I'm having THAT panic...the presents don't look much!

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Ok,so I've got all ds presents.30 in total including a giant trike (he's 14) yet because most of the presents are smallish size wise (dvds,games etc) it doesn't look like much when you consider the trike is far too big to go under or near the tree.

Stop me panic buying too much

[SunshineAndPeardrops]

What was the name of the programme that Myleene Klass was on? It was mentioned upthread.

[Marne]

I have just spent ages sorting out the dd's presents, putting them into piles to see how big their piles look and if they look the same, they have around 20 presents each, dd2's pile looks much bigger ( due to plastic tat in big boxes) but both piles still look like plenty , they both have the main things they have asked for but not everything on their lists as dd1 asked for 5 ds games (have got her one and a gameboy game ), I'm sure they will be very happy with what they have got.

[dumdedah]

The Works have 2 for 10 pounds on large storage boxes. Could get a couple (in style that he likes), fill with tissue paper with the small gift/s sitting on top - maybe DVDs in one box, games in the other... Could even individually wrap the DVDs etc if you think he'd like that.

[LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood]

My 3 DCs are NT but I still get the worry that the presents might disappoint. I'm like you OP. I buy loads for my DCs. As much as I can afford without getting into debt. They are not spoiled. They are always grateful and, yes, even with a huge pile, the older 2 ( youngest is only 2) will remember what they have. Although 30 presents sounds a good amount I can sympathise that bit might not look a huge pile.

As you say your DS remembers what presents are wrapped in I wondered if you could do what I sometimes do and make a 'thing' of the wrapping - have little gifts like chocolate coins inside the outer layer of a double wrapped parcel. Maybe cellophane on outside so you can see the coins under the top layer. That looks great. And stick chocolate tree decoration on another like a gift tag. And buy a box of tiny tree crackers and adorn some of the presents with these. Also use gift boxes and bags. It will all look special, more impressive and take longer to open.

If you are wanting one more big impact item ( but I might let you have 2) what about a large torch, a big soft blanket for lounging or a giant jigsaw you can do together. Or a popcorn making machine - you mention watching films together.

Have a great Christmas.

[VworpVworp]

Ha- Marne- my DD is exactly the same with clothes as presents!

She's not over-enamoured by books for presents either, though she reads dozens a month

[Marne]

Both my dd's remember what they had last year .

[Marne]

Have some people missed the post that states he is autistic?

I don't know about the op's ds but I know with my dd's ( who are autistic ) each present has to have a 'wow' factor ,getting a reaction from a autistic child can be hard. If my dd opened a dressing gown she would just chuck it on the floor, it's not that she's ungrateful ( she would probably wear the dressing gown every day ) but to get any kind of reaction from her the items have to be linked to something she really really likes ( pokemon, moshi monsters or music ), I wouldn't waste my time wrapping up items such as dressing gowns, clothes, pj's or pants because it would be a waste of time. I know that makes it sound like our kids our ungrateful but really they are not, a nt teenager can manage to open a present and say ' oh, thank you very much, that's just what I wanted' even if its something they don't really like or something that does not excite them, but our kids can't lie .

I buy quite a lot for my dd's, each item is thought out ( will they like it, will it get used and will they smile when they open it?) and I buy a lot so I get to see them smile, jump and flap as there are not many things that make them this excited.

Op, I hope you have a fab Christmas, I'm sure he will love his trike and anything else you buy him but don't feel the need to buy him extra as chances are he won't be too bothered by such items, buy him what he has asked for or shown interest in.

[LaRegina]

Yep new dressing gowns are a brilliant pile plumper - as are beanbags

[lostdomain]

Triptrap, 30 presents is LOADS. How many will he get you? Don't set the bar so high. Wrap the trike in fairy lights and stick it under the tree with the lights switched on if you can. Put some presents in a stocking. Put some on the tree, put any bulky ones under the tree. Maybe it's better to have them spaced out through the day than a giant pile under the tree. he's 14. he's old enough to appreciate what you give him without you going over the top.

If you have to buy something else, get stuff he needs anyway: nice jumper, gloves, PJs etc.

I'm bulking out presents with stuff they were going to get anyway: new dressing gowns, fluffy blankets,sports gear, music gear. Stuff they actually need. But it helps fill up the smaller pile of stuff they want (CDs, DVDs, books, cheap smart phone.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

that your DS remembers everything!

[NoseWiperExtraordinaire]

x post spooked - great idea!

[Golddigger]

ooh, nice x posts!

[Golddigger]

Just to remind people that her son is severely autistic.

Triptrap. Perhaps you could fill up the gaps with some decorations of some sort? [I am no good with decorations so someone else will have better ideas than me].

[NoseWiperExtraordinaire]

Don't know if this is possible for you, but could you get some tiny polystyrene balls (stuffing from an old toy/cushion?) and fill a big box with the smaller presents to make a kind of snowy lucky dip? Wrap the whole thing up?

Am thinking of doing something similar as one of our cushioned trays burst yesterday!

[SpookedMackerel]

Can't you wrap huge box - maybe with bicycle/tricycle paper if you can find it. And then in the box put a big picture of where you are going to hide the trike - maybe a picture of the corner of the garage door, or the wood grain on the shed door or wherever. And maybe a big arrow if necessary, to tell him he needs to go there to find it?

[jester68]

I thought the same thing at first as my 7 year old is having a bike but her other presents are things like DS games, DVDs, CDs etc which are all smaller.

But my 3 year old seems to have big boxes even though money wise I have spent less on her.

But wrapped them all up now and to be honest it doesn't matter as my eldest is getting what she would like and she already understands that her presents might be smaller as they are into different things.

They have about 20 presents each to open (though we don't do stockings).

I wouldn't worry and at 14 would have thought your son would understand the value of things and know that some of his things are small but that they are still expensive

[LaRegina]

Trip I wasn't having a dig btw - I was just genuinely saying with 30 you don't need to worry! I buy what many would probably consider too much for my DC at Christmas but I don't get into debt to do it and I don't buy tat - it's all stuff they will use (mostly!). And I don't buy them stuff all year apart from necessities - any other toys/games they want, they save up for. So Christmas is our one big blow out and I love it

[LaRegina]

Present piles always look smaller as the DC get older - my youngest is getting big (sized) toys whereas my teen is getting mainly dvds & video games, so they look a bit duff in comparison. My solution is that I have one big mixed up pile around the tree so the DC have the search through for their presents & nobody can tell who's pile is the biggest - and I disguise my teen's small things by putting them in big boxes - it's more fun that way anyway

Although I have to say 30 does sound like a big pile anyway - are you including tiny stocking stuff in the 30?

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

He remembers everything,even the paper it was wrapped in

Dig all you like,I can afford to buy what I buy him and I love buying presents,even the bizarre random ones!We don't have family etc and due to being with him every second when he's not at school and playing with him every second,the only things that make Christmas any different from a normal day is the presents (and opening and playing with NEW things),the turkey and the music we listen to and films we watch.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

Incan see some people were sold on the American movies Huge Christmas trees, piles of presents. I'd like to know if your DC remember the next year what they got.

[BeaWheesht]

Well you know you're being ridiculous and I know you're being ridiculous but I totally understand because I had a similar panic re ds (7) so I admit I've bought him a couple of books to bulk it out but he adores a book so it's money well spent I keep telling myself

I agree re the kids who get nothing though, just too horrible, I've donated quite a few gifts this year to the local collection but it just feels like a drop in the ocean.

[merryxmasyafilthyanimal]

Only 30? Poor show OP!

Not really. It sounds far, far too many,