AIBU to worry my son has too little to open?

[Iloveegyptt]

my DS is 6 on Monday and I have just had to fix my car which cost me a fortune. I feel like I haven’t bought him enough. I have bought him a full sized football net, football boots, trainers a new football and an iPad. I just think he won’t be happy as it isn’t much to open.

Yep and at your party friends gave you a box of malteesers or similar. And no party bags just a slice of cake wrapped up in a napkin to take home.It was absolutely fine !!

Yes, 6 year olds especially like thongs.

OP, I can see you’ve done a good job at ignoring all the judgemental posts on here so well done.

Add a couple of stockingy bits at the one helpful poster upthread mentioned (yes, they do love to open stuff at that age). I got my DD some lip balms, bath bomb that sort of stuff and individually wrapped alongside her “main” presents, so whatever the equivalent is for your DS - I like the hot wheels idea or even some chocolate x

He’s far too young for a tablet. Return the iPad, perhaps buy some craft bits or board games.

Nerf guns are still hugely popular in our house and they’re colourful and big.

I'd keep the football stuff which is a lot on my opinion and return the iPad because once he gets addicted to that he won't want ⚽ anymore.

This has to be a joke

So boots and a ball - fine. What about the full size football net and trainers and an ipad ... I'm talking about the pressure. Why are some parents feeling pressure to spend so much money, when they can't really afford it? It's crazy.

Cake with butter cream filling iirc
Memories of a 70s kid.

I gave my 9 yr old and ipad and regretted it so much I 'lost' it. God was so so so glad I got rid of it.

My kids are probably 'spoiled' in that they'd always have a whole pile of presents open on a birthday. I do think it's fun to have lots of stuff to unwrap.

But loads of it would be things they needed/topping up supplies eg shoes/clothes/drawing stuff etc. Always some books. And some sweets and bits and bobs. Then maybe 2 or 3 more expensive toys or games.

Even now they're teens we do a (smaller) pile. My son just turned 16 and had shoes, clothes, a book, sweets, toiletries and even a new electric toothbrush wrapped up because his main present in financial terms was tickets for an experience day.

Mine had kids Fire tablets (heavily restricted use) around age 7 or 8. Definitely not an iPad, totally unnecessary for a 6 yr old.

I agree with all those who say buy some smaller fun bits and pieces to make a fun pile, and return the iPad or keep it for later.

Out of interest who do you feel pressure from OP? If you gift this much for a Sixth birthday and your DD counts her gifts expecting more each year what will you be up to by the time they turn 18?

Dial it down for both your sakes.

My DC never got piles of gifts for their birthdays. They got one gift about £40 and a birthday cake with candles. When they were under 7 they had a party but only a village hall with bouncy castle and homemade party food. 8 and over they took 2 friends for treat. They also got little gifts from their siblings. I never spoiled them at Christmas either. OP don't go into debt over Xmas gifts if you buy all of this for a birthday.

I agree the iPad isn't a good choice for a 6 year old.
I don't see the issue with a goal either if he is really into football. Better to have connected presents than lots of different random stuff.
The trainers might be £10 from Primark though...the OP didn't say.

Sacred Heart, a flipping iPad at the age of six.
The number of presents he has to open will be the least of your problems from now on.

Hi OP

Your son sounds very lucky , the football stuff sounds amazing ☺️

If you are worried about number of presents (which btw I really don’t think you need to be) then I would perhaps swap the IPad for a few of cheaper bits (small LEGO set, hot wheels , that sort of thing)

He would be a very lucky lad indeed to have an IPad , I just wonder if that could be maybe saved for the future - let him enjoy the football stuff for a few years without the distraction on an IPad just yet

Hope he has a lovely day ☺️

It works on me!

At 6 he really does not need an iPad and they cause awful behaviour. I would return and swap for creative things lego/duplo, magnetic tiles, craft or play doh sets depending what he is into. I always get my son a boardgame so we have something to do together

Dudley Dursley comes to mind! Sorry.

Oh my god.

Of course they like a lot to open. He’s a child .
Be a parent and don’t spoil him

How ridiculous.
He is 6!
Pressure from whom?
You are giving yourself the pressure
Is it all about stuff, opening stuff, and having stuff?
I despire sometimes.

**Despair even.. forgotten how to spell in my despair

Please don’t give him a six year old an ipad.
His childhood will be lost.
He is six and who cares if all his friends / tom/ dick and harry have one.
I see too many children addicted to screens in my job. And their parents wonder why they cannot concentrate on anything.
Be a parent and not one that does parenting by a screen.. !

The iPad is tacky, send it back

The unwrapping of gifts is certainly a “ thing “ among some families.
My 6 year old ( adult now ) got a mermaid Barbie , mermaid books / colouring books , pens and a new mermaid style shiny swimsuit .
Her big sisters wanted to choose her something too so got her a jelly cat plushie .
We had little friends round for tea and that was it

He may well be into lots of stuff but that doesn't mean you should feel pressured to buy your DC lots of presents for their birthday even if they are all 'connected'. It doesn't really matter if the trainers were from Primark - even they'd be £10 ish? which if you haven't got spare it may as well be £100.

It's crazy.

Talking of pressure, have you got a football pump and valve?