To think that Christmas presents should be fun and not too functional?

[Tartpop]

So my sister has suggested I buy clothes and shoes for my niece and nephew for Christmas. Not even fun clothes and shoes. I have been sent links to buy to plain jeans and shoes.

DNeice is 10 and DNephew is 7.

I can't think for one moment that they want jeans and plain shoes for Christmas.

DSister is not skint.

Christmas is not a way of getting out of buying your children the basics surely?

AIBU?

No, YAnbu. That’s no fun

Either she’s very pragmatic or she’s fed up of thinking of everyone else’s presents for her kids as well as her own.

I would think of something to buy myself. Shoes aren’t fun for that age range.

Hmm on the fence all my dc have liked getting clothes and rarely particularly fancy ones. They get soooo much stuff that actually getting clothes was quite nice and they always like having something new to wear.
They also always loved a bag of outgrown clothes from a friend. They are by no stretch short on clothes purchased by me either.

Perhaps she is fed up of stuff. Stuff that is never used or opened because they have so much stuff. Stuff that ends up in landfill.

Or Perhaps she is fed up of having nothing to give herself once she has given ideas to everyone else. Of having over tired rritable kids on Christmas Day because they have been overwhelmed with presents and excitement

Or perhaps she wants to show the kids that fun does not equal material goods.

Or perhaps she is less well off than you realise.

I love practical presents!

But I hate clutter...

To be honest i am with your sister in law. I have been pleading with everyone this last 2 months to buy clothes and don't go over board my dcs get way to much and have to much of an entitled atttitude as they get everything every year from gp's both sides.

It’s peobably that they have a house full of stuff already.
I find there is always room for more books in any house. Or you could buy them clothes that you/ they like. A party dress etc ( I put etc because I can’t think what you’d get for the boy)

I ask what to buy them as I know she doesn't like tat. I'm not buying shoes and clothes! if they were football boots or fancy clothes/shoes or a really nice pair of snuggly pyjamas etc I wouldn't mind.

But to be sent links to boring shoes and clothes annoys me.

I've gone back and asked what I can buy that is a bit more fun! I suspect she will sulk and not answer.

As an adult I like practical presents. For years my lovely dm got us things for the house we would never have afforded otherwise.

For kids I agree they should be fun, though.

YANBU, she's just trying to save buying them herself! It's a bit miserable when your a child and all you get is clothes off a relative.

YABU. Maybe her kids get loads of toys and she wants to reduce the amount.

Mine get plenty of toys and "fun" stuff but I have literally run out of ideas when family have been asking me. I have asked for clothes and pjs. Why not? They need them and would rather that than trawling the net for ideas of toys just for the sake of toys!

Most kids are drowning in "fun" crap they rarely or never play with.

IME with my dc the real fun happens when you strip everything away and give them space to use the imaginations and play.

Less is more.

Maybe your idea of fun isn’t what your nephew and neice would really like? My son used to get so many generous gifts for birthdays and Christmas but he was never really into toys or games so the vast majority ended up being given to charity shops. I used to feel quite embarrassed as clearly people had been to a lot of effort and expense to choose gifts which just ended up not even looked at. Maybe your sister would just appreciate something practical for the children and she can choose the exact ‘fun’ stuff that they need. Or if you really don’t want to buy clothing why not suggest tickets to an event or a trip out somewhere? Perhaps your sister also doesn’t want more clutter In the house?

Give them money. Mine are 11 & 7 and love a bit of cash to spend on random tat.

I would say that for kids it should be fun. Maybe the idea of fun and snuggly pyjamas has some currency? Still fairly practical, so hopefully wouldn't offend your sister, but you can probably get some that the kids will enjoy wearing.

I’m getting to the stage where people are asking what to get my dc and I’m out of ideas. Anything more is only going to end up either at the charity shop or in landfill come February. Maybe she’s at that stage. I’m sure they’ll have plenty of fun things to open.

On the other hand, it’s not fun being the one who has to give the boring presents as they’ll think it was your idea. I was asked to buy clothes for my best friend’s dc and have done so but added a tube of chocolate to each one. Only an extra £1 each but at 6 and 3 they’ll at least like that part as I know they won’t like the clothes!

Something you want
Something you need,
Something to wear
Something to read ...

Those are our Christmas present shopping rules ...

I don't bother asking, I just choose something fun I know they will like. I hate practical or essential items as gifts for children.

I steer clear of money though as it seems many parents seem to think it's for them not the child and the child doesn't get to spend it.

Can you take them out to choose some clothes they like in the sales after Christmas? Get jeans and shoes, but also a nice top or hoodie to make an outfit of their choosing.

If they weren’t very well off, I’d say YABU. but if they can afford the basics themselves, then yes, I agree, Christmas presents should be fun things, especially for children that age.

And I hate that “Something to...” poem. So dull and puritanical.

TheBigBang but how do you know a child will like what you have chosen or might already have the same item?

And what’s wrong with money as a gift, my DS loved choosing something for himself or deciding to save it, he’s a teenager now and has saved up enough for a small second hard car which is much more appealing than a load of ‘fun’ toys over the years.

Ha, SleepySofa, I hate that rhyme too! Where's the fun?

Ta ...

Soz!