What do you with gifts your children don’t need/want.

[DJA1511]

Sounds really ungrateful ^^ but please read.

Both children have additional needs. My eldest particularly has very specific interests. My family
Mean well they buy him things a typical 8 year old will like hoping it’ll interest him. I try and talk to them about it saying I’d rather they didn’t spend their money or actually ask what he wants but they don’t listen.

DS also has gifts from his dads and dads family. They don’t see him all that often so he’s got loads of things that doesn’t really interest him. They don’t really have any idea what he’s into.

I’ve tried telling people this btw. If they ask if he will like something I’ll be honest and say it probably won’t interest him 😩

It will either get left unopened and I’ll eventually either re-gift, Donate to a charity or as raffle gifts etc. Or it will be opened looked at briefly then shoved away.

So now my front room is full of stuff. I have no room for it. I am panicking at it all. It will get shoved in his cupboard or under his bed.

Aibu to think people should ask what children would like or need before buying. Particularly in our case when our children have very specific interests.

My mum also bought something he has 2 of already.

Donate it to charity and reassure yourself it's not a waste as it's going to a good cause.

Thinking of stashing some things away they won’t really be interested in tonight..

They’re a nightmare for opening something to see what’s inside and looking at it for 30 seconds and then it’s difficult to get back into the box and stored.

Some things they’ve been brought are way too complicated too..

Thank you!

regift, ebay and charity,any money made on ebay can be used to buy dc more suitable things

If any of it is things another child would absolutely love to have, there must be places you can give it to where they'd pass it on to a worthy owner.

Women's refuges? Anywhere that organises emergency housing for families? Somewhere like that.

I would say nothing about it to your family, people often don't get it when its SN

I would get both DC to be clear about what they definitely don't want and then DONATE to your local

Womens Refuge
Sally Army
Trussel Trust

Nobody will even realise

Alternately, if you want your children to get the presents they want, flog the stuff on Ebay and use the proceeds to get what they need or want

DON'T feel guilty everyone does it

YANBU, it teaches kids that a wrapped gift will never be something they actually want. It teaches them that the adults around them don't really know them, or care enough to ask.

I'd find out where the gifts are from and return them for store credit as unwanted gifts. The. Yo7 can get DC something they will actually enjoy.

Thanks all. I will look into what charities we have locally. I usually donate to a charity shop but interested to know if there’s any other alternatives like the women’s refuge etc etc.

My son has been bought things far too complicated for him.

My daughter who has dyspraxia has been given an adult colouring book.. she’s 4.

I don’t want to be ungrateful but people just don’t put much thought into things 😩

Anything generally appropriate for others and I keep it in the cupboard for when my daughter is invited to birthday parties and it gets regifted. It's fine! Do whatever you need to do.

Sell them and use the proceeds to buy them stuff they do like.

I'd re-gift or donate and not feel bad about it. If you don't think they'll play with it I would just get rid. With close family, I don't think there's anything wrong with saying 'little x is really into z' or suggest vouchers for a shop you may be able to buy something suitable. It's a shame if they don't listen, I suppose all you can do is keep trying. I don't have kids but do find it a bit tricky knowing what to buy young relatives or friend's children. I can't imagine being told that they won't be interested in something and still buying. Similarly MIL knowingly gifted a duplicate toy to my nephew today and I was a bit perplexed that she didn't give the receipt so they could exchange it for something different.

Is there a local toy library? They usually look for unopened donations. If charities aren't taking anything, there are other places that take donations. Mum and baby units, universities, hospitals, playgroups, children's centres. Can try sell them on marketplace or ebay if you can be bothered.

I always give with a gift reciept, just in case it's not what they were after

Just pop in gift box for next party invite where it would be suitable?

Or otherwise, charity?