What are your kids getting for Xmas?

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What are your kids getting for Xmas?

Didn't mean to imply you were thinking that FS. It's me actually, I'm feeling crappy because it's a problem I didn't think we'd have to address and I do feel guilty because we obviously have unintentionally caused this.

I've never smacked a child but I could have slapped the bored look on his face right off when we were in T'RUS. It makes me very sad that he's so disillusioned with everything aimed at his age group.

Wow, great ideas for DD & DS birthday here!

For Xmas from us (includes stocking stuff):

DS(3.9)
Kid Knex
Gruffalo jigsaw
Hungry Hippos
Toystory Buckaroo
Books
Chocolate
Spirograph
Thundercats DVD's
Thundercats in my pocket
Card games
Nerf Gun & Extra darts
Curly straw
underwear
Buzz Lightyear Laptop
Bath crayons
Scooby Doo Fairground
Scooby Doo Mansion
Scoody Doo figures
Transformer
Bathtoys
Expanding Flannel

DD(21mo)
Books
Plastic Tea cups etc
Toy hoover
Mini Mouse Soft toy
Mini Mouse Tea pot and acceseries(sp?)
Peppa pig car
Noddy Jigsawa
Noddy Towel
Princess Wand
Chocolate
underwear
Noddy DVD
Curly straw
Peppa Pig Trike with handle
Bath Crayons
Expanding Flanel
Bath Toy
peppa Pig spaceship
Peppa Nightlight/torch

Joint Pressie - ELC Sizzlin Kitchen & Play Food

I may keeps some of these by for their birthdays in March though as we have a huge family that buy for them so might need an extention built...

YY Freudian. I was skirting around it in previous post but it sounds to me (unless people are listing presents their children are getting from every relative etc) there are going to be some very spoilt children out there this year.
I'm always and about how much my dc get which is why dh and I have really toned down what we get them.
As I type they (aged 5 and 7yrs) are playing with the box of wooden bricks I bought for £5 when ds was 2yrs old. They play with them virtually every morning of the weekends making dens for other toys, castles/prisons etc.Don't get me wrong, they love the wii too (not theirs though, it's mine and dh's) and dd wants an ipod (which she won't be getting) but the small things are sometimes the best.
It's not even about the money, there are some great bargains to be had but they just don't need SO much stuff.

I admit I do spoil DC at xmas & birthdays BUT we don't buy them much through the year and I LOVE xmas, it makes me tingle. I have a toy buying problem, I know the DC would be happy with only a couple of pressies but I can't help myself, especially if offers are on!

loosingmymind we are the same we do spoil ours at christmas but we do not buy them alot throught the year.

It is really hard isn't it especially when peer pressure kicks in. We haven't got DD any big presents this year, and it's mostly educational (and fun) stuff and little games that we can play as a family, as next year she will be at school and probably asking for the latest whatever which we won't be able to afford!

ReformedCharacter are you really not getting him anything? I don't know what I'd do in that situation tbh, maybe get some presents and hide them away in case DS changes his mind. Tough one. I hope your DS has a change of heart and cheers up in time for Xmas! :)

Hats of to you loosingmymind and laughalot, at least you are honest about it! It is so hard not to go crazy I know.

I have one friend, whose son constantly seems to get little bits during the year and then really expensive stuff at Christmas, who is in total denial, 'he isn't spoilt'...yeah, yeah

Oh I agree if I could afford it I would so spoil the dc really would .Especially little 2 who still believe in the magic of it .would turn garden into tatsville winterwonderland if could afford

FS I don't know what to do to be honest. I've cried over this I'm that upset about it. I feel like a fool buying him presents that he doesn't want and probably won't play with.

I think I know what's at the heart of all this. We have a tradition of no TV (unless it's something we all want to watch together) and no wii/Xbox between Christmas and New Year. So, I'm refusing to buy any video games as I can't expect him not to play with them for a week if they're new. I think he's playing me and trying to get me to give in because he thinks it's a 'stupid and sad' tradition.

I won't give in on this though. I have compromised and said he can have the Xbox in his room over Christmas and I will buy him a TV as his Christmas present so he has something to play it on, but that's not what he wants either.

If he doesn't change his mind then I'll buy him educational stuff and put it in a box to use throughout the year. He'll get spoiled rotten from extended family anyway. It hurts that he doesn't want anything from me though and he really appears to be not at all bothered about it.

Ok ds will be 18 mths at Xmas. I read this looking for inspiration, i have no idea what is a good toy for someone that age I don't know any kids and these lists read like a secret code . So can anyone make a few suggestions for a small boy?

ReformedCharacter - I'm going to say this because I think you are too big softie If your ds (aged 8yrs) says he wants nothing but an ipad and you say no, I can't afford it (and by the way you are 8 not 18yrs) then it's tough. One of the best lessons we can teach our children is you can't have everything you want.
If you have said no x-box between Christmas and New year (not sure why you would say this as it's a good, quiet wind-down activity when they are hyped up) that is your rule. Don't give him a television in his bedroom specifically so he can break that rule. Honestly I think, with the best will in the world, the best thing you can do as a parent is say NO. Make the decision (eg no x-box) and stick with it. Personally I'm not a fan of TVs in bedrooms at that age anyway.
Honestly he sounds like he is trying to manipulate you to get what he wants. Hopefully, if you show him that that behavious WILL NOT WORK then he will stop doing it. You clearly adore him and I'm sure you don't want him to be the sort of child who tries to manipulate others.
Obviously this is easy for me to say and I really hope you take it in the spirit with which it is intended, not as a criticism but as support. Good luck.

DD1(14)
Ipod speakers
Marvel comic books
Make up
Clothes

DS1(11)(ASD)
Thomas playset to replace one he broke
Mario wall art
Mario clothes

DD2(2)
Toy story toys
Aquadraw

DD3(2 months)
Soft teddy
Soft books

It's not a lot each as DD1 is going to China next year with school and then 3 days later we are all going to Centreparcs so money is tight.

Aw Reformed :(
sorry if you have already done so but maybe you could start a thread on this separately in case somebody has some inspiration?

Elspeth, thank you for your nice message. I know exactly where you're coming from and agree with you.

The no xbox/wii rule is because DS takes it to extremes. An hour or two is not enough for him especially if he has a new game and I can do without the constant moaning over Christmas. Also I really want us to spend some quality time together, playing board games doing jigsaw puzzles and listening to music, chatting, playing with toys etc.

DP has been really ill this year and has had to give up work, meaning lots of changes for DS. There is an odd power struggle going on between them and DS has been quite manipulative about getting my undivided attention. I think this is all a part of the changes - I doubt if you'd believe me if I told you how much energy and time I have spent on trying to get him to be excited about Christmas. The more I try the less enthusiastic he becomes. It is manipulation, I know.

I thought having his own TV might work because DP is suffering with depression and tbh it's not much fun for DS being stuck in the living room with him. We try to be out as much as possible but obviously I need to look after DP as well. DS only wants a TV in his room if he can have his own SkyPlus box to go with it. Don't worry, I did say no

Oh, I am going on here and derailing the thread - sorry about that.

Cross posted there FS.

Yeah, good idea. Someone might have some inspiration for what to do with a mardy 8 year old that thinks he's the new man of the house. I think it's just a phase to be honest.

LOL! Skyplus box - you have to be impressed that he is aiming so high

Sorry about your dp, that must be really tough on you all. You obviously have your eyes wide open about what is going on in your house so I'm sure it will be fine. My ds is quite obsessed with the wii too. I put a timer on for how long he is allowed with the proviso that if he whinges when the time is up then it is banned the next day. I am quite strict about it and it seems to work for us but then we don't have a tricky situation like you are dealing with at the same time.

I really hope your ds finds his joy of Christmas again, I'm sure as it gets closer he will remember what is so great about it, meanwhile I would just stop talking about it, let him get there himself (I'd find that hard too, I LOVE Christmas)
Good luck again

DS (10) is getting an IPOD touch
DD (12) is getting an IPAD

I'm planning to buy some shares in Apple for myself. It's the only way of recouping some of the outlay.

Thanks Elspeth. DS and I did chat a bit this morning before DP got up. I told him that I'd been talking to some other mum's about him getting nothing for Christmas and that they all thought it was very sad. He cried and said he would do his best to think of some things that he really wants.

That's the last I'm going to say now. If he doesn't come up with anything then it will be books and art equipment.

I must admit that I did go to the Sky website to see how much it would cost to upgrade our package to multi-rooms. DP put a stop to that, thankfully. I am a total wimp when it comes to DS.

If I were you RC and you are getting him his own tv get one digital one - goes half way to getting a sky box - actually bought one for the room the dc's use as I didn't want to be burdened with the constant sound of cbeebies!

Well done RC - what a shame he's 8 and can't get enthused about Christmas.

TBH I think I would have bought DD sod all if she tried or said anything like that. Children just don't realise that money isn't that easy to find at times and expensive things like that are just a no go if you can't afford it and no amount of sulking/stropping is going to work.

How about suggesting it for his next birthday or Christmas (if he doesn't believe in Father Christmas) and get him to help buy it by saving his Christmas/birthday/pocket money.

I think children really need to understand the value of things I don't think they appreciate it at all :(

DS1 (13) IS GETTING

Money £150.00
COD Black Ops on Xbox 360
Guiness world of records book
£15.00 itunes voucher

DS2 (10) IS GETTING
Ipod touch
£15.00 itunes voucher
Medal of Honour the new game

DD1 (2 AND 3/4) IS GETTING
A baby buggy/feeding set/high chair bouncer set
A pop up stage (she loves acting singing and dancing in front of people)
puppy go walkies
Peppa Pig picnic set
Baby annabel
Electronic cash register

Ha, yes CBeebies, what a joy to watch

DS has got into Hannah Montana recently - I think he's doing to irritate DP. I would very happily shoo him off to his bedroom to watch that! Miley Cyrus' raspy voice gets right on my nerves.

He doesn't want freeview because it won't have Sky One on it. Bloody annoying child!

Anyway, I will bow out now and let the Christmas lists continue

Too much according to my mum

oh and a box of dressing up shoes