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Present help, share your ideas with me.

14 replies

Unsurechicken · 03/11/2020 14:46

As the title really.

The kids have had a really shitty year, Ive had a new baby - her dad has been sent to prison for DV we’ve been in a refuge, we’ve had crappy lockdown, we are miles from very minimal family, their dad has stopped contact with them AGAIN and I’m trying to cut down on spending as I normally do a crazy mum guilt trip to Smyths and spend another £400 on Christmas Eve. With lock down probably being extended it’s not going to be likely nor do the kids need all the plastic crap.

They seem to be at really tricky ages. Too big for all the ready made toys yet too small for perfume making sets and science experiments. I’m not a fan of Xbox’s ect. I mean they have an amazon fire tablet each. They have nice bikes, trampoline swing, pop up hot tub.

What am I missing?

What are you getting your kids?

Okay I have a 6 YO Girl.
She’s got barbies, make up, bored games, Lego, sylvanian family’s, our generation dolls, play mobile, poly pockets- she’s not really interested in much of it they all seem to have been Fads. Barbie gets the most play but maybe only a couple of hours on a weekend.

I have a 5 yo Boy. He’s under assessment for ASD, he doesn’t play with anything he just lines up cars or pots of play dough or makes a really tall tower out of Lego. He’s got all sorts of things that he just doesn’t play with. I have got him a remote control car hotwheels so far and some fortnight bedding as he seems keen on fortnight dancing?

So far I’ve got them both some ‘pranks’ just small bits, whoopY cushions, trump whistles ect - which they will enjoy and find utterly hilarious.

Slime is popular but it’s the only thing banned from our house after a traumatic afternoon getting it out of my daughters hair!

I feel they have had such a shitty year I just want to get them something they will love and enjoy. I’m sick of tablets being the go thing they reach for.

My son has lots of sensory toys but I’d be interested in one of those lights with the fish and bubbles in?

Please give me some suggestions!

OP posts:
WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 03/11/2020 14:50

What about some paint/paper. Books?

Unsurechicken · 03/11/2020 16:30

Thank you for the suggestion we have tones of books - I was really into the famous 5 when I was a kid and would love my two to enjoy those books but again I’m not sure if they are too young?

We have tones of craft stuff so much so I’ve just had a clear out and given a chunk of it away.

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 03/11/2020 16:35

Can you do a yearly planner / scrap book with tickets for various days out / attractions / things to do together

You could include big stuff like legoland and smaller stuff like baking cakes together / feeding ducks

Give them each a scrap book and buy a Polaroid camera and then have a page for each trip. After each one, you can glue in the photo, any tickets, memementos from the day (leaves etc) and a write up of what you did and your favourite thing about the day. Sort of a “let’s remind ourselves how much we love each other and have fun together even when times are hard” type thing

Time for them might be even more valuable than yet more presents. Not sure if kids that young understand delayed gratification though!

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Unsurechicken · 03/11/2020 16:41

@ShirleyPhallus

Can you do a yearly planner / scrap book with tickets for various days out / attractions / things to do together

You could include big stuff like legoland and smaller stuff like baking cakes together / feeding ducks

Give them each a scrap book and buy a Polaroid camera and then have a page for each trip. After each one, you can glue in the photo, any tickets, memementos from the day (leaves etc) and a write up of what you did and your favourite thing about the day. Sort of a “let’s remind ourselves how much we love each other and have fun together even when times are hard” type thing

Time for them might be even more valuable than yet more presents. Not sure if kids that young understand delayed gratification though!

This is an absolutely beautiful idea thank you so much. I really love this and think it’s an absolute winner!!

I’ve started baking weekly with them and they are really enjoying that time so this is a bloody perfect idea!

The camera is ace Cos I can get them one each and they can use it for other things which they will also love!!

OP posts:
Howmanysleepsnow · 03/11/2020 16:44

6yo- roller skates?
5yo- magformers?

Spied · 03/11/2020 16:48

The Range has a fish bubble lamp.
Just bought one for my DD.

Unsurechicken · 03/11/2020 16:50

@Howmanysleepsnow

6yo- roller skates? 5yo- magformers?
We have roller skates - she’s not got the best balance 😂 although this is a good suggestion!

What are magformers? I’m off to google thank you for the suggestion!

OP posts:
Unsurechicken · 03/11/2020 16:50

@Spied

The Range has a fish bubble lamp. Just bought one for my DD.
Thank you do you have a link? Is it decent quality?
OP posts:
Unsurechicken · 03/11/2020 16:52

@Howmanysleepsnow

6yo- roller skates? 5yo- magformers?
Magformers look amazing!! I’m going to order some thank you a million for this idea! It’s kind of like Lego where he builds towers but he can make things out of this! Amazing thank you so much
OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 03/11/2020 16:54

Ahhhhh I’m so glad I could be of help and you love the idea 😊

LER83 · 03/11/2020 16:58

My 5 Yr old ds has asd and gravitrax has been a massive hit with him. Does he like numbers? As you can get a numberblock magazine series which my ds loves. I've also bought him a kiidizoom camera which you can also film videos on as he loves filming his gravitrax track!

Spied · 03/11/2020 17:45

I tried to link. Couldn't somehowConfused
It's fab quality. Looks great.

Unsurechicken · 03/11/2020 18:15

@Spied

I tried to link. Couldn't somehowConfused It's fab quality. Looks great.
Was it this one? It’s no longer in stock 😭😭😭
Present help, share your ideas with me.
OP posts:
Spied · 03/11/2020 22:35

It is indeed the one Sad

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