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Christmas

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

Original poster

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

83 replies

Governoress86 · 08/08/2018 19:04

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

OP posts:
blueskiesandforests · 10/08/2018 09:41

I'm not sure it needs to be hard at 8, there are no prizes for or benefit in growing up too fast. The metal detector sounds a good idea perhaps with a book on identifying finds, as does the telescope with a book on star spotting, but not both for the same Christmas - both are "main" presents, so one for Christmas, one for birthday. All my kids have very much still been kids and played with toys at 8, which IMO is how it should be. 8 is incredibly little, childhood is short enough as it is.

MarthasGinYard · 10/08/2018 09:50

I think it's an easy age

Not into expensive gadgets

Expensive fashion etc

Still delighted with bits and bobs

I'm shocked how many of you plan so early and have lists in August let alone Xmas eve boxes planned Shock

flowercrow · 10/08/2018 17:30

Does someone make you a Christmas eve box, OP? You are being so thoughtful I hate to think of you missing out!

Original poster
Governoress86 · 10/08/2018 18:02

I think my partner is doing me one this year. I'm not too bothered if I don't get one, I would rather give gifts than receive.

I'm gonna be making my daughter and partner and dog an advent calendar. I crochet and knit so I'm kind of thinking of crocheting little santa sacks and mini stockings with 24 numbers on them and hang them on the wall.
I'm going to put a mixture of mini whiskeys in each of my partners. I'm unsure what to put in my daughter's as I don't want it to be just chocolate, and for my dog you can buy festive dog chocolate and biscuits treats.

OP posts:
vanillasky1001 · 10/08/2018 18:04

Don’t mean to be rude. But you’re crocheting your dog an advent calendar? Hmm

Original poster
Governoress86 · 10/08/2018 18:15

What's wrong with that? My dog is apart of my family. She also gets Xmas gifts aswell of me, she gets a new toy, fleece blanket, maybe a new collar if she needs one, a new brush, and a doggy stocking with treats in.

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flowercrow · 10/08/2018 18:16

that is so cute crocheting an advent calendar for your dog. You could sell them!
I love my dogs but friends give them a couple of things to unwrap so I don;t bother. Plus one of them gets overexcited at the slightest thing so I try not to encourage her!
I love that you go all out though.

Ooforfoxsakeridesagain · 10/08/2018 18:18

I think you sound absolutely lovely OP. You don’t need to justify anything.

Metal detector and telescope are great. I can’t help but wonder if you’ll peak too soon and run out of ideas for the next few years though? (I held off TVs in bedrooms until 16, mainly planning ahead).

If she likes chucking herself around, a foldable crash mat which can be stored under a sofa has gone down well here.

Tickets for a show or cinema gift card
You could combine with a selection of gift cards and make a day out (costa, cinema, pizza express)
Adopt an animal (often comes with a soft toy which you can wrap).

Your lists are excessive. I absolutely love it! I LOVE doing all this stuff!

I could almost believe in Santa come Xmas Eve (as I fall exhausted into a bucket of Baileys) 😄

Original poster
Governoress86 · 10/08/2018 18:34

I have decided to go for a metal detector as I will be getting her dad one for Xmas as well, so they can do that together as a hobby.

She loves crafty stuff as well and I have been trying to teach her how to crochet so I might get her her own crochet kit.

Last year she wanted the sew cool sewing machine which we got her and she absolutely loved it. She made little pillows and blankets for her dolls house.

OP posts:
Original poster
Governoress86 · 10/08/2018 18:35

She already adopts 3 animals, however she has been banging on about adopting another one, I didn't even think of doing that as a gift. Thank you for that idea.

OP posts:
LizB62A · 10/08/2018 18:47

IMO that's far too much for an 8 year old, and your DP is getting more for just Christmas Eve than I get for Christmas and birthday combined.

You're spoiling them, and I don't mean that as a compliment.....

TittyGolightly · 10/08/2018 19:02

OP, I mean this kindly, but are there not better ways to spend your time? Charities here make a lot of money off crocheted things (they have people crocheting Santas and snowmen all year round). You don’t need to spend all of your time thinking about what you can buy and justifying it by saying it’s for other people. Might be worth getting your mental health in check. You’re also potentiapppy vulnerable being unmarried. Might be worth doing something about that.

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 10/08/2018 19:06

Another idea if she likes arts and crafts. I made an art trolley for dds using a trolley from Ikea. Loads of ideas on Pinterest/Google.

For my dds advent calendar I have bought a bundle of shopkins so they will have one each per day. :)

Original poster
Governoress86 · 10/08/2018 19:29

How do you know I'm not married?

I do have mental health issues PTSD an anxiety, panic attacks and ocd. However I don't see how that has anything to do with me planning my Xmas ? Crocheting and knitting helps with my mental health.

OP posts:
TittyGolightly · 10/08/2018 19:43

How do you know I'm not married?

Liberal use of “partner”.

I do have mental health issues PTSD an anxiety, panic attacks and ocd. However I don't see how that has anything to do with me planning my Xmas ? Crocheting and knitting helps with my mental health.

You’re not crocheting and knitting telescopes and mobile phones though, are you.

It just sounds as though you’re focusing on xmas and making it a massive thing to avoid dealing with something else. This risks your DD’s future mental health in a massive way.

MarthasGinYard · 10/08/2018 19:49

'I do have mental health issues PTSD an anxiety, panic attacks and ocd. However I don't see how that has anything to do with me planning my Xmas ? '

If you live with all of the above then I wonder how it couldn't?

Original poster
Governoress86 · 10/08/2018 19:49

I don't know how not being married makes me vulnerable, I have been with my partner for 10 years although known each other for 20 years. Basically what your saying is that I can't cope without being married. I'm not definitely buying my daughter those things they were ideas .

I don't know how you can assume it may have an impact in the future on my daughter's mental health as she doesn't have a clue I'm planning Xmas.

I thought this was the Xmas board, yet I'm being criticized about my mental health and vulnerability due to me not being married.

OP posts:
TittyGolightly · 10/08/2018 20:12

I don't know how not being married makes me vulnerable, I have been with my partner for 10 years although known each other for 20 years. Basically what your saying is that I can't cope without being married.

You’re legally and financially vulnerable if you don’t work and aren’t married. It’s a statement of fact, not a judgement.

I’m offering an outside perspective. Going absolutely bonkers about xmas is one thing but doing it when you haven’t got the foundations of security sorted (unless you’re a billionaire who is keeping your partner) isn’t looking after your daughter’s best interests.

Security is more important to a child than phones and crocheted advent calendars for dogs.

Original poster
Governoress86 · 10/08/2018 20:24

My daughter has security thank you and I am financially stable. Just because I have mental health issues doesn't mean I don't work, my partner also wprks. Me and my partner put our child first and we don't need a bit of paper for security. There is a lot of love in our family.

So what if I love Xmas and start planning in August . I prefer to make advent calendars and stockings myself rather than paying the odds over them . I crochet and knit as a hobby and if I chose to crochet advent calendars and what not doesn't not mean I'm not financially stable.

I would never dream of judging anyone on what they do for xmas or how much they spend on their child or make assumptions when I don't know that person.

OP posts:
TittyGolightly · 10/08/2018 20:34

Me and my partner put our child first and we don't need a bit of paper for security. There is a lot of love in our family.

Thousands of posts on here from women who thought that and then found out that without that bit of paper they were sunk.

MarthasGinYard · 10/08/2018 20:35

You seem to need an endless list of 'things' to give Though

SockEatingMonster · 10/08/2018 20:52

Titty this is the Christmas section. I know it’s poor etiquette to search people’s usernames, but for someone who, by her own admission, dislikes Christmas and does not do it, you do seem particularly drawn to the Christmas threads.

We may not agree with the OP, but this is not AIBU and nothing she has said suggests her or her child are in imminent need of an intervention.

Flipflop789 · 10/08/2018 20:54

Wow this thread escalated quickly Confused

Ooforfoxsakeridesagain · 10/08/2018 21:07

Christ-on-a-bike what the fuck is wrong with people on MN these days?

The OP is making A LIST FGS.

She’s asked for ideas.

I treat Christmas as a bit of a hobby, a distraction, coming up with ideas of how I’m going to treat my loved ones and make them feel special. Some of us like this sparkles shit. I’ve usually booked our Xmas show by now, and I’m thinking lists.

Won’t be asking you lot for advice though.

Original poster
Governoress86 · 10/08/2018 21:11

I totally agree with you ooforfoxsakesridesagain.

I don't understand, this is a Xmas thread, I mean yh I'm probably a bit excessive but it's once a year and I think if you can afford it so be it.

I don't think I will be asking or making a thread again either.

OP posts: