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Christmas

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Original poster

Impressive gift for ds 10?

102 replies

Eatshootsandleaves82 · 08/11/2019 17:35

Dd is 3 and her things look so much more fun and much bigger. In size. Not in cost.

Ds has:
Fleece Disney stitch blanket
Stitch plush
Two audio story CDs
Rugby ball
Spring back cricket wickets
Cricket gloves
Magnetic dartboard
Jelly bean dispenser and big tub of jelly beans
Dinosaur fossil (main gift, £150, it’s what he’s asked for - collects them).
Couple of DVDs
Couple of games.

He’s got a stocking too.

But put it together and it looks a bit meh. He doesn’t like reading much. He has a PlayStation he doesn’t use and an iPad which he uses all the time. He has a camera. He doesn’t like Lego or anything like that. He doesn’t like clothes. I’m at a loss. I know it’s plenty really but put it next to dd’s brightly coloured pile of gifts and it looks a bit uninspiring.

OP posts:
Grobagsforever · 09/11/2019 08:30

Seriously, after ALL the climate change education this year is no one embracing 'reuse, recycle, repair'? This is our children's future, they'll not thank us for filling the ocean with more plastic so they can have 'piles' at Christmas.

Mumsnet is generally a fairly intelligent place but this thread has left me baffled.

I have DD's 5 and 9. They'll get a small stocking of non-plastic stuff they need e.g socks, stationary for school, clothes. And one reasonable main gift each, costing no more than 50 quid a head. The day will be magical as we'll be together and share a nice meal. The DD's don't exchange gifts between them, they choose a charity to donate to instead.

I'm honestly not trying to virtue signal etc. I just don't understand why intelligent people still don't get that the planet is dying and our last hope is to educate our kids!

Tigerty · 09/11/2019 08:37

Do your DDs get presents to open from friends and family too Grobags?

Floralnomad · 09/11/2019 08:52

The OP has not , as yet , bought an excessive amount the issue is just buying for the sake of buying to make a huge pile .

Justonemoremojito · 09/11/2019 08:54

My 7 year old is having a computer game & a tv for his room, where as his sister's will look a lot more but he gets it some stuff costs more than others

Grobagsforever · 09/11/2019 08:56

@Tigerty - unfortunately my parents in law get them a huge pile of plastic tat and will not listen to reason. They get small sustainable gifts from my sister as she runs a zero waste business. Small gifts from my mum and a couple of friends.

They are far from neglected, we're just off out to see a Horrible Histories exhibition and have a nice lunch, we just don't do piles of gifts :)

PutYourBackIntoit · 09/11/2019 08:58

Same here Grobags. We limit to £50 a head and a stocking. This kids understand this and frankly they do not need or want more. For £50 we always get them 3 gifts.
The magic for us is around time together, playing games, watching films, eating together. Santa usually leaves them clues as to where to find their stocking.

To say this list of items would be seen as small in some homes is really quite sad. Think about the pressure you have inadvertently created upon yourselves and your children when they have families of their own.

morningdread · 09/11/2019 09:00

I find it odd when people say it's normal to spend x or have a large pile. To me he sounds like he has plenty, what's the point of buying more that may be needed or wanted just to increase the pile?

DogsandBoysmeanMud · 09/11/2019 09:02

Best lesson my DS learnt when he was about 5/6 was that smaller presents can be MUCH more exciting and good than bigger gifts.

Eg DS2 aged 4 got a camera that came in a relatively large box compared to DS1 who got a handheld Sony game thingy (it was over 10 yrs ago)

He was complaining that his was too
Small but so delighted when he opened it as he wasn't expecting it at all!!

They both (15&16) still talk about it!! It's a life lesson.

NotYourHolidayDick · 09/11/2019 09:03

I have DD's 5 and 9. They'll get a small stocking of non-plastic stuff they need e.g socks, stationary for school, clothes. And one reasonable main gift each, costing no more than 50 quid a head. The day will be magical as we'll be together and share a nice meal. The DD's don't exchange gifts between them, they choose a charity to donate to instead.

Fuck me. My Christmas spirit almost shrivelled up and died Grin
We spend time together and eat together every day. And with the extended family regularly. That in itself is nothing magical!

OP we have whacking great vulgar Christmas piles and I don't give a shiny shite.

How about a segway? That was a massive hit with my 10 year old last year.
He also loved his scooter and ramp set. Other hits have been the trampoline, and a pet lobster (who is absolutely wicked, we love him!) Fish tanks also look ace in a bedroom, and look good under the tree!

morningdread · 09/11/2019 09:03

The magic for us is around time together, playing games, watching films, eating together. Santa usually leaves them clues as to where to find their stocking.

I agree with this. I grew up fairly privileged & my very happy memories of Christmas don't involve toys, I can barely remember what I actually got. I remember all the other stuff & that's what I want to recreate for my DC.

Trewser · 09/11/2019 09:06

OP we have whacking great vulgar Christmas piles and I don't give a shiny shite

That's a shame.

morningdread · 09/11/2019 09:08

last yr DC1 (6) had just too many presents so I kept some them back for this year. I assume that's sacrilege!

Nordicwannabe · 09/11/2019 09:30

I genuinely don't understand your outrage at this particular OP @Grobagsforever

It looks like a really lovely, well balanced, thoughtful set of presents with very little 'stuff for the sake of stuff'

-I'm sure he will treasure his Dinosaur fossil for years, maybe all his life
-lots of useful sporting equipment
-a cosy blanket and a single plush because a 10 yo still needs cosiness and nurturing

  • a few cds dvds and games - doesn't sound overboard
  • and one crazy, fun item (the jellybean dispenser)

Just as over-restricting chocolate leads to children bingeing when they get the opportunity, denying them any fun, frivolous stuff increases their desire for it. I think having a little bit 'just for fun' is healthier I'm not wishing I had a jelly bean dispenser. No, not at all

I don't think you need to add or take away a single thing, OP. He will love it!

Howmanysleepsnow · 09/11/2019 09:35

The magic for us is around time together, playing games, watching films, eating together. Santa usually leaves them clues as to where to find their stocking.

Hmm, so, looking at OPs list... games: yes, films: yes, eating: yes.
That leaves sports kit, a blanket and some books. Assuming he needs the sports kit and would get it anyway, is it the books that are upsetting people?
Or is everyone worried the dinosaur fossil will become/ return to landfill????

Nordicwannabe · 09/11/2019 09:39

Oh, and OP: I do think he will see his fossil as his 'impressive gift'. Love the idea of 'burying' it in something for extra impact.

mydoglikesbeef · 09/11/2019 09:56

Fuck me. My Christmas spirit almost shrivelled up and died* Grin

Fuck me, me too 😂 sometimes people really take things to the other end of extreme. We had Christmas like this growing up and I always felt the need to defend it and act like I didn't mind. 'What would I do with all that stuff anyway' Etc. I was very envious of other kids and their 'piles of gifts'.

As an adult now I love getting my kids presents and seeing their excitement in the lead up.

I think your list is great op. My ds also loves stationery, quite a few stores sell nice stationery. I agree it's hard when they get older and their gifts get more 'serious' looking. But it's still exciting for them, in the same way it's exciting for us to receive something nice. I'm excited by candles Grin
My ds will get a Spotify subscription and an iTunes card too.

morningdread · 09/11/2019 10:14

I thought the OPs post was about the fact she was happy with what she bought but just thought the pile should be bigger?

Grobagsforever · 09/11/2019 10:15

@NotYourHolidayDick - exactly how is giving to charity NOT Christmas spirit? You ok hun?

Trainofhearts · 09/11/2019 10:16

I actually think that looks like a lovely group of presents and you don’t need to get anything else but agree with whoever said wait and see if there’s anything else he asks for in the run up. I haven’t even started buying yet-you’ve got plenty of time.
Other ideas for big yet inexpensive but not tat:
Bean bag for his room
Swing ball
Sledge
Onesie
Echo dot
Light box
Lava lamp
Poster/picture for his room
How about a fossil finding kit? Hammer etc?

Equimum · 09/11/2019 10:18

I think this is probably a fairly typical process as kids get a bit bigger. Instead of buying more, I would be working on discussing how sometimes small things cost as big as big ones. We have discussed this with our six year old, together with discussing quality over quantity and how sometimes second-hand is better (he’s having a second-hand Islabike which is still, by far, the most expensive single gift he has ever had!).

Perhaps also rearrange how you display the gifts in the morning. We tend to muddle them up under the tree so that it is not immediately obvious that one has bigger gifts than the other.

ballsdeep · 09/11/2019 10:18

@primera
If it makes you angry don't open up and read Christmas threads. Ffs.

mamabluestar · 09/11/2019 10:24

Some of the replies on here are absolute bollocks and for what it's worth OP has not said that she wants to buy a load of plastic crap so you can did off with the guilt trip on climate change.

OP I absolutely understand why you would want both your child to feel to the magic on Christmas morning. I love the ideas about how to expand on what you have - could Pinterest be your friend here?

I know you said your son doesn't like reading but have you seen the usborne lift the flap books, there's definitely one about dinosaurs. If you're near the coast could you book a fossil hunting trip? There's a company near me called Hidden horizon that do them if you want to have a look at the type of thing they do.
I've just read another thread where a poster was buying a display cabinet for her child's fossils and I thought that was a lovely idea.
My daughter goes to a Young Archaeology Club, they are free and run nationally, if your son is interested in history as a whole could you l sign him up and give if as a gift?

KeepYourCup · 09/11/2019 10:31

It sounds like a nice and well thought out collection of gifts and I'm sure he'll be delighted. He's old enough to understand that his fossil is small but expensive, and a very special present to receive.

I understand the feeling of making "the pile" look impressive though. DS is an only child, and as he gets older his pile of gifts does look a bit underwhelming beside the tree (compared to the advertised mountains plastered everywhere at this time of year). He's not a greedy boy but I do try to make it look impressive for him to wake up to by having a couple of bulkier gifts. Something like a beanbag is a good idea- big and colourful but still really useful.

Raver84 · 09/11/2019 10:34

Why is every thread in mumsnet now ruined with people banging on about climate change. Do it your way, but don't make the op feel bad for asking for some ideas.

LazyFace · 09/11/2019 10:42

My 10 year old lost his watch so I'm planning to get him an activity tracker, if that helps.
I'm also buying a new wool duvet as the plastic filled rubbish ones are falling apart.

The list might be long but there are practical things there too, not a load of plastic. In our area kids used to get a lot more... ridiculous, really.

I hope your son will enjoy Christmas!