AIBU wanting to charge Christmas presents so they are ready to use on Christmas day?

[2ddandabump]

I'm interested to know other people's take on this. I have 2 DDs from a previous relationship, 11 and 8, I am also expecting my 3rd (his first) with my new partner.

We've bought the girls some bluetooth in the ear headphones for Christmas (Like Airpods but without the price tag)

We were going to give them as a present from us rather than Santa (youngest still believes) I suggested we take them out of the box to charge them up first so they are ready to use on Christmas day, thinking there would be no objection to this idea. However, he thinks that kids, especially the ages of my girls, should have to know that these things take time to charge and that it's just how it is and they should wait.

I asked if he'd feel the same about a toddler who opened something electronic, like a remote control car, but who wouldn't able to use it if we didn't charge it before hand. He said he still feels the same about that.

His opinion has surprised me and made me sad more than than anything, like he's killing the spirit of fun on Christmas day, and is just being a bit of a misery. We've fallen out over it, because whilst everyone is entitled to their opinion, I think he's been a bit mean.

Does anyone else charge electronic presents before hand? Am I been soft on my girls? Or is he been mean?

We charge everything . Nothing worse than them sitting there not able to use it and waiting for it to charge. Everything is put back into boxes the same and wrapped. Same goes for kids toys, all opened, the gazillion cable ties removed and batteries put in if needed and put back into their boxes and wrapped. Saves all the fading around on where's the scissors, where's the batteries, who's using which socket to charge etc

*faffing around

My kids are 15 & 18 now and I would still charge things up.

We charge, assemble, or even just cut those wires that hold toys in place, as much as possible on gifts for our own child. We know that there is no duplication or other need to exchange the gift. Why not have it ready to use.

I never charge anything in advance!

My kids always have more than enough to occupy them, and waiting for toys to be ready is part of the fun. Christmas last all day that way. If you only give 1 gift to your child, yes it would be mean, but when they have a ridiculous reasonable amount like mine, they are fine

I do stock up on batteries though.

After a hideous Christmas Day where we built, battled with packaging and fucking stickers, the next year we took toys out, built, put stickers on, put batteries in, charged etc. So much more fun.

It does depend on the child, so I'm assuming that your kids won't mind not being the first to touch their toys if you want to charge them up etc. Could your not sell it to your partner that you are teaching the children that being prepared and thinking carefully about how to do things can result in more fun?

I would charge them.
I always took toys out of all the plastic packaging so they could play with them straight away when the were little too.

I bought some cheap bluetooth earpod things not so long ago from Amazon and they came with some charge in, and they don't take that long to charge up, so I'd not bother, it probably isn't necessary.

You could just give them to open first, so if they aren't charged, they can plug them in to charge up while they open other presents?

OP, I think what you’re showing your children is how nice it is to be the kind of mum who thinks about these things in advance.
Only you know whether they would want to be the first ones to open the packet.

i think it's very weird, but each to their own

I also find it weird that anyone would even need to use headphones on Christmas Day, sounds like a really boring day if they do

Your DP sounds very mean. Is he always trying to teach your children lessons? What a twerp.

At the age they are now definitely would charge , put batteries in etc;
For teenagers not so much