Struggling for ideas on Xmas gifts for my 8 year old daughter

[Governoress86]

Just that really.

I am writing a gift list and so far all I have is a new phone and Nintendo labo for the switch and some Lego . Other than that I'm stumped.

What are people getting their 8 year-old

Talk about 1st world problems

I would be devastated if my child wanted a phone by 8 let alone 7.

Maybe use some of the so far unspent Christmas money on some fun days out or weekends away staying with family members they current require the phone for keeping in contact with?

If you can't think of anything your child would like and need to ask strangers online I think that suggests they likely have enough

We have days out with our daughter and we go and see family as well. I don't think my daughter having a phone is a problem . She is not on it constantly. She also has a kindle for reading as well. We only have the one child and I don't see why it is so bad to spend that much on her if we choose.

Our daughter appreciates everything she gets, she is well mannered and polite and knows that she can not have everything she wants. She also has her own goHenry card where her pocket money goes onto it and she manages her own money and she knows that once it is fine she can not have anymore until her pocket money date which is once a montg

I think as long as you aren't getting into debt for it, spending tonnes on your kids is fine! It is absolutely nobody else's business... BUT, you're asking anonymous people for suggestions and their opinions and they're giving them. What you've bought your daughter is more than what some people wi ll ever be able to afford, so it's gonna get on some people's tits.
Maybe instead of listin g what you've already bought, it would've been better to just ask for suggestions.

Oh, and op, have you thought about googling 'non-toy gifts '? So me good ideas about.

Is this a fucking wind up?

I would never dream of getting in to debt just for the sake of getting gifts or luxury items . I didn't mean for it to sound goady or anything.

I haven't even bought the items I have listed as I'm not starting gift buying until September when she is back at school.

I'm in the middle of finishing the xms eve boxes for my partner and daughter at the moment .

What do you mean NutElla5x

I don t actually find you 'goady' or whatever, although I read your op and cringed knowing the response you're going to get lol.
What are you putting in the Xmas Eve boxes? (I love doing them too)

Whatever you buy between now and the end of November will not be what she is actually wanting come the 1st week of December.

8 year olds are like that.

I just thought it was the norm for most 8 year olds to have phones these days.

Very unusual for them to have them at that age.

Most that I know get them just before going to secondary school.

Imo there are 3 main presents there.

Rather than rely on electronics maybe look at some more Montessori style toys to allow for open ended play / using imagination?

I have no issues with people spending money on their own children... quite the contrary.

I just find it odd asking strangers for advice - in life it's often the ones who don't feel the need to shout about it who actually had wealth and stability lol so this consumerist attitude where child has so much you can't possible think what to buy them just makes me laugh.

Sorry but the thread screams of attention seeking 'look what my daughter has' - Whatever brings you happiness but no child should need a phone for phoning family however many miles away they may live.

In the Xmas Eve boxe for DD I have

Xmas PJ's and slippers
Xmas movie
Festive bath bomb
Xmas story
Xmas blanket
Reindeer food
Gingerbread
Letter and certificate from santa
Santa's magic key
Colouring book and felts
Hot water bottle with cover
Plate and glass for milk and cookies for santa
Hot chocolate

For partner

Cigar
Whiskey minis
Fudges
Scratch card
PJ's
Xmas socks
Xmas mug
Hot chocolate
Festive coffee
Shower gel
Small gadget
Bottle of flavoured coffee syrup

It's only August for starters! Plus you've already got your child expensive presents and here you so worried that you are wanting people to help you suggest more,for a child they don't even know.Sounds like showing off to me.

Some clothes, goosebumps book set, playstation game and some stuff like writing pads, pens, some stuff from smiggle!

I agree it's a hard age to buy for, not into toys but not yet ready for teenage stuff!

Tbh regardless of what you can afford you are spoiling her, and the word spoiling is worth thinking about - you are not doing her any favours heaping excessive numbers of big presents on her. It will bite you in the end and she will struggle to be happy with what she can afford in her first job on a starter salary even if she doesn't turn into a horribly entitled pre teen or teen before that. But of course, it's up to you...

op your Xmas eve boxes sound lovely; even your fellas one sounds good! Where are you buying the Christmas themed stuff from already? Just out of interest.
On a previous thread, someone suggested instead of more 'stuff', put time into doing Christmas activities or starting some new traditions. I know you said you go out with your family anyway, but doing something that may seem insignificant to an adu lt can be memorable for a kid.

She has a phone and a Kindle, manages her own money on a GoHenry card at 8 years old ................ seriously, I agree with blueskies - whether you can afford it or not, receiving these sorts of expensive gifts at 8 will only lead to unrealistic expectations when she is a teenager ..... stop focusing on buying gifts and think of other ways to raise your child.

Have you set up a pension fund for her - that might be more useful in the long term.

It's early August and you're FINISHING Christmas Eve 'boxes'? Wow. I love Christmas but really? We've got all kinds of celebrations to look forward to first...

And I hate 'Christmas Eve boxes'. Like baby showers and wedding showers they're just another marketing ploy to get us all to spend money for grabby people. And if she's getting so much on CE surely it spoils the excitement and anticipation of Christmas Day? How long before we have Boxing Day boxes?

Your DD has got more than enough already. How about you donate some presents to those in need? Hospitals often collect for those children who will be inpatients over Christmas. They won't be starting those campaigns for a few months yet though.

That list sounds like a second like a whole Santa list rather than a Christmas Eve box.

All of that plus all the other things you have listed plus ideas for more is a hell of a lot of presents.

DD is an only, and comparatively speaking we’re fucking minted.

She gets about £20 worth of stuff for Xmas - a token gesture to a festival we don’t celebrate. We spend a lot making sure she has time with friends and family - most of whom are a couple of hundred miles away. We’re showing her the world, not spoiling her win a house full of plastic tat and electronic babysitters.

You’re doing nothing for her future wellbeing.

I feel bad for op

For the last time I haven't even bought the items and I may not, it's just a list at the moment, it's not a definite present it's just ideas at the moment.
The 3 that I have listed only one is going to be her main present. She will have clothes, books and crafty things.

We have put money aside for her for her future in a trust fund. We were out yesterday and she chose to give some of her money to charity. She knows that if we can't afford something she won't get it and she doesn't throw a tantrum or go Mardy. I'm not saying she is an angel because that's not true either but she knows and appreciates everything.

I get a lot of the festive stuff from firebox and geek/wish and eBay.

I love Xmas and start planning in August as all the birthdays are done with until my partners birthday 2 weeks before Xmas

Something to actually "do" on Xmas is missing, new board game, sewing kit, slime making kit.

It's a difficult age, my 2 are similar ages and don't actually play with toys anymore, but they do look for something new that will occupy them on Xmas day (and often it only gets an airing on that one day only )

Ah OP I love Xmas and like to plan early.

I personally don’t think what you have planned is excessive, as long as you can afford it. I would maybe get a couple of books and some crafty stuff, but nothing overly expensive.

Your Christmas Eve boxes sound lovely

My 10yo DD has had a phone for a year now as she likes to FaceTime her dad every night and occasionally texts her friends. I monitor her usage and limit her time spent on it. It’s pretty common around here for children 8+ to have a phone, whether it’s a parents old handset or a cheap pay as you go.

My DD is monitored on her phone aswell, she currently has got my old phone and its on its way out hence why I was thinking of buying her a new phone as I'm not due an upgrade for a while. She has a cheap basic contract SIM on my partners contract. she will be getting crafty stuff, she always gets a big bumper set of crafty items, pens pads that kind of thing

It is hard at her their age, I do a clear out of her stuff twice a year and it goes to charity shops, just so she hasn't got a lot of tat lying around.