To not buy anything at all educational for ds2 for Christmas

[Lunaluce]

Main present is an x box for both dc to share - they're 10 & 8 and had no consoles up until now.

This is a surprise and I have also got a few presents from his list - I buy all their presents as my family give me money and ask me to sort it and they get very little from ex's side, or from ex himself.

He has a plastic tat playset that he desperately wants and a couple of figures from the same range. He also has a jigsaw from same range and a craft set from it too. He is obsessed with this stuff (it's MLP, may as well say). I have got him 2 books (not 'worthy' ones though) and the stocking will be mainly chocolate and sweets, novelty pens etc and socks etc.

Usually I would get more books and one or two things that look fun but are hopefully educational, like science sets etc. I don't want to spend more money but now feel an x box and a load of MLP tat and sweets isn't great.

WIBU to just give him this?

Jigsaws are educational :)

Why do toys need to be educational? Surely if they are fun and the kids like them that is ok?

Maybe chuck in a DK encyclopedia or something? The animals one would have tenuous link to MLP??

My DS (7) is getting an ipad, but I am balancing my guilt out with a bunch of DK/Usbourne books! He can look up the internet links on his ipad...

Jigsaws and craft sets are educational. It's fine to have lots of 'tat' and fun stuff at Christmas

Err... people buy educational stuff for Christmas?

I don't want to spend more money but now feel an x box and a load of MLP tat and sweets isn't great.

In what way don't you think those gifts aren't great ? Most children would surely be over the moon to get an X Box, you are spending a LOT of money on these gifts, absolutely no need to buy anything else - educational or otherwise.

If you feel you really need to buy something 'serious', have a look in your local charity shop - I volunteer in one and we are inundated with really good quality 'educational' books obviously bought by kind hearted relatives that no child ever reads .

Jigsaws and crafts are educational. It's fine!

You know what? Christmas doesn’t have to be a time of moral guidance and handwringing. Not every toy has to be education, organic, wooden and crafted by free range artisans. It doesn’t have to be morally worthy. Or a learning experience.

It’s ok to ‘just’ buy them toys and have a good time. It’s ok to buy plastic tat once a year.

Have fun.

Playing IS ‘educational’ (from a teacher here).

I’m in a mums group on FB for expats where I live. The number of posters saying they are going minimal amd their kid will get one toy (from everyone, not one main pressie amd bits and bobs from granny) is 😯. It’s like a race to demonstrate who is the least materialistic.
These aren’t parents on a budget trying to make ends meet by the way. It’s virtue signalling and every time I read one of these posts I think their poor kids

It bothers me that they think Xmas is some kind of ‘learning point.’ Kids should be taught as you go along to be non entitled, generous and decent. If you’re needing to make a point at Xmas you’re doing it wrong. I’ve met some of these kids and they are almost all the ‘oh no she can’t sit down in the cafe she’s just expressing herself’ types btw... as some poor waitress gets tripped over

It’s once a year. Buy them some bits to unwrap and have fun with. Buy them an x box. Buy them plastic toys. Have fun. It’s ok. It really is.

Presents for children should be things that you know they will love. Yours sound great!