To ask for non-stuff Christmas ideas

[WayTooSoon]

I have 2 boys. They will be 3.5 years and 8 months at Christmas. We live in a small flat that has books, toys, jigsaw puzzles, games etc up to the rafters. Friends and relatives are asking what the boys want for Christmas. We have everything we need, but I know that if I say we don't need anything, people think I'm trying to be polite and will get something anyway and we'll end up with more "stuff".

What would be helpful would be money towards classes or days out, but I don't want to say that as I think saying "money" comes off as grabby. I also think some people would rather spend £20 on a toy we don't have room for than put £10 in a card because they want to get something "thoughtful"!

Im not trying to sound ungrateful at all as people are very generous, but we really don't have the space and I end up taking things to charity shops or regifting to other people.

Does anyone have any suggestions of things to ask for to direct people towards non-stuff gifts or something small or consumable that's suitable for a baby or a toddler that won't be a waste of money?

Is there a family day out near you?

A farm for e.g., that you can buy membership for?

Or be blunt and ask for cash towards their savings.
I give my nephew and nieces cash unless they specifically ask for something(they are old enough now) i much prefer it. I dont even care if they spend it on sweets/tat as its what they want.

Ask them to club together and get a membership for a zoo/farm or similar.

Anything practical? Bags, upgrade of equipment for the baby, bath toys and bubble bath/shampoo?

Art & craft box, pens, papers, stickers

Playdough - we often re-stock as it got nasty after a while

Books for the older one

I used to ask for practical things:
Swimming bag
Arm bands
Lunch box
Water bottle
Painting apron
Duvet cover set
Slippers
Dressing gown
Egg cup
Hat, gloves, scarf

We tried this last year. MIL totally ignored it DM bought cineworld vouchers and we hadn't used them all by February when the cinemas shut (not sure if they will reopen). We bought the DDs tickets to a pop concert and were paying for a hotel.

Didn't we pick the wrong bloody year!

It is a great idea usually but just beware of...

• vouchers for experiences in case the company goes bust
• non-refundable booking fees.... seetickets I am looking at you!

That said, we did manage to squeeze in a Go Ape trip, partly funded by vouchers the kids got given and it was a brilliant day.

On a more practical level, for a few years my dad bought Clarks vouchers which always came in handy!!

Ooops looked again at the ages. Go Ape is not so good for toddlers 🤦‍♀️

National Trust membership might be good though.

We always say pyjamas, new duvet cover or bath toys as they often don’t last long

Tumbletots do vouchers - maybe other activities do too? Also a zoo park local to us, and I think some soft play centres as well.
(If your local activities/soft plays don't offer vouchers, perhaps you could suggest it to them - after all, at this particular time, I suspect it would help most business's cashflow to sell vouchers.)

Fivemoreminutes1's suggestions are great too.

Money towards a Merlin pass? Soft play annual membership? Or outdoor toys (swing, go kart etc) to be kept at their houses?

We got a zoo membership using vouchers one year. Also clothes always a winner for us, love the idea of clarks vouchers. If they want this kids to open something a token colouring book and pens is good at that age to go with the vouchers

If toys are welcome but not storing them, have a look ar whirli.com. It's a toy subscription where you pay monthly and choose a number of toys, play with them then swap them. You only ever own them if you keep them for I think 8 or 9 months or if you buy them. They also do a gifting service where someone can buy you a voucher towards a subscription or can actually buy you a toy which you can then either keep or swap after to the same value of credits. Really good. I've a code for money off a subscription and have used the service since my one was only a couple of months old.

I'd ask for stickers, felt tips, craft stuff, playdoh etc for the eldest. Perhaps bath toys for youngest? They inevitably go a bit gross so shorter shelf life.

We've done zoo and farm passes previous Christmases but not this year.

Money towards a membership of a parking permit for somewhere nice locally (we have country parks, for example). The need to buy “stuff” is high in some people, so I prompt them to pyjamas or wellies...

Second vote for arts and crafts - they are at least expendable and won’t sit in your house forever! I think colouring books, cardboard models, paint sticks are the way to go.

Clarks vouchers

explorertots.com this is a subscription box - looks good

We always just got clothes for the next size up but if storage is an issue that might not be great.

You can get vouchers for experiences so they could get an amount as a voucher for you to spend at the zoo or wherever.

As for small things could the older one get a learning watch or a clock? How about educational writing books for him to practise?

Surely there are things you can anticipate needing throughout the year such as Welly boots in the next size or a school bag and water bottle for the one turning 4? Do they swim? Do they need swim bags/hats/shorts

I think for the baby it's fine to say he has everything but if you really want to get something then either a voucher for somewhere you will shop at for him or money in an account.

Also if someone such as a grandparent doesn't like the idea od vouchers then why not suggest they buy them something that they will keep at their house for when they visit? Then they can choose whatever they want.

Sponsor a dog. Loads of organisations do this and you usually get a letter or two from (or on behalf of) the dog.

Zoos, animal refuges, etc. usually have sponsorship options too that can include tickets as well. We're currently sponsoring some rescue donkeys at a local place and it makes the visit there more special. A lot of these places are struggling this year so it feels a very worthwhile thing to do.

People want to buy gifts. So try to think of things you use.

Magazine subscription. National geographic kids is awesome for the older boy.

One more vote for books.

Lego - you can never have too much!

Clothes for the baby.

Wellie boots

I have the same dilemma every year. We end up with a lot of well meant gifts that the children open with enthusiasm but just get relegated to a corner. Have you looked at asking for a 'gift card' that can be spent anywhere.. it negates the problem of getting vouchers for certain shops or experiences (in case they stop trading..who knows!)
I saw this one online: theirperfectgift.co.uk
You can personalise it too, which seems a lovely idea.

If you know them really well, and are sure they wouldn’t mind, I’d ask for money towards their savings accounts, (I would never have said this until having a child myself...) and/or maybe a book if they really want to buy them something to unwrap.

Failing that, maybe an outfit in the next size up? Or vouchers for Clark’s for shoes?

Otherwise - experiences, eg membership of a local zoo, the National Trust, an RHS garden if there’s one local to you - eg an outside activity that won’t get shut for 6 months due to Covid.

Swim bag with trunks, goggles, noodle, swim nappies, poncho towel etc.

Magazine/comic subscription.

Bath time hamper with bubble bath, shampoo, sponge, tooth brushes and a couple of bath toys.

Dressing up clothes.

Art and craft kits for your eldest, which will be used up!

Clarks vouchers is a wonderful idea!

New character towels/bedding if yours could do with replacing.

Books, or a book subscription where they get a new one every month.

Do you have access to any garden space?

If so what about a bird table and food or a hedgehog house?

If you don't have outside space you can still get the birdfeeders that fit on the outside of windows.

Vouchers for shoes. They cost a bloody fortune!

Play dough or other artsy resources that get used up and need replacing.

Lego! A box of 500 plus pieces generally with approximately 20 useful bricks, so the more lego sets the better. (Specify lego classic though, not whizzy themed builds.)

Puddlesuits

Thanks everyone, some really nice ideas. Clothes are a bit of a no-go as we have bags of clothes handed down from their cousins, but new swimming things and a new puddle suit are good ideas. I'll have a look at some magazine subscriptions too as we often get cbeebies or Peppa Pig mags from time to time, so a subscription for one of these is a really good idea.

Any other ideas are most appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who posted.

This thread is great- was going to post something similar. To many toys to little room 😁. Loved this bit "i'm not trying to sound ungrateful at all as people are very generous, but we really don't have the space and I end up taking things to charity shops or regifting to other people."
Will steal some ideas. Puddle suits, clothes, usable items eg bath things.