What are your kids getting for Xmas?

[sum04]

What are your kids getting for Xmas?

[BelligerentGhoul]

Elspeth - I agree totally with your point frther down the thread - I can't believe the amounts (and the cost) that some people are listing.

We have two dds and usually spend about 80 pounds each on them - one year they got a Wii between them, so it was a bit more but they knew that was a gift for the whole family.

I am astonished at the amount of i-pads / i-touches etc being listed for such young children and quite frankly, even though I could, if wished, afford to buy them for my teenagers, I won't be doing so. It encourages greed and materialism and neither of these are attributes I particularly want to nurture in my children.

Each to their own and all that but I'm glad that I've managed to raise children who know the value of things.

[ReformedCharacter]

Sorry, Iwanttobe, I cross-posted with you.

One of the problems is that his birthday is so close to Christmas and as he's practically an only grandchild on both sides of the family he gets seriously spoiled.

I wonder if we could 'move' his birthday to July. Seriously, I could set a date in July when he could have a proper party and get his presents then. Obviously we would still celebrate his birthday as well. Parties are always a bit shit in January as well - everyone just wants a rest after Christmas and New Year.

Anyway, I really am going to let this thread get back on track. Sorry for hi-jacking everyone.

[becaroo]

ds1 (7)
Wii (joint gift with ds2) from my family
Bike from PIL and SIL
From us:
Playmobil truck and haulage plant
books
dvds
toy hamster
torch
lego tanker
remote control lambourghini (sp?)
2 simulation games for the laptop

ds2 (2)
wii (see above)
Not sure what hes getting from PIL
From us;
Thomas the tank train set
TT figues
TT loop the loop
TT take along toy
books
dvds
TT dinner set
ELC game

Ds1 is getting a lot this year but his bike is now too small for him and I would rather they had a wii than a ds as I think we can all play with the wii and have fun together.
I am lucky in that my family are happy to club together and buy big things.

I didnt think I'd spent that much on the dc this year (have used my tesco and co op vouchers to buy some things and got some great bargains in the amazon sale) but have totalled it up and am appalled!!

Must stop starting buying for xmas in august!!

Only got 2 more (small) things to get my dad and PIL.

[applecrumbleandcream]

BG I don't think you should criticise other parents and their choice of gifts (ie ipad/itouch)for their children, if that is what they want to buy them and can afford to do so, why shouldn't they? They can actually be educational so shouldn't be dismissed as just the latest fad that promotes greed and materialism!

I admit I do buy my dd quite a lot for Xmas, but she doesn't get much throughout the rest of the year and will grow up to be taught not to be greedy. In fact, she never asks for anything it's me who goes OTT (and I'm certainly not bothered if anyone thinks differently).

It's got nothing to do with you what others buy their children. It's Xmas ffs it's meant to be a fun time for children!!!

[taffetacat]

I agree its unkind, judgemental and naive to criticise what other parents buy for their DC for Christmas.

Apart from anything else, people never, ever know the back story, so they are coming from a position of ignorance.

By all means have your own rules and standards, but don't shove them down others' throats.

[BelligerentGhoul]

I was agreeing with a poster further down the thread; it was an observation. To me, it seems excessive. Children and adults need to know that fun doesn't have to equal the latest gadgets and great expense imho. It concerns me that some people seem to feel that they have to buy these things. DD1 would love an i-pod but has a perfectly servicable phone already: I don't want her getting into the mindset that things must be 'upgraded' avery few months or so; I don't want her to see possessions as throwaway.

[waterlooroadisadocumentary]

I think if you are shocked by the amount people by their chidren you cannot help but feel that way. You canof course judge without saying anything directly to people as that would be rude. I think the whole world goes mad at Christmas. Adults trying to think up presents as the must get something even though they need nothing.

I admit to reading Christmas threads while sucking through my teeth, I should stop reading them really but I find it morbidly fascinating that people feel the need to buy all this stuff.

[waterlooroadisadocumentary]

Although tbh BG I would not spend £80 on dd at Christmas - I have spent £15. So one person's miser is another person's extravagent gifter.

[BelligerentGhoul]

You are right, of course, WaterlooRoad. I'll go and suck my teeth privately, elsewhere! :)

I admit that, as they reach teenage years, it is harder to stick to one's guns, especially when their friends are having what I perceive to be outrageous amounts of money spent on them - but I'm trying to strike a balance between frugality and excess!

[waterlooroadisadocumentary]

BG it is like an addiction, they way other people throw cash around fasdcinates me. I can't suck my teeth privately so I can't tell you to.

[taffetacat]

I think it touches a nerve on so many levels. I have a good friend who spends a lot more on her DC than I. She had a tough upbringing with very few presents and has a deep rooted need to provide what some would see as excessive gifts at Christmas.

[goingroundthebend4]

If people can afford it why not .If I had spare cash I would be spoiling mine a dam site more and yes I probably spend more on my dc than some do but then they don't have masses of realtives buying for them

[asdx2]

It's a source of conflict here. Dh would buy everything their hearts desired and I wouldn't buy much at all. We compromise which means neither of us is happy really because I still think they have too much and dh thinks I'm mean.

[goingroundthebend4]

If had the money Hamelys would so get hit in flurry of shopping .I always feel bad for mine when dc talk of what they got:(

[domesticsluttery]

I think it has to be down to personal choice. We could afford to spend more on our DC, and if there was something expensive which they really wanted then we would (within reason) buy it. However if there isn't anything big that they want I won't spend huge amounts just for the sake of it.

Most of our friends spend £500+ per child, so we are very much the odd ones out. The DC don't seem to compare what they get with what their friends get, although I appreciate that this may change as they get older (eldest is 8). It is the other parents who tend to think that we are tight!

They are getting what they asked for, all they wanted this year was small things like Lego, books and board games.

[waterlooroadisadocumentary]

We can afford to buy more but I would worry about the messages that it would send to dd. I am sure dd listens to people talk about what they got for Christmas and they will get more than her and she does not care. If she does she does not say and she really is not good at subtle or keeping secrets.

[BelligerentGhoul]

We could also afford to buy more but I also think it's important that we save some money for their futures. I would rather they had a bit of money to put towards uni, to learn to drive, or to make a deposit on a flat later, than that they always got the latest gizmo each Christmas.

I can't have everything that I want (if I could, Vivienne Westwood would make a fortune out of me!) and I think it's important that my children understand the value of things and the importance of 'settling for half' and so on, rather than thinking that because it's Christmas, the whole of the Apple shop is their oyster! :)

[ReformedCharacter]

As an aside, I would love to have the whole Apple store as my oyster. Forget Vivienne Westwood - I want gadgets!

[BelligerentGhoul]

:)

[WanderingSheep]

DD (3)
Moondough farm set
V-tech video camera
A small figure of 8 wooden train set
Gator golf
Snow White DVD
Princess and the Frog DVD
Music box
Disney princess projector watch (probably for her stocking)

I think that's it! We still need to get some stocking stuff. We went a bit mad last year and said that we weren't going to this year . It never works as DH and I always get a bit over excited!

[waterlooroadisadocumentary]

I went to the apple store last month with the intention of getting an IPad and went away quite unimpressed.

[FairyArmadillo]

DS (2) is getting

for main presents (from me, exDP and my parents)
ELC Happyland Farm (with the free item that goes with it)
Something Special DVD
Peppa Pig DVD
Books

stocking (from me)
little Beanie Nok Tok and Yojojo
Box of crayons
Peppa Pig stickers
Colouring book
Little wind up dog, wind up penguin

I'm quite certain ex-DP will buy him a lot more toys.

[Quattrocento]

BG - no need for pursed lips. We save for the DCs futures AND we buy them christmas presents. We do this because times are okay for us right now (touch wood) and we would buy them less expensive presents if times were hard.

It's all a question of use. perspective, and social groupings though. One of DD's friends is getting a new show pony for Christmas :)

[mumtotwoplustwo]

For my DDs aged 6 and 3 I have ordered an enourmous play silk, some magnetic puzzles, a large rainbow stacker, some more Quadrilla marble run pieces. There will be some books too. I haven't really started shopping yet so the list will grow when I do. I also have to decide on what to ask the grandparents for but as they probably won't see the grandparents until well after Christmas I don't include those presents.

[BelligerentGhoul]

Quattro - you mean, you haven't already got your dcs their own show ponies yet?! I'm sure there's a parenting guide somewhere that suggests that children will feel deprived if they haven't got one by 16 months old...It's a milestone, you know. :)

Mumoftwoplustwo - what is a play silk? I'm looking for ideas for a 2 year old and don't want to just get plastic stuff.