Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Flip

Original poster

Is this an awful idea for a Christmas present?

23 replies

theduchessstill · 17/09/2017 22:24

DC are 10 & 8. Every Christmas so far since they can remember has been a big pile of toys, games and books. Not massively expensive, but the kind of stuff that adds up. At mine (divorced) they have a second hand Wii that doesn't work that well and I can't buy new games for it. They both have a kindle as well.

I thought this year I would get a joint present of a new games console - not sure which one yet - and a new tv for the playroom as we only have one and it's getting a bit restrictive as they like watching different things.

This would mean just a stocking and maybe one or two other inexpensive gifts each under the tree. Ds1 never really wants much anyway but ds2 is already compiling a list of tat that will cost a bomb and not be played with all that much, so I'm not sure how this would go down - though I do know they would both love it and they don't think for a moment I would ever do it as I'm strict on screens.

Has anyone done similar? Is it a stupid idea and should I warn them in advance that things will be different this year - not sure how to do that without spoiling the surprise.

OP posts:

Chocolatecake12 · 17/09/2017 22:30

Sounds like a great idea and one that will at least be used and enjoyed for years rather than being a 5 minute wonder.
You can prepare them by saying that Father Christmas sometimes has different ideas of what they might like and that sometimes he brings surprises that we haven't asked for.

Isadora2007 · 18/09/2017 02:18

I think it's a fab idea and I'd also wrap some normal stuff you'd buy anyway so there are some extra gifts but not really extra spending. Like hair bobbles and toothbrushes and PJs and slipper socks. Maybe a few popcorn 🍿S from pound shop and some micro popcorn as a "night in at the cinema" gift plus some
Red and green balloons around so it feels like a busier room and the lesser amount of presents won't matter?

Ttbb · 18/09/2017 02:22

That's a terrible idea-do you really want to be one of those mothers complaining in five years time because her moody teenagers spend all of their time gaming? Just but a few inexpensive gifts-it is the thought that counts, not the gift itself, it is time your children learned that.

FreckledFrog · 18/09/2017 02:25

If you know they will love it go for it! You know them best. They won't mind less presents under the tree when it comes to opening the amazing gift x

Hmmalittlefishy · 18/09/2017 02:26

I think it sounds a great idea but would probably just do that and a stocking each (but I guess it depends what you normally have in there)
If they do really enjoy the Wii they are often for sale on Facebook selling pages with lots of games if you wanted to replace that and then get them a toy each plus stocking?

Shadow666 · 18/09/2017 02:28

I'm doing similar this year. My DC have an assortment of old broken iPhones and second hand iPod touches that are all dying. I suggested that they each get a new iPod touch for their Christmas and they were thrilled. They'll get a proper toy and money from the in laws, my parents always send clothes and sweets plus a stocking of tat and sweets from Santa. I think that will be plenty.

MyOtherProfile · 18/09/2017 02:31

Haha ttbb very good. You almost had me there.

Great idea OP. Think we are doing the same. Presumably they will get other stuff from their other parent?

MyOtherProfile · 18/09/2017 02:32

PS can you find out what their friends have? All my son's mates have an x box one so chat on it and join up for games.

Ginandplatonic · 18/09/2017 03:21

I second finding out what their friends have - mine really enjoy playing networked with their friends. And look out for special offers where they come bundled with games - which you can wrap up to pad out their gifts.

Brittbugs80 · 18/09/2017 05:55

We did this as we were in a similar situation. Instead, he got a console then some smaller presents which I followed the something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read.

He actually appreciated everything a lot more and because he wasn't overwhelmed, everything is still played with.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 18/09/2017 05:59

Can you push the list of tat in the direction of exh?

Brittbugs80 · 18/09/2017 06:02

Oh be quiet. A console and TV isn't going to ruin her children. As far as I'm aware, teenagers are moody regardless of consoles.

It's this canny thing called parents ting whereby she actually tells them when they can and can't plays and her children listen.

My 9 year old plays on his on a Sunday morning for two hours. It's his relaxation at before his busy week starts again, without it, he would still turn into a teenager and be moody.

Brittbugs80 · 18/09/2017 06:03

*parenting not parents ting...

LuckySpider · 18/09/2017 06:36

That's a terrible idea-do you really want to be one of those mothers complaining in five years time because her moody teenagers spend all of their time gaming?

I have a Ds1 (14) and Ds2 (11) and they have a wii, xbox360 and an xbox one plus steam on the pc (gaming platform.) This is their reward for their continued amazing school reports and commitment to study. They have amassed these consoles over a decade. They have their own tv in their playroom which the xbox stuff is attached to.

They are aware of the rules surrounding gaming in our house and happily came off gaming today to watch the end of Romeo and Juliet (Ds1 is studying it for GCSE) they very rarely complain about coming off. They are helpful in the kitchen preparing lunch or unpacking a dishwasher despite me being a SAHM. So it is a sweeping statement to say they will game till their eyes bleed.

OP I think your idea of Christmas is lovely, just research what games you can buy on the console. Xbox one is very much geared toward older players. Look at Playstation as a comparison. Look at what games they can play together on a split screen rather than taking turns.

SpiritedLondon · 18/09/2017 08:19

With regards the wish list I would just direct it to the ex h or to any grandmas etc who are looking for ideas... I'm always grateful when my siblings tell me exactly what my nieces / nephews want because it saves my poor brain and they don't end up with an unwanted gift cluttering up the place

scrabbler3 · 18/09/2017 12:37

Sounds sensible to me.

MummysMaison · 18/09/2017 12:41

I'm doing the same with my DDs 9 & 11. Getting them a PS4. I actually bought it on Prime Friday (Amazon) and got the console, 2 games and an extra controller for £174!! Half Price!! Woo!

Allthebestnamesareused · 18/09/2017 12:47

Absolutely, as they get older the pile gets smaller (but the bill gets bigger)!

Dumbledoresgirl · 18/09/2017 12:53

We did this once. All 4 children shared the gift of a Wii. I think we gave them each one small additional present and passed any lists they had on to family. They were thrilled as we were not keen on electronic games at the time and they had not had anything like it before. That said, the enthusiasm lasted about 3 months and it then became like any other toy, something played with only very occasionally. The trouble with games consoles (or anything electronic) is that they seem to go out of date so quickly.

lynmilne65 · 18/09/2017 12:59

It's not a terrible idea and teenagers are what they are, I had 2 devils and an angel

Badders08 · 18/09/2017 13:01

I think it's a good idea.
I've just got ds2 a Nintendo switch from very.com as a "new" customer so got £58 off and can pay over 3 months interest free 👍

1stTimeMama · 18/09/2017 14:19

@theduchessstill If you want a working Wii, I have one that I need to part with.

ACurlyWurly · 18/09/2017 14:56

I still remember the year that the 4 of us got a Sinclair Spectrum! it is all we had under the tree with a stocking each as normal One big gift for us to open and then we all had a choice 'lucky dip' of another gift each and had 4 games. Shared well, played well, loved it!

Flip