Cheap 10th birthday presents for ds

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It's my ds's 10th birthday next month. A few family members have already asked what he wants/what we are getting for him. There is nothing that he's asked for and we are pretty skint at the moment. People seem surprised that we are getting him a few bits and pieces (art and craft,books) as opposed to something more elaborate.. As it's a 'big' birthday! Aibu for not planning major gifts?! Also, any ideas for special gifts which don't cost the earth? Feel like I need to up my game!

Let him be 'king for a day' give him a tick box with four options each for

• Breakfast

-Lunch -Dinner

• Activity (Park/craft/baking/whatever)
• movie

or whatever so he can be in charge

Does he collect match attx cards?
www.toppsdirect.com/printme-48801.html

It's fine not to get expensive stuff, he will be excited to have presents and fuss

What sorts of things does he like?

At age ten he probably doesn't care about prices of things. Just make sure that he will enjoy the presents he has and don't worry about the money aspect. He'll probably be most excited about the cake and his friends/party I imagine

DS was 10 a few months ago and although we are lucky enough not to be skint he didn't have a lot he wanted - I think it can be an age where they are outgrowing piles of toys.

Is there an 'experience' he would like and that you can afford - trip to trampoline park, water park, high ropes, whatever? Or could you ask family to contribute towards something like that?

DS was really pleased to have some cash and vouchers from relatives which means he now has a small amount to go shopping with when he fancies. A novel bit of independence.

DS didn't have a sense of it being a big birthday by the way and I haven't noticed it among his classmates. If you haven't got a lot of money and he doesn't want much then what on earth is the point of wasting it on presents for the sake of it? You can always indulge him in something he really does want later on, if finances improve. But your love and attention on the day is the really important bit!

Everyone else can mind their own beeswax imo.

It's up to you. You're his mum and you want him to have a nice day and you're doing you're best. Stuff the judgey others.

We hung a load of balloons (15) outside his bedroom door at different heights so he had to walk through it when he woke up. He loved that. We used gift ribbon to hang them from the top of the door frame. Balloons Hung on doors etc.

A grown up box of chocs (milk tray), a lucky dip with sweets, choc, match attax, magazine, novelty pen etc in a big gift bag with shredded tissue for him to find the goodies.

But a previous poster had a good idea of letting him choose his breakfast, lunch, family / birthday tea together and something to do in the day. Park with a picnic? Cinema etc

Our 9 DS wants to go to Go Ape but there's loads of 'experiences' for kids around

Yes if it makes you feel any better 10th birthdays have not been celebrated any differently with mine either. As a pp has said put more thought into how he is "treated" that day rather than expensive pressies X

He would love the match attax card! Thanks so much for the link.
Also love the balloons hanging from his door, lucky dip and king for a day choices.
He loves making things (have got him a craft box, sharpies and adult colouring book). He's also newly obsessed with WWE (he wouldn't play with the figures though)

Bunch o balloons.

Filled in 60 seconds for a water balloon fight with family or friends. Great fun for a summer birthday.

I don't think my children had any sense of 10 being a big birthday.

Check out liquid chalk marker pens for windows on Amazon. They're only a few pounds, they write on glass brilliantly and then dry to a powdery chalk that cleans off really easily. Best (and cheapest) present my 10 year old got!

Just been through that with DS, but mostly because PIL were narked that he didn't have any big gifts that he wanted and they didn't want to be buying something they considered ancillary to his main gift, which was a cheap Raspberry Pi.

The Pi is actually ideal because DS is into learning to code so he can make Minecraft mods, and you can use both Scratch and Python to code on it. Starter kit is £55 and there are some great additional kits from PiHut for not stupid money that family can buy, books to get them started etc.

DS thinks this is very cool, but it has kept the budget same for his birthday this year. Is something like this an option?

Sane not same

Gold fish
hamster

Do you think he would like an afternoon at a pottery place where you paint a piggy bank /plate etc

Ds is 10 this Christmas so am marking for ideas for birthday / Christmas.

Ds got the Topps print me cards last year and loved them and I've just ordered some for his friend too.

Other ideas:

Stomp rocket
Goals for garden
Nerf water pistol (s)
Phlat ball

We got a digital camera microscope for DD's 9th which plugs into the USB port and is really easy to use- image comes up on the screen. The only one I can see on Amazon at the moment is £34 but I'm sure ours was about £20.

Just had to google stomp rocket - looks awesome!
Are the phlat balls any good?

The neighbours kids had one out the other day and all the kids seemed to love it yes

The chalk pens I've found on amazon seem to be aimed at use on chalkboards eg for menus.. Are they the right ones 1950s

Thank you all for your ideas, they're great

Sorry, been a bit busy!

These are the ones I got. They were sold singly when I bought them for about £3 each I think. They're fab!!