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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think that this is plenty enough for Christmas?

47 replies

lalaland30008 · 30/10/2012 16:27

So we've got ds present out of the way and got good deals on everything.

He's 4 and he's getting, Ben 10 rollerblades, Ben 10 scooter and a very good remote control car. All cost a grand total of £70 but as I say it was all on offer/bargains. Now I probably will pick up another few bits like maybe some more lego/books, and he will have a stocking, plus he will have presents from other people (my mums getting him portable DVD player and Ben 10 dvd set which is a big gift in itself imo), so all in all I think that's plenty, so much so that I was even considering keeping the scooter back for his birthday as he's already got one that's just getting a bit babyish. He's certainly not without toys I have a house full.

But I've mentioned to a few people what I've got and they've frowned and said "is that it?".

I think, he's 4 years old and if he starts to see huge piles of expensive gifts now what's he going to expect when he's a teenager? Also I never really had loads of presents when I was little and I think it's made me appreciate the value of things and look after the things I have now.

I know it's ultimately the parents decision and this is not a competitive 'what are you getting' thread, just genuinley wondering what the norm is these days.

OP posts:

Original poster

lalaland30008 · 30/10/2012 18:17

Yes he's got a helmet with his bike which he can use, the blades came with elbow and knee pads too which is why I couldn't resist for the price. I think at least a first it will be us pulling him along giggling holding a hand each. Certainly won't be leaving him to skate down any hills on his own.

Those games you suggested look really good actually and he doesn't have those. He has honestly got most of the above, we just seem to collect things over time plus we are lucky enough to have been given stacks of toys and nearly every Ben 10 thing going from an older cousin.

You have made me have a rethink though about bringing some old toys back to life and him having things he can actually play with on the day so I might actually put the scooter and blades away for his Summer birthday.

OP posts:

Teabagtights · 30/10/2012 18:18

Rather my children had what they wanted than something I chose and they turned their nose up, I do think they were older than that though about 8.

They are now 24 and 19.

valiumredhead · 30/10/2012 18:19

Do whatever you like and whatever you can afford.

MaryZcary · 30/10/2012 18:22

It's October.

There is a Christmas topic.

[gimmer]

OhTheConfusion · 30/10/2012 18:24

When DS was 4 we got him a toy kitchen, it was very unisex and he loved it... hours and hours of fun!

Teabagtights · 30/10/2012 18:25

Four years old love anything really, they never have enough time to play with too many toys.

Depends to if you work and how much time they will get to play with stuff.

Mine only had an hour of an evening and weekends.

amirah85 · 30/10/2012 18:27

I think its a lot!when its eid(a muslim festival) they get small things like coloring book,little tea set and the such,usually don't spend more then £10 each,and they are very happy and appreciate the toys,its not about how nuch u spend imo.they are 4 1/2 and 2 1/2

2cats2many · 30/10/2012 18:30

My children get one toy, a book, a game and a stocking from Santa. They get so much from everyone else, I can't bear it- it seems so wasteful and silly. They often can't remember what they've been given by the end of the day.

mumeeee · 30/10/2012 18:33

Sounds plenty to me.

Mollydoggerson · 30/10/2012 18:47

Seems like loads to me.

My 4 year old will get:

Imaginext Bat Cave.
Imaginext Joker (house?)
Possibly a scooter

From extended family he will get a selection of x4 small presents from aunts and uncles and x2 largish presents from each set of grandparents.(kiddizoom camera/kiddie luggage).

My 3 year old will get :

A ride on digger
A scooter
A spongebob sing a long toy.

As above from extended family.

So it's loads really when you stop and think about it.

halcyondays · 30/10/2012 19:13

It sounds perfectly normal and reasonable. Even if it wasn't, it's a bit rude to comment on what you are giving them. Even if someone told me what they were getting their kids for Xmas and I thought it wasn't much, or if I thought they were owing OTT, I wouldn't say anything.

Agree with quantity over quality for young dc anyway. They like unwrapping things, but you don't need to spend a fortune.

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 30/10/2012 19:23

Sounds fine to me. DDs birthday is a week before christmas, and her 'main present' (gah, hate that phrase) is a happyland cottage for one and an aqua draw for the other event. Not expensive, fun and will last her a few years.

She also is getting a plate fork bowl spoon set thing (plus the matching book as is a Little Miss theme), and she will also get socks, and little wooden toys.

ivanapoo · 30/10/2012 19:23

Sounds like loads to me. I think it's insanity to spend hundreds of pounds on kids' Christmas presents just because - unless of course you have money to burn but even then you end up with present fatigue...

RedGreenRouge · 30/10/2012 19:24

Rollerblades, a scooter, a portable dvd players, a DVD box set AND a very good remote control car is too little! Where do you live and who are you talking to?

My dds get one 'big' thing (which any one of those things would count as!) and a few small things. Dd2 is 3 and this year we'll get her a toy castle and a small, cheap remote control car. She'll be incredibly pleased to get two 'big' things. Quantity is very important to her as well, though, so we'll probably wrap all her new toy knights individually.

FadingAwayToAHippo · 30/10/2012 19:34

I think it's plenty! Maybe a jigsaw or something you can do together on the day if you think anything else? There were 5 of us when growing up and I always remember us getting a game and playing it after dinner. In fact DH still buys my family a game every year and we open it on Christmas Eve and play with some wine.

I have two dds, 4yo and 2.5yo. We are buying a house for garden reduced to £50, a kitchen reduced to £50 and a fish tank with two fish. This is all to share. The dd1 will get a jigsaw and book and dd2 a doll (she has asked for a doll) and a book. That's it. I feel bad that its joint present but I'm so stuck this year!

My niece was sitting writing her list last week and was writing her top 10 things, I told her to scratch that and make it a top 3 and think herself lucky if she gets one. She'll get the top 10. [despair]

Hairy, I'm going to steal you want, need, wear, read idea! Brilliant!!

Gentleness · 30/10/2012 19:46

I think it looks fine but beware how the lego/books things mount up! I'd suggest some more kind of role-play things if you are looking for ideas - a set of cooking or medical stuff for example.

We have to balance whatever we might want to do in the way of spoiling our kids with knowing that 2 sets of grandparents, 5 uncles/aunties and many friends will also be buying for them. And I don't want to spoil them really anyway - I just get a bit carried away with thoughts of what would be fun. Fortunately my stingy side kicks in before I actually buy.

I have a kind of strategy - a proper play-with toy (Happyland Farm via ebay this year), something educational/skills-based (an Alphabet Owl bought over a year ago in the ELC sale) and books. Similar for the 1.5 yr old. Oh, and a puzzle of some sort for the older one. I mostly stick to it but I can sooo easily over-spend on the little bits for fun stockings. My budget is max £50 for each child and I feel like that's plenty - spent £30 so far on the eldest this year and can't see the point of spending much more. They'll get more fun stuff from their extended family anyway and we'll only have to find a place to store it all!

I'm like you and really want to limit the sense of excess, so we'll spread out the opening a bit as well - everyone opens one present and we all look and play with or read it a bit and so. None of this ripping through everything and barely looking at it before moving on. High ideals that will surely fall by the wayside as my 3yo grows and I realise how unrealistic it was!

KellyElly · 31/10/2012 10:25

Feel quite sad that five year olds are given the catalogue to pick a present isn't that just like doing a Christmas list though? Just with a catalogue rather than written down on a piece of paper? Sounds like a good idea to me.

Claireabella1 · 31/10/2012 11:05

How rude to say 'is that it?' I don't go overboard at Christmas, to me Christmas is about family, music, crappy decorations, cheesy films and most importantly food, not presents.

givemeaclue · 31/10/2012 22:11

Yep, think writing lists isn't great either but at least aren't just picking from a loan of tat out a book. Research show, that kids want most is quality time doing activities with their parents. Not Barbie roller skates.

olibeansmummy · 01/11/2012 10:22

Regardless of whether its 'enough' or not, it's incredibly rude to say is that it? I'd recommend the old mumsnet saying, ' did you mean to be so rude?'

RichTeas · 01/11/2012 10:29

I think after 10-15 presents you get into "present overload" and the child doesn't really appreciate the extra gifts. Doesn't have the capacity to. So it is best not to over do it.

hugandroll · 01/11/2012 10:48

I have a budget of £100 for each of my two ds. I haven't even hit that and have run out of ideas (no big deal). My dsil when I mentioned my budget asking was that too much said she spends much more than that and can't see how we would get enough for the money.

We got ds1 (4yo) a leappad 1 as it was reduced on amazon from £80 to £47ish due to the leappad 2 coming out. He will not know the difference! Also got a load of stocking fillers from boots using my points which I saved up all year.

The only things I am definitely buying now for them are new pjs and a Christmas book for Christmas Eve so they have new pjs for photos in the morning and a new story before bed.

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