules · 31/10/2016 21:57

I hated them as a child and don't buy joint gifts for my own or for others.

With a 9 and 3 year old joint items would really be for one or the other as too large an age gap.

Shemozzle · 31/10/2016 22:15

It is a big gap so I didn't think I'd have this dilemma but I've actually come across lots of things like I've mentioned in the OP that I'm not sure who to get for.

CD player would be for story cd's for the 3 year old and mostly pop music for the older one. A den making kit would go down very well with both of them, they both make dens together on a daily basis. The Pie Face game would go down well with both. They share a lot of art and stationary that always needs replenishing. An electric piano or a keyboard. There are lots of other things we have in the house they both play with daily, such as the full size rocking horse, tablet, various percussion instruments, balance board, trampoline, and they play made up games together everyday. 3 year old is getting a puppet theatre from a relative but I know the 9 year old will lead the play and bring it alive for her and enjoy it just as much so I could even suggest that as a joint but I won't. Maybe it's because dd1 is home schooled so they are closer because they have to be, or it makes her a bit young for her age, but I can think of lots of activities they both enjoy despite the age gap.

OP posts:

Cherryskypie · 31/10/2016 22:21

Wouldn't a 9 year old want an MP3 player with headphones?

Maybe it's all the time at home together. Your 9 year old seems to play the same games as your 3 year old more than I'd expect so it sounds like it will work well for you.

Cagliostro · 31/10/2016 22:24

My two share a lot. This year they are getting a big marble run. They are closer in age than yours but for things like a CD player that don't have an age bracket I don't see an issue at all. Some things there's no point in having two of something!

Cagliostro · 31/10/2016 22:25

My DCs are home ed as well :o

MaryDoll84 · 01/11/2016 08:57

I always had atleast one joint present with my sister and my boys (7 and 8) do now.This year they're getting lego dimensions for the ps3.We only have one ps3 so would be stupid getting two of the same game.As long as they still get some presents addressed to just them,I think it makes sense

HairsprayBabe · 01/11/2016 09:21

Yep got them all the time until just before I left home.
Dolls house, play kitchen, scalextric, trainset all good for when we were younger, once we got older it was the gamecube, wii, tv for the snug, karaoke machine.

I am v close with both my siblings though and we always liked to play together, joint gifts removed the "it's mine" aspect of objects and made us play nicely from a young age.

There are 2 years between me and my sister and 7 years between me and my brother. I was more likely go get a joint gift with my sister but one year we got a climbing frame for all three of us, and the games consoles were for all three of us too.

We each got individual gifts as well so I never felt like I was missing out.

MTWTFSS · 01/11/2016 09:27

Depends on age gap/gift.

anyoldname76 · 01/11/2016 16:26

my 2 ds's are having a joint gift, its a real fx race track, mainly to stop the arguments over whose it is. they will be getting their own individual gifts as well. last year the joint present was lego dimensions .

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