To ask for some alternative Christmas ideas....

[Mummyyummy2012]

My kids have got so much stuff and the other day I found a pile of presents unopened from last Xmas I could probably re- wrap them and they wouldn't notice.

So this year I have resolved to do something different and while they will have presents, I'd like to also slightly shift the focus away from stuff.

I just don't know what and I'm not religious- any ideas?

Can you buy them things like days out and membership passes?

Sponsor an animal through a charity?

Tickets for a show or event they would enjoy.

Sign them up to a course?

Buy a holiday. Well that's what I would do, a nice holiday and 1 or 2 small gifts and a stocking. When I say holiday it doesn't need to be abroad. Work with your budget :)

YANBU to ask for alternative Christmas ideas (as you no doubt know). You are, however, BVU for not posting this in the Christmas topic.

Merlin annual passes, if that's your thing. Can be good value if you use them a lot.

Is there a Christmas topic?

National trust passes?

Why you bother to reward them?

I think an event would be great. Memories like that are a great gift

How on earth have you got unopened presents? how old are they?

Not really a gift but how about they each choose a toy or two they don't use anymore and wrap them up for donation to a children's charity? Or you could sponsor a child or family in need somewhere?

We're making a family Christmas donation to a locally run charity that sends school bags with essentials to people in Africa and disaster struck countries (school in a bag). You can track where your specific bags go.

Comic/magazine subscriptions/book club, something that comes monthly rather than all at Christmas. Adopt an animal is good or even sponsor a child so they can be involved in learning about others lives in a different community. I think some might flame that suggestion but I'm not suggesting it as a trivial novelty thing to do but an ongoing, serious commitment to broadening their horizons and doing something worthwhile as at the same time but that will depend on their age.

Is there a Christmas topic?

Yes there is. There are loads of topics other than AIBU but most of MN seems to have missed that memo.

OP: here's the topic www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas and you might like to have a browse for ideas.

Is your enquiry just about presents? Or also about setting traditions so there are things other than presents to look forward to?

If the latter, then consider things like a trip to a panto/play/ballet, ice-skating at a pop-up rink, even though rather religious perhaps a carol service. And things at home like making star-shaped biscuits, decorating a Christmas cake, making a new tree decoration every year.

And if you can afford it, get them to think about giving by making a family donation to a charity (choose recipient together), seeing if there are charity collections (eg via your local police), or something for a dogs/cats home

I had the same discovery with my dad about 3 weeks ago and a huge pile of things unopened.

so this year her present is a trip to London to go see lion king and to madame taussadds with some spending money. we asked her and she is super excited for this rather than a pile of presents

This is only my second non religious Christmas so I'm watching with interest. My friend and I started a 'tradition' of taking the kids to a panto, might evolve to something else as they get older. I've also been taking my bigger one to a pop up ice rink, she skates better on this than a normal one. Plus its a way to encourage us to get fresh air in December. We bake, do crafts etc. It's the day itself I'm struggling with. Especially as my kids aren't fussed about food!
Oh, and DH isn't really a Christmas person.

Once again, I'm honestly boggled by unopened presents!

We spent several hours in A&E when my son was little and he and my daughter were given a Christmas present, so for the next few Christmases we took two wrapped Christmas presents (with a post-it on to say what it was) to the hospital to give to children who were brought in at Christmas.

We spent several hours in A&E on Christmas Day, I should've said.

Theatre shows, Spotify, rock climbing lessons, A holiday

Feckin I took unopened to mean not removed from packaging, rather than not unwrapped from Xmas wrapping paper. Is that less boggling? Hopefully OP can enlighten us. If I'm wrong I'll join you being boggled.

The truth is kids are focused on "stuff", how many pressies under the tree, that sort of thing, what they all got, moving away from it may be what you wish, but maybe not what they would like and that can result in a crap Xmas all round.

How old are they? Can you discuss it with them? Or do they still believe in Santa?

Ps I'm also astounded at unopened gifts. 😂

Another one who's boggled re unopened presents!!
We're not religious and most years go away with another family and have a very subdued and wholesome Christmas. Christmas Day usually spent skiing till 1pm then Christmas lunch then small no of presents: one from each family to each person, plus a ski-sock sized stocking for each child. A full week of loads of exercise, fresh air, good food, board games and 🍷.
Might a trip away be an option? (Maybe another year)

How about spending a couple of hours helping out at somewhere offering Christmas days to those who need help (elderly, homeless)? Assuming your children are old enough to do this? That's a proper shift of focus away from stuff!