To buy these presents for children this christmas

[Riggging]

I am so fed up of waste and buying presents for nieces and nephews they neither want or need (everything they want is way out of my price range) - aibu to adopt animals/ buy gifts connected to charities instead? They range from 6-18 years and plan is to buy family animal adoption packs or family 'bee saver' kits for the younger ones.

They'd probably rather have the money in a card tbh.

It's your money I suppose but tbh it just sounds a bit holier than thou buying them a charity donation. Why don't you just ask what they would like within your price range? Or buy vouchers?

It depends. If they get lots of gifts already then I don't think yabu. But adopt something where they get monthly updates and actually have the chance to visit the animal (like in a local zoo or sanctuary) then the entrance ticket is part of the present.

Book vouchers?

Our children are the only nieces/nephews/grandchildren on both sides so are inundated with presents, our and their favourites are when someone gives them a voucher for a day/morning/afternoon out. A trip to the cinema for example. Would you do something like that for them?

I'm not against charity gifts, but I would be pissed off to receive one if it meant that I was then sent loads of marketing guff trying to get me to continue the sponsorship beyond the time period of the gift. So if it was something with regular updates, and they needed my details, I probably wouldn't want it because then I'd be on their suckers list.

I think charity gifts for children are rubbish presents. They are there to make you as the giver feel good and not the child. If you don’t want waste get them iTunes vouchers or cinema vouchers etc that they can enjoy. I’d be pissed off if someone got my child a charity goat as it would feel like they were making a point. It’s entirely different if someone has requested a charity gift though and where the recipient would like a charity gift, I think the range is great now.

I sponsored a tiger through wwf for my dd last birthday. She loved it, one of her favourite presents. She gets a pack through the post every few months and got a soft tiger at the time.

But she loves tigers. If you know it’s something they’re into, do it. Otherwise maybe a cinema trip/cupcake making class etc etc.

I remember when I was a teen living on my own, really struggling to afford to buy clothes and heat my flat. And someone bought me a charity donation donkey.

Just ask them what they want.

Its rubbish. Buy them a board game. Job done. Bears versus babies for the younger ones. Exploding kittens for the slightly older ones, cards against humanity for the over 18s.

that would be crap. Get some some cash or a gift card instead or tickets to something they like if you don't want to spent money on plastic tat. But not this charity gift.

I used to ask for these as presents! I was crazy about horses and "adopted" the same horse for several years via a horse & donkey sanctuary. I think my sister had an adopted penguin or something. A lot of kids really do have far too much stuff and don't need piles of presents from people outside their immediate family. In fact I might do something similar for my nieces this year.

It depends on whether they would like it or not. Some children would be thrilled, others not so much. Giving gifts is about the pleasure of knowing that you will be giving someone pleasure.

I’d go with a board game as charity gifts are more about the person giving than the one receiving unless actually asked for. They come across as being a little “look at me”.

I’m planning on odeon vouchers this year for the over 5+kids/teenagers with selection attached so it’s something nice to do, trying to boycott buying plastic tatt as much as possible. Under 5’s are getting dressing up costumes.

Awful! If you want to be woke don’t use Christmas as an excuse

My dc have always enjoyed book tokens at Christmas. It seems like a tame gift, but it ends up being a family trip to a good bookshop, with the dc given free range to choose whatever they like. No interference from parents, not even 'guidance' - unless requested. No rush, the dc take as long as they like (fortunately dh and I also happen to love a good browse in a bookshop ) and then we usually end up in a cafe, discussing and exploring our new treasures over hot chocolate. Such a treat for all of us. And the book tokens are extremely good value for money, because so much is reduced in price after Christmas Day.

YABU - if you want to give to charity, then give to charity. If you want to knock the gift giving to your nieces and nephews on the head then have a grown up conversation about it. Don't mix the two issues up, a gift is for a recipient not for the giver to give themselves a pat on the back.

Put money in a card ,don’t waste it on do Gooder gifts no one wants

Depends on the kids. My son asked to help the tigers for his 6th birthday so that’s what he got along with a few little bits to open on the day. Some kids would love it some wouldn’t - you know them better than we do.

Vouchers or even clothes would be better. My kids hate it when they get books etc but a charity gift to a child would be a real let down.

It's not something I think I'd buy but my 7 year old daughter wants us to adopt a snow leopard. I think it has something to do with the cuddly toy that comes with it.

No.

If you want to donate to charity instead of giving gifts, then do that. Don’t pretend it is a gift for the recipient.

Could you buy a family pass to a zoo o theme park instead?
The children won't appreciate something that isn't tangible.