I ^have^ to buy something for my teens - so my youngest still thinks Father Christmas has been! But what?

[BarryStar]

Have three teens who, sadly, refuse to believe in Father Christmas anymore :o. But they still need a pile of presents to open so youngest dc can see Father Christmas has been. I'm doing ok for 14 and 16 yr old, but what can I get for 18yr old ds to open? Tia.

Alcohol miniatures?

Hmm, like that idea, cept I might be tempted to try them out myself.

I think FC only visits children so 18 isn't a child anymore. If your 18 year old wants a stocking - as I did at that age, give the usual underwear, toiletries etc. I wanted my stocking to have a colouring book and plasticene in it when I returned home at Christmas from uni, but I'm a bit weird!

But why wouldn" t you give your older ones w pile of presents too? Why only because of the younger one? [baffled emoticon]

I don't really understand? Why would the older children not get a pile of presents.

I think I will be doing a stocking for dd with a clementine in, and a load of odds and sods presents when she is in her 50s.

Why does it stop at 18?

Socks, primark pyjamas, books, DVDs, chocolate, toiletries?

I struggle with the 'stocking from Father Christmas' thing as mine get older, esp DS1 who is now 35 16.
It's ever more challenging and expensive to find tat things he'll like, and since the age of about 12 he's been asking me not to bother, as he doesn't need any of it.
Doesn't stop me, though .

We don't do huge piles of presents. Not as a child and not for my kids either. FC delivers presents in a stocking at the end of the bed. If you don't put out a stocking he can't fill it with a tangerine, underwear, colouring book, torch etc - small things to occupy small children that they can open themselves before the adults wake up.
As you open presents from parents, other family, friends etc a pile soon mounts up.
Ask the 18 year old for a list of things they might like.

Ooh no, have given the impression I am a big scrooge and don't get older dc anything! I didn't mean that. Every year Father C brings all the dc stockings and a "big pile" each. I have near enough sorted out all four stockings, but am struggling to find stuff to constitute a "big pile", for the older dc, especailly 18yr old. I have got him some vouchers, and will give him money, but I need some presents that go into his pile - so youngest can see FC has left them all something. Most of the presents I've bought him to date are little and fit into stocking, therefore leaving nothing for his pile. :o

Worried you're all thinking I'm mean now, and have stopped buying dc stuff just cos they're teens. Maybe I shoud have emphasised the word buy , cos that's what I need to do rather than just hand over vouchers/cash.

Slippers, PJs, a crate of beer?

Barry I would also struggle due to things getting smaller as the dc gets older.
What is your budget? :)

My mum used to put vouchers/cheque in a old shoebox filled with tissue paper and wrapped in Xmas paper so that I would have presents to open when I was older. Might create the effect you are looking for???

Unfortunately some people do stop buying when their kids are teens! BIL stopped getting presents at 16! Nothing at all! And this is not a money issue either! Makes me

I think you need things that are actually big in size to make the pile look bigger! Hmmm
Selection box?
Some sort of board game to play with the little ones?
A suitcase/holdall for uni/holidays
a case of favourite beer?

Elsjas' idea is good - reminds me of the Martin Lewis money-saving tip to fill a big box with balloons for your toddler - they don't know it costs nothing but it looks impressive!
I usually get a few clothes - jumper/hoodie/trackie bottoms etc.

Sorry barry I got the wrong end of the stick - read it that the 18 year old wouldn't be getting anything.

I do exactly the same as maryz - bags of crap . I get her a load of stuff which is actually useful, such as lipbalms, cheap gloves, soap and toiletry gubbins, socks, slippers, cheap pyjamas, DVDs of trashy films which are on special offer, little teddies etc, chocolate teddies and sweets etc. I then wrap them all up, the small stuff goes in the stocking (with the tangerine and the obligatory goldens and handful of nuts, she always looks at me when she spies the tangerine and nuts.

I do themed boxes for my older 2, so that I have a few lovely sized boxes to wrap, which makes the pile look bigger.
Boxes of crap sweeties,(such as flying saucers, laces, shrimps)
Baking things (cute cupcake stuff, icing pens and loads of different varieties of sprinkles)
Joke things.
My Ds loves Barrs cream soda and I don't often buy fizzy drinks, so he was really pleased last year with a box filled with cans of cream soda.
This year so far, I am doing a frog themed one, junk sweets, coffee/hot chocolate ( with miniature liquors, marshmallows etc ) Pampering stuff.
DH has to go to the US next week, so I've given him instruction to buy loads of the horrible sweet breakfast cereals, so beloved of my DC's when we are visiting family. My DC's will be sadly pleased to open a present of breakfast cereal and they love it when my MIL sends them a huge parcel of the stuff.

Isn't it normal that toddlers will get bigger piles than teens as the things they want are bigger? I don't understand why they need piles equally big. Have you asked your eldest son what he would like?

I think the OP wants to keep the magic of FC alive for the little ones, and feels part of this is the fact everyone is seen to receive the same amount.

'He' does bring smaller, more expensive things for the older ones though - can't that be the explanation for any perceived unfairness?

Try boots for some presents, they have some nice gadgety type presents that would be perfect for a teenager, its 3 for 2 aswell

www.boots.com/en/Christmas/Gifts-for-him/Gadgets/

also try websites such as Hawkins Bazaar and Firebox

www.hawkin.com/36841-HBGADGETSMENS/gadgets/mens-gadgets/

www.firebox.com/

I do 'Bags of crap' type gifts but without the bags (may add a bag this year!) for my two dds - face wash / hairspray / toothbrush and paste / body spray etc - all stuff I'd be buying in the year anyway.

I still always get them chocolate coins etc and often 'a bottle of something' eg dd1 likes Pizza express salad dressing, dd2 likes grenadine for mixing into orange juice.

We got them vintage style coke glasses last year and a glass bottle of coke - basically things that are cheap but look good wrapped up!

Also - knickers, socks, tights, PJs.