sick of buying toys that don't get looked at twice, anyone else?

[rockshandy]

I don't know what it is with my kids. We spend around £300 on them each at Christmas, and that is because we tend to not really spend money on toys throughout the year.

But it feels like they don't have as many toys as other children, and when I try to figure out what they play with I draw a blank. Toys they are bought end up with pieces missing/dolls lose their clothes/games are broken.

They are 5 and 8 so not babies either.

We are thinking of this Christmas now and everything I look at I just think what a waste of money because it won't make it past January.

DD2 is better at keeping her stuff nice and tidying up after herself but DD1 is the messiest person I know and there is a lot of stress centred around losing things/messy rooms/being disorganised. She has never been one for playing with toys or independently amusing herself.

Does anyone else find this? How do you manage it? What kind of toys do you find last the longest? So far the only things in this house that have worked is playdoh and colouring stuff.

Maybe have a rethink. £300 is quite a lot to spend if you can't think of something specific to buy them e.g. a console. Ours are younger but my absolute limit is £100. I just don't think there's any point in more.

But yes I do find that. DS has some favourites that are very well played with that we have spent a lot of money on, but these wouldn't be applicable to your ages of children. That's why I've decided to not buy crap that won't get used for the sake of it because it's Christmas. Save the difference and if they want something big in the future put it towards it then?

I also ask for money for their accounts from close family rather than have clutter in the hope it will help them when they're older.

Could you do away with "stuff" altogether, and invest in "experiences" instead?
(Thus minimising yet more clutter piling up/ toys lying unused!).

Depending on their interests,

• "Adopt" (i.e. sponsor) an animal?

• Day at theme park/ sports stadium tour/ theatre workshop/ cooking school session/ indoor skydiving/ kids' annual pass to whatever?

• Tickets to a Panto or special pre-Xmas event?

And then a few inexpensive presents to unwrap on Xmas Day itself.

I genuinely think that what kids need most is space to play, not stuff to play with. But stemming the flow of junk into the house isn't easy.
We store toys by categories so all doll stuff goes in one box, all playmobil in another, etc, so generally stuff finds its way back eventually (if I make it happen; left to them it would be chaos)
My mum remembers having a toy box that held all the toys for 6 children (excluding one lovey each which lived on their beds). My 3 could probably fill that toy box 20 times over.
I find it so hard to persuade the kids to give up anything, or persuade the relatives not to add to the clutter. And then at Christmas I'm as bad because I'll buy them some stupid popular thing that they want, for the sake of the magic knowing full well it won't be played with.

We aren't buying toys this year because after a few days they all get put in the toy box and are never looked at again. How about bikes/scooters/consoles/day trips/holiday?

You're vastly over spending. £300 of toys each is excessive. Just buy what they actually really want not a load of tat.
My dds are 9 and don't really play with toys any more, does your 8 year old need 300 of toys.
I'd reduce budget to 100 and use the rest to do nice Xmas trios like pantomime, ice skating etc

I hear you, OP. DS asks for things then hardly plays with them. He really wanted the Playmobil police station last Christmas. That was his main present. He played with it on Christmas day and for a few days after and it's hardly been touched since. He wants the Ghostbusters Playmobil this Christmas but I'm reluctant in case he doesn't play with it, plus we live in a small flat so space is an issue.

The only things he really plays with (he's almost 7 btw) is Lego, which he has tons of, his Kindle, and he reads a lot. I'm really struggling to think of what to buy him this year. It's definitely going to be "less is more".

Just to add, it's not a sign of poverty if you don't buy mountains of toys.

I totally agree which is why I buy my (young) children very little at Christmas.

Perhaps easier said than done - I know I have trouble following my own advice here - but try not to compare what you're buying with how many toys other people buy their children.

A few well chosen toys (depending on your DC's interests) will be better than a mountain of toys bought just for the sake of it.

I think the pp's suggestion about getting experience type gifts is a good one.

Those ages and amount of money id get a trampoline and secondhand bikes.

My dc are 1 and 3 but I have ocem to realise toys are a massive waste of money! Hence why dc3 is getting new bed (mid sleeper with a slide tent ect!) And something for the garden for them both to stair (climbing frame or swings or slide or playhouse or electric car) and of course a toy of somesort each but not of great value because I've been there done that and ended up bagging all the expensive toys up that have never been touched and giving them to the charity shop! My children have much more fun with they toys that come fee with a magazine or in a kinder egg!

Sorry about all the typos

Pretty much all 5yr olds are messy. And all of them undress their dolls and inevitably lose some of the tiny plastic bits that come with them so I'd try not to worry too much about that. If your youngest doesn't actually play with the toys sounds like a waste of money. Would she prefer a bike, scooter? What does she enjoy doing?

It took me YEARS to get my head around this; to not buy mountains of stuff just so they had loads to open on Christmas morning. There was so much that most of it would get ignored as they were overwhelmed with the sheer volume of things.

It's only in the last few year that I've gone for quality over quantity and it really is the way forward.

Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read

I find is a very good rule.

rockin your post made me smile as I have an almost 6 year old Lego obsessed DS and the only other thing he has asked for for Christmas is the playmobil police station. I'm reluctant to buy it as think he probably won't play with it long term! And it looks big ...

Games are good - for family games nights. Daughter , 6 asked for junior monopoly. Last year we bought hungry hippos , connect 4 and operation. Also plays with them during the week when different kids come around that haven't got the same games at home. Oh, and headbands has got played with a lot.

I find craft stuff pretty good as it is used up. Last Christmas afternoon we were making Shrinkles, so it added to the fun of the day too.

I agree that your money would be better spent on experiences. However, you could tag something along with it, such as a new outfit to wear to a panto.

If there is a lot of stress for DD1 trying to get her stuff organised, look at storage for her room; even something like drawer dividers could help. There are lots of pretty boxes around as well.

For stocking presents, include things that are needed and consumable, comic, sweets, bubble bath, socks, hair clips/ribbons, felt tips/coloured pencils, small pack popcorn or mini biscuits.

It sounds as though your DC have so much stuff they are finding it hard to keep tidy and maybe they could have a big clear out of things they don't want or need any more before Christmas.

How about Lego related gifts for DS? There's another thread on that somewhere, maybe think about stuff for their rooms instead of toys, character duvet covers etc?

I would never allow a character duvet cover in my house
😨
But many kids do like them I remember my Paddington one!

Yes to pp about buying and wrapping things they need. Sellotape, playdoh, notepads, craft supplies, folders etc all come cheap and bulk up a stocking or tree pile.

I like red expats list.
Too many presents are overwhelming, however nice it is too see a big pile of gifts.

You need decent storage - my dd's have the ikea kallax in their room - each category of toy is in one box. Clothes are stored in boxes under the bed - one each home clothes and one each school uniform. Easy to access and put away themselves. Basket of knickers and pj's each abd basket of shared socks.

On a note of what to buy my dd's are 8 and 5 - I don't buy the 'in' toy I try and encourage things they use. Eg dd1 is into comics so would rather spend £15 on a graphic novel for her than £10 on a bargain set of books she won't read. Less clutter and actually gets used. I think you really need to look at their interests and buy according to that. And cut the budget or include some experiences in there. A ticket could be tied onto a helium balloon in a box to make it more exciting.

But generic gift wise here's a few ideas! both dd's love their amazon kindle fire and dd1 the nintendo 2ds. Wide range of games available. Trip to build a bear is popular, tent, sleeping bags for sleepovers, busy books, new clothes (my dd is desperate for mario vans)

rockin has you ds got the ghost busters lego? I'm sure they released the car and headquarters. :)