Aibu in giving craft stuff and board game as birthday gift?

[Luxplus]

Our dd is turning 7 at the end of the month. A friend of mine asked today what we were getting her for gifts and when told said that it wasn't proper birthday gift but stuff that we as parents are obliged to get her as daily stuff.
For context not at stealth post and she gets very little from other due to small extended family.
But we have bought her
Chess board game
A huge box from djeco with different kinds of pencils crayons ect
Other craft stuff
A book

Am I missing something that this is not ok birthday gift?

Those are lovely gifts- and thoughtful too as you know they'll be enjoyed more than once. Unlike some crappy plastic toy that breaks after 5 minutes and is entirely forgotten about. Ignore her, she hasn't quite got the concept that children are all different.

My 9 year old DD would love craft stuff (she doesn't play chess though).
The best gift I ever bought a child (not mine) was a Frozen umbrella.
One of the best gifts my DD received from a friend was a Harry Potter water bottle. The child who gave it's mum was slightly apologetic as she thought it wasn't a great present but her DD said it was.
Both functional practical items.

She was rude to make a comment. Presumably you have a better understand of what your dd likes?

Thanks all. I was just a bit surprised because I really thought the gifts we have gotten was really well thought.
Dd knows she gets a book, they get a book each for birthdays. She has asked for a where's Wally book so we have gotten that for her. I thought that would categorize as a toy...

Of course it's fine, your friend is an idiot

What matters most with a gift is spending time thinking about what the recipient would really like! Especially for little kids, it’s not about what you spend, as they just don’t think that way. I also buy nicer versions of every day stuff as gifts.. eg ds got new trainers for his last birthday (14) of course I would make sure he had shoes (!) but the fancy Nikes he had his eye on were a much appreciated gift.
Op you know your dd better than anyone, and it sounds like she’ll love her presents! 7 year old me preferred books to barbies too!

It's fine if you know that's what she likes. If she asked for a Barbie, and you give her craft stuff then YWBU.

I give DD a board game every Christmas , and when she was younger often included craft stuff alongside the toy that she wanted that year.

The perfect gift is one the recipient will love. How other people buy those things is of no concern or importance in your choice.

@fakeplantsdontlookreal

It's fine if you know that's what she likes. If she asked for a Barbie, and you give her craft stuff then YWBU.

I give DD a board game every Christmas , and when she was younger often included craft stuff alongside the toy that she wanted that year.

She does like barbie but have quite a lot and hasn't mentioned anything barbie related when asked for wishes. She collects na na na dolls so perhaps I should get one of them as the frivolous gift as someone mentioned

One of my DC's favourite presents was a personalized sketchbook and big load of art pens etc, but we also got him some toys okie he had bigger ticket items from other family members.

My DDs would love that stuff. (8& nearly 10).

Board games are a particular favourite. They got a lovely chess set at Christmas. DH taught them to Play over Lockdown due to interest from Harry Potter.

I buy craft stuff for birthdays. I buy throughout the year as things are needed though beach stuff in summer, bikes when you need one. Games, books audiobooks as and when. Kids aren’t deprived at all I think they appreciate it more when it’s spread out rather than an overwhelming pile twice a year.

I have bought craft things for a birthday. It coincided with Lakeland stopping selling it so everything was at least 50% off. For £25 I filled a box with coloured paper, stencil stamps, ink pads, rubber stamps, all sorts. The crafty recipient was thrilled.

What you’ve got is fine OP , don’t just buy extra stuff for the sake of it . I really don’t like the 5 gift rule , if you want to buy 5 gifts buy things they want not what they need . Our rule has generally been don’t buy stuff just to make the pile look bigger , if they only really want one or two things then just buy that .

Board games are a good gift if chosen with the person in mind and not generic.
Books and crafts, like your friend, I see as staples and regularly purchased.

I remember when DS was 6 and for Christmas he asked for colouring pens and spinning tops. He got several spinning tops and the biggest pack of colouring pens I could lay my hands on. Plus some other bits and pieces. Cut to a couple of weeks later when the leader at Beavers (very short sightedly, it has to be said) led an activity where we went round the group one at a time and the kids said what they'd got for Christmas. DS was last to go. Pretty much every other kid said they'd got a games console, i-pad or drone or something. My heart ached for DS. It got to his turn and, with a mega-watt smile, he proudly told all the Beavers he'd got colouring pens for Christmas. There was nothing whatsoever in his heart or mind that saw any problem with the situation.

He's 12 now and would still prefer several "medium size" gifts over one biggie.

Your gift sounds really lovely and when my daughter was that age, she'd have loved it.
Take no notice of your friend... you KNOW your daughter, she doesn't.

Sounds fine, I often buy mine craft things. I wouldnt buy what I call "consumables" eg the most basic pens & top ups of plain paint colours but often buy things like sets of fancy sparkling crayons, glow in the dark pens or ones for writing on glass, glitter, fun special stuff for sticking on like fabric flowers and the like.

Board games always feature as gifts in our house too. My children would not be remotely interested in a barbie.

It depends if your child will like that.

It sounds a bit wholesome and improving to me tbh, not much fun.

All the people saying they buy books and craft items continupusly as staples possibly need a reality check about the fact that these things cost money and not every family budget can accommodate having them topped up on tap.

It's good for children to appreciate these things.

Sounds like she’ll be thrilled! Craft stuff that belongs just to her - at that age I’d have spent ages just looking at it, tidying it and taking it in and out the box and revelling in not having to share it. It is exactly the kind of thing girls her age love.

@WouldBeGood

It depends if your child will like that.

It sounds a bit wholesome and improving to me tbh, not much fun.

I know she'll like it and the chess game is something she enjoys playing so dont think she sees it as "improving"

She is not lacking toys, she has loads. And before my friend comments I was actually quite happy with the gifts bought.

I think it's fine, especially if it's nice than general craft stuff (and djeco is generally good). We only ever give board games for Christmas or birthdays and the kids always get some books as well.
They get books at other times (start of holidays etc), but not toys or games.

I would make sure that it is only for her rather than siblings too, and I would enforce it.

My rule of thumb is that for the first month the other Dc isn't allowed to touch it without permission. Then if it's not put away or kept in their room, it's fair game.

All depends on your dd, if she's begging for dolls accessories or Lego then I would get something she is asking for but not all kids like that sort of stuff. My dd asked for a microscope at 7/8.

Nod and smile

Have confidence in your decisions. You chose great gifts for YOUR child