What did you get for DCs if you didn't get them a tablet/kindle/ipod/gadget ??

[Demolicious]

Just had fabulous Christmas and Boxing Day, lots of food/games/family. Nieces and nephews aged 6 to 11 got given the above from their parents, mainly to stop DCs running their parent's phone/ipad batteries down. We didn't get these for ours, mainly because we already have laptops in the house, DH's ipad, xbox, ipod, etc, which are used by everyone, and because there were other things on their list. We did suggest kindles but they said they didn't really need one because even though they read alot, kindles aren't allowed in school and hence they couldn't put reading books on there and take to school. They don't mind carrying books around.

Just wondering what else people bought for their 10-13 year olds ? DCs are fine, it's just me, I am feeling really awful right now and feeling like a terrible parent.

Mine didn't get them either. However they instead of a main present from us they each had £50 and then other money from GP's/relatives and hopefully once the shops are stocked with Ipads again they'll be buying one each :)

We don't do big electronic things as gifts. We prefer ours to save for them so they really appreciate them once they have them. Hence they look after their lappies/ipods/phones unlike some of their friends as they know how much they cost and the fact they won't be replaced if they lose them/want the next 'latest' thing.

My 10 yr old ds had a football goal for the garden, new football boots, football strip (sensing a theme here?), books, electronics kit type things, our town's Monopoly, Cluedo....
My 10 years old niece had an electric guitar as her main present.
It's quite easy to not do the kindle/console thing if they have other interests

As much as my dd (10) would have loved an ipad, we discussed it and explained that if we'd bought one it would be a shared present and because of the cost it would have been her only present (from us)

She chose to have smaller presents and seemed quite happy with all the clothes she got - she's v fashion-conscious!

Ds is 6 and isn't really old enough to want one, although he does use the Wii a lot (which we've had for years) and is happy with his Skylanders games.

I do feel a bit bad when I hear dd telling me how many of her friends have iPads etc but then plenty don't as well. When we're ready to get one it'll be a family item and hopefully she'll appreciate the cost and the fact that we've had to save up.

9 yr old dgd got a dolls house her 13 yr old sister got clothes (and a Blackberry) but my triumph was dgs aged 15 to whom we gave a plastic cube with a slot for money. It could only be opened by moving a ball bearing round a maze to release the catch. He said it was his absolute favourite present and took him ages to work. We kept putting small coins eg 20p Ito it so he could practise. He carried on just for fun when no one coughed up more money.

Should have said we gave it with a 20 pound note inside :-)

I think there are lots of more interesting gifts than a tablet, kindle etc. I'd rather pay for a sports course, buy games, art stuff, sports stuff, lego, books etc than encourage my DC to sit in front of a computer playing mindless games.

Mine got a TV as hers was broken (suddenly started playing in black and white a few months ago and she's put up with it til then.

For her birthday she wants her Dad to wire in an aerial as she can only use it at the moment as a DVD player (as with her sister's TV). She's enjoying watching a marathon of Red Dwarf DVDs this hol so far.

13 yr old got a digital slr camera. And an electronics set. And a book of paper aeroplane patterns.

11 year old got cycling clothes, books about team sky and signed photo of Bradley Wiggins. 9 year old had clothes, Lego and a hair dryer and 8 year old had domino race and hex bugs. Ours have access to family iPad and eldest has touch but I don't believe they 'need' their own at this age.

DD1 is nearly 15 and she got a game for her wii and a dvd boxset.

DD2 is 11 and got tickets to see JLS, next December

DD 15 got a dress which i had to order from US, tickets for All TIme Low or something like that, a lego Hogwarts Express train plus lots of stocking fillers.

DS 17 got expensive aftershave, clothes from All Saints and jumper from River Island, Neocube (huge success) plus quite a few stocking fillers.

I did comment to DH how not one of any of the presents we bought this year didnt need batteries

17 yr old- Xbox games and clothes
14 yr old- cupcake maker, DVDs and clothes
12- year old Xbox games and a footie shirt.

Despite being a fairly techy family we rarely buy individual things like that for the DC - we tend to have family ones and share (partly because we can't afford it anyway and partly because I do think they're too expensive for a child to 'own' iyswim) My three got the Wii U as a shared present, then individual things like books, crafty stuff, smellies whatever.

ds2, about to turn 12 got a scalextric or however it's spelt. It does plug in I suppose, but it's to play with someone else. He's delighted with it.

My 11 year old dd didn't get anything electronic either. She had clothes, a cd, a new school bag, books, nail varnish, a journal, cartridges for her fountain pen, and a money box.

Forgot to say that she does already have a netbook for homework and a Nintendo DS ) secondhand).

DD(just turned 9) would have loved an Ipad or Ipod Touch, but neither was realistic due to cost and also because I don' think a 9yr old really needs them.... However, I did buy her a DS when she was 6 so I may just be lying to myself to make myself feel better as I know we can't afford them just not ..

She got for her birthday and Christmas:

Air hockey table
Remote Control Helicopter
Lava Lamp
Sylvanian House stuff
Cds
Paints
Puzzles

She seemed very happy although she did know she wasn't going to get Ipad or Ipod Touch so wasn't disappointed.

my older two have access to a wii, ds, ipad, tablet and netbooks & dd1 has a kindle ... so I have no objections to electronic gifts but they have plenty of other interests :)

This year ds1 who is 6 got loads of Lego, books, dinosaur figures & a Lego game for the wii. dd1 (12) got drawing stuff, a huge pile of books (fiction, craft & cooking), a reading light & some money which she immediately spent on more books for her kindle! My brother & SIL gave her a ds game.

Dd got a telescope a guitar an iPod dock and various toys, she already has an iPad and wouldn't want a kindle

Cash & Warhammer. I am trying to convince the 11yo to convert her cash into an iPod, but she's uninterested.

It's great to hear that we are not alone. DH and I felt a bit in the minority at our family get together when kids were opening their pressies. I agree with most of you that some of things need to be saved up for even if they can be afforded in one hit, just so that kids appreciate the value.

DD (8.5) has access to my iPad and doesn't seem bothered about having her own gadgets. I did consider a Kindle Fire when I first heard about them, and separately thought about an Xbox Kinect for her and her sister (6) to share as a main present because they love my parents' one, but in the end I opted for the usual mountain of smaller presents under the tree approach. DD1 got craft kits (Blingles, charm bracelets etc), Lalaloopsies for her collection, Brave DVD, a Leapfrog globe, Sylvanians and various other bits and bobs. I'd consider a Kindle Fire for her 9th birthday if the price drops by then but I'd find it a bit sad not to buy her other bits and pieces as well!

Ds game 9
Lego 8
My little ponies 6
Gup x 3

10 year old Dcs did get a new joystick for his Xbox, but also clothes, books, a CD, a nerf gun, a pin art game and puzzles. No phone,iPad, iPod .