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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why are books, puzzles, board games not real presents?

46 replies

kavalkada · 06/04/2023 06:25

I see it all the time on mumsnet. You have real presents, and then 5 books, 3 puzzles, 2 board games as filler presents. I can't count the number of times I have read that books are not presents, that is something you give every day.

In my house all these presents are real, nornal presents, nothing that has to be filled with something else.

So what is situation in your home? Can you give your child a board game, a book and a puzzle for birthday or you have to buy something else because your child would say they got nothing for birthday?

OP posts:
curlywillow · 06/04/2023 06:29

They’re presents in our house. Mind you my kids only get presents at Christmas or on birthdays. They never have had gifts in between these times.

Okunevo · 06/04/2023 06:32

Those are all presents

Okunevo · 06/04/2023 06:33

Everyday books we get from the library, one to keep is a present.

KatherineJaneway · 06/04/2023 06:33

They are all presents.

JustRingJoeDuffy · 06/04/2023 06:34

Of course they are real presents?! Why would they not be?
Sometimes I’ve seen people list the more expensive toys as a main present, especially at Christmas, with a book or puzzle as a smaller present add-on, but that doesn’t make it a ‘lesser’ present, just less expensive.
You might be overthinking this. Just get your child what they want within your budget - puzzles etc are definitely presents!

NoraLuka · 06/04/2023 06:34

They are présents definitely. I do buy books outside of birthdays/Christmas though.

thegrain · 06/04/2023 06:35

They are real presents and it devalues them to give them at the same time as a "main superstar all singing all dancing" gift

Original poster
kavalkada · 06/04/2023 06:43

I also think they're a real present, but I see that is often not like that. My daughter has birthday next saturday so it got me thinking.

OP posts:
TeenDivided · 06/04/2023 06:49

I haven't seen this said about board games or puzzles, only about books.

For us, we used to regularly get books from charity shops, but brand new books or collections were presents.

They are all 'real presents' and long lasting, but maybe don't have the immediate 'wow' factor of some others.

TenoringBehind · 06/04/2023 06:50

Books make the best presents.

camelfinger · 06/04/2023 06:54

I think they are real presents, but not main presents. I find they tend to be favoured by the gift giver who wants to give the excitement of a big box, that is easy to wrap. A £10 wrapped jigsaw puzzle looks way more exciting than a smelly snuggle key ring. Sadly I know which my DC would prefer (and my small house). Facebook is full of books and puzzles on sale in perfect condition - I assume they were these gifts, which have barely been touched.

ColouringPencils · 06/04/2023 06:55

My favourite kinds to presents, to give and to receive! They may not have the instant wow-factor as you need to interact with them to make them work, but they offer many hours of entertainment, can be shared with others, and never run out! If you get into board games though, you find they do get quite expensive, definitely not a filler item.

CoalCraft · 06/04/2023 06:56

Never heard this. I'm a big gamer so am delighted when I get board games, though I prefer people ask for pointers as these things are quite taste-specific I suppose. Just like books.

MajorCarolDanvers · 06/04/2023 06:57

Real presenter in out house.

Thepossibility · 06/04/2023 07:00

My brother says that. His daughter is spoilt and truly awful. Also- days out at the museum or anything remotely educational are not counted as a day out. If I invite them along to something he acts like it's child abuse. And suggests a theme park/play centre.

Theelephantinthecastle · 06/04/2023 07:03

My kids would be disappointed if they didn't get at least one toy for birthdays - but they do love board games, books and puzzles as well. Books they get a lot of second hand year round but I sometimes splash out on new more beautiful books for birthdays.

I got them this recently which really has the wow factor and is just gorgeous

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mythopedia-Encyclopedia-Mythical-Beasts-Magical/dp/1786276909/ref=asc_df_1786276909/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=500779243863&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16112993249989547529&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006537&hvtargid=pla-939970481945&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Hardbackwriter · 06/04/2023 07:03

I think they're absolutely real presents but that they're relatively cheap which is why I wouldn't give them as a sole present to my own child. We give them as presents for other children at parties etc and then they're the whole present. We're comparatively lucky financially - obviously I realize there are people who can barely afford a birthday present at all - so a book or puzzle wouldn't be our only gift, but nor would anything else that costs £5-10.

MrsMischiefOnTour · 06/04/2023 07:04

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SlicerAndEcho · 06/04/2023 07:08

We’re gamers. In this house board games absolutely are the all-singing, all-dancing main event. Likewise books, although the excitement is theme dependent. Dungeons and Dragons books, books about myths, monsters, dinosaurs, animals and atlases - thrilling. Puzzles they’re less excited by, but they still like them.

Wishawisha · 06/04/2023 07:11

Yes of course they are.

Only thing is, if my DC are desperate for a new book I will tend to buy it. We also get a lot of books from book swap boxes and things etc. Different from a crappy, plastic toy which I will say no to 99.9% of the time and say “add it to your Christmas list” hoping it will get forgotten. Books are bought more happily!

Qhaecciarr · 06/04/2023 07:13

I buy myself books constantly and my favourite thing to be gifted by other people is still books so YANBU. I also view puzzles and board games as valid gifts - weird to think they're not!

merrymelodies · 06/04/2023 07:13

Anything given in kindness and good faith is a present.

Wishawisha · 06/04/2023 07:15

camelfinger · 06/04/2023 06:54

I think they are real presents, but not main presents. I find they tend to be favoured by the gift giver who wants to give the excitement of a big box, that is easy to wrap. A £10 wrapped jigsaw puzzle looks way more exciting than a smelly snuggle key ring. Sadly I know which my DC would prefer (and my small house). Facebook is full of books and puzzles on sale in perfect condition - I assume they were these gifts, which have barely been touched.

This is funny because we’ve been given weird cuddly toys key rings before and I am always confused as to why.. DC are excited for approx 2 seconds before never looking at the item again and it’s not really something a charity shop is likely to want, so they end up sadly in the bin. Puzzles however are enjoyed and played with time and time again for the most part.

Lcb123 · 06/04/2023 07:16

Of course they’re real presents, I give and receive books all the time. Anything can be a present and should be grateful received

AngeloMysterioso · 06/04/2023 07:19

I tend to buy books all the time, but we might get them a new special set as a birthday or Christmas present