Halloween presents

[RosieLemonade]

I have got DD a costume and some baking bits. I was planning to pick up some Halloween craft bits too. I've also got her a new ghost book. She is 4.

A few people have posted on instagram (some I know in real life and some I just follow) about halloween presents and Halloween gift baskets. Is this a real thing?

I'm wondering why so many people view gifts as tat or planet destroying plastic. I feel a bit sorry for your loved ones if that's all you ever buy them tbh.

To be fair, if you’re getting Halloween-themed gifts, of course they don’t have to be plastic, but I’d bet the majority are. And they are probably tat, to be used once (like a costume that won’t fit next year), and then thrown away.
Of course not all gifts are useless tat, but if you’ve decided Halloween gifts are now a thing, then you are probably just buying stuff for the sake of buying stuff, rather than a thoughtful gift someone will really love. Unless they really love Halloween of course.

I'm wondering why so many people view gifts as tat or planet destroying plastic

Because if the OP is seeing “Halloween gift baskets” on Instagram, they’re very likely to be cellophane-wrapped baskets full of plastic toys and practically neon sweets.

Oh FFS! Not you, just this world.

@SirenSays good for you. But most of the crap that’s available in the shops is not Etsy inspired beauty but plastic tat. Ridiculous to suggest it’s anything other.

I buy thoughtful gifts for my kids but I don’t buy plastic tat and won’t be doing Halloween inspired gift baskets. Why do kids have to get gifts for every day of the bloody year. The planet is indeed doomed if this is the message we’re presenting to the next generation.

I'm buying DS a Halloween "movie night" box from a local baker with snacks in. Not wasteful as it is all edible and a nice treat.

I buy thoughtful gifts for my kids but I don’t buy plastic tat and won’t be doing Halloween inspired gift baskets

If you put the thoughtful gifts in a (reusable /already owned) basket is that ok?

No, not a thing

When mine were younger we bought them some treats and either a dvd or craft activity to do as we don’t trick or treat. They preferred a party instead so we did that with their friends.
Nothing wrong with a gift if that’s what people want to do. I don’t know any adults who only buy necessities and no treats for themselves so see it as being no different for children.

I usually get a 99p Halloween activity/sticker book for my child and we have a couple of spooky Garlands up but then she's 6 and it's her favourite 'celebration' (for want of a better expression).
If Halloween wasn't her favourite, it would be a pumpkin to carve & 30 mins of trick or treating (in the cheapest costume I can find!)

This year I did splash out an extra £1.50 for some Halloween themed party bags to put sweets in & will hand each child who knocks, a little bag each. Makes each visit quicker & makes the kids smile. They did miss out last year, to be fair.

The growing trend in the UK for hating Halloween does make me laugh! In my area people try to out do each other on how little effort they go to. "Oh we just put a hole in a bin bag, shoved it over their head & they took a bag for life to carry sweets in! We just didn't bother at all......" "Well we just popped some Penguin biscuits in a fruit bowl on the porch and switched the doorbell off - fuck it"

@PumpkinsandTea great idea on the party bags. May i ask how many you make up and how many sweet you put in? I usually give a handful to each child but after years of stray sweets falling on doorstep I'm thinking this would work better!

sweets*

IMO the book would be a gift…

I got DD age 2 some Halloween books of her favourite cartoons (peppa,Duggar) and a few autumn type books about seasons changing. I read a lot with her. Have a costume I’ll put her in and take a photo and put up a few decorations on the day. Going pumpkin picking soon so will carve that and put out for Halloween. That’s all I’ll do. Her bday is in October so I don’t need to shower her with anything more

Lolol duggee, definately not dugger 😳

@Blackmagicqueen, I think I’ll pass on calving a pumpkin😜, but if you like dressing the house up for the DC and the local kids (lots of treats here ready) I can’t see the harm in that. Gifts, No! But in the darker days of Autumn, it’s nice to have decorations and lights to cheer people up🙂