Presents for DC who don’t need anything

[ThomasRichard]

My DC are 8 and 6. They want for nothing, have so much Lego that it’s becoming a nuisance and stacks and stacks of books. I don’t know what to tell family members when they ask what to get. They don’t need anything and it seems mad that I’m wracking my brains to think of more things they don’t need. I know they’re young enough that receiving presents is still magical and don’t want them to miss out but it feels so wasteful. Any ideas of what I could suggest to well-meaning relatives?

Consumables? Ie, craft stuff, bubble bath, treat snacks, magazine subscription? Character dressing gown/ towel? Exciting cereal bowl/ mug set?

Bubble bath is a good one. I shall suggest bath bombs to my grandma.

My husband was away last week. He bought 2 of those hex bug beetle things for 12 and 7 year old DS. The 7 year old is delighted beyond belief

Oh they’re cool. Thanks!

Suggest a small gift and the cash to go into an account- involve the children so they know they have the money and the account. They could also have some money put onto a go henry card.

Books. Clothes. Promises of a trip somewhere they’d really like (Legoland/a climbing wall/a pantomime/ Go Ape/up the London Monument etc!)

Our families just buy something small & put it cash in their accounts.

In terms of buying for them what about a few pressies & an experience it trip away.

I could have written this post, OP and my children are similar ages. I suggest to family members

Consumables ( as others have mentioned) - chocolates, sweets, bath bombs.

Craft items - they normally get forgotten about in the excitement of Christmas, so I put them away and give them to the children on long car journeys or other occasions when they are likely to be bored.

Useful items - new lunch box, drinks bottle, umbrella, favourite character pjs.

Tickets - cinema, zoo, soft play.

Books
Board games
Tickets for a day out or an annual membership
Magazine subscription
Clothes or something for a hobby
Chemistry set
DVD
Audiobooks if they have access to an iPod or stereo system

I second a magazine subscription. My 8yo got the Phoenix last year and he has requested it again and they could share it?

He mostly got money last year to save up to buy a switch but also spent some on a Pac-Man bed side light that you can change the colour of. He was completely unbothered by a lack of presents and over the moon with money in his account!

If either of them are into coding, a subscription to a learn to code site is also great?

How about cinema vouchers or a theatre trip, trip to the zoo. Magazine subscription. Quad biking or laser zone. Clothes?

Cinema vouchers
Sponsor an animal
Subscription to National Geographic Kids

Subscriptions for magazines, a national trust membership, a membership to local zoo, etc

Another vote for phoenix magazine for your older one. It's fab.
My 6 yr old still loves Storybox magazine but I think he's getting a bit big for it. It's great too though. The next one up is called Adventure Box but he's not ready to swap.
Mine love shaped bath bombs from Lush. Ds got a fab spaceship one that took ages to dissolve and gave out loads of different colours.
Posters for their bedroom wall?
Ds is getting an apron and some muffin tins because he loves baking.
Sweets, character socks, that sort of thing.

We got a great book last year called something like "Destroy this book in the name of science". You had to cut the book up and use the pages for experiments so by the end there was no book left.

Nice notepaper? Then you can use it for thank you letters

Now i am on a roll! Make me stop!

This fire bowl is the most used present we have ever had. I know it's a thing they don't need but we all love it. Ours has a pan that goes on top and the kids often go outside and fry their own eggs for lunch.

consciouscraft.uk/products/fire-bowl

Tagging along on this thread as I need ideas for my 8 and 6 year olds! I'm trying to reduce the amount of tat and unused toys this year!

F

Watching.
We had the added complication it all has to come back in an aeroplane. I love the look of that fire bowl, but think it's not going to meet my weight requirements
Mine are asking for a nintendo switch, we are tempted by to share.

Watching too

Vouchers for favourite theme park. Subscription to Aquila or the Beano. Also tell your relatives to look in charity shops instead of buying new. As well as getting games etc for very little money, they may also come across really quirky bits and pieces that DC love.

Flint for starting fires, good penknife

Do they have Kapla bricks? It’s used more than Lego in the house.

Annual pass for local attraction?

My 9 year old just told me he doesn’t need or want anything. Whilst I’m really proud of him for his attitude, it’s really unhelpful to the relatives who desperately want to buy him something! Loving the look of the fire bowl though!