Impressive gift for ds 10?

[Eatshootsandleaves82]

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.

Mine get some colouring books & pens if they need at Xmas, why is that depressing?

This thread seems divided. On the one side we have those who are virtue signalling, gifting charity goats and frowning at a pile bigger than 2 gifts. And then we have the normal people, spoiling their kids (in whichever form this takes for them, I'm not necessarily talking monetary value here) and not thinking about the adults they may become as they rip open their festively wrapped presents

I think there's one or two people on this thread who do not put much emphasis on presents and don't spend much at xmas. Then there's the middle ground, the OP and most others. Then there's a couple of OTT show
-offs, who love to scoff at people who don't have their money and attitude to buying piles of crap for the sake of it.

OP, my suggestions for that age would be:
Echo dot (DS just started getting into listening to music around that age and loves asking Alexa trivia stuff). Good deals usually on Black Friday.
Skateboard
Fleecy onesie (not expensive, but bulky)
Power bank for his iPad
Board games (not sure if games you mention are computer games or not)
Giant tube of Jaffa cakes or similar
Beanbag (DS loves his)

It’s not about being a Scrooge or being holier than though. I’ve just spent a huge amount on a big wooden playhouse for my two for Christmas. I’m not saying kids should be grateful for a satsuma.

It’s more about this entrenched idea of buying gifts just for the sake of it. If it’s something you know they want/need, then great. Otherwise it’s a waste of money, sends the wrong message to our children and it is an environmental issue.

Every year there are threads from people talking about shit Secret Santa presents or unwanted crap from their mum or mother in law, saying things like ‘I know she means well, but I wish she wouldn’t bother.’ This is no different.

@amiloaday they don't need to 'burst with fucking excitement' over ONE DAY. They get plenty of exciting experiences all year round. But I WILL not have them grow up connecting excitement with a pile of consumables they don't need. Teaching my kids values matters to me. Also we're atheists so whilst we celebrate Christmas culturally I prefer to keep the madness of the day in proportion.

Believe me they have a great life, we just tend to spend more on experiences than things. And they get everything they need for school, all year round, but no harm putting any new colouring pens etc they need in their stockings! Similarly with some nice winter clothes.

they don't need to 'burst with fucking excitement' over ONE DAY
But why not? That's the whole fun of Christmas. I still get excited about it now and I'm in my 40s. You should take joy in life wherever you can find it. I absolutely love seeing the excitement on my dds face as she opens her presents, I don't think I'd get that if I wrapped up socks for her 😂

I love Christmas & also get excited. I want my dc to be super excited too, I just don't think that necessarily comes from how big their pile of presents is.

Of course not morningdread I don't think anyone here though has advocated getting piles of crap. Everything I buy dd is well thought out and something I know she'll love.

I definitely think there are some people who prioritise the size of the pile.

@cccameron. Exactly. Myself and my children take joy from lots of sources, we really don't need it from a consumerist religious festival which is incompatible with all our family values.

You know it's incredibly liberating to live your life defining your own sources of joy instead of getting caught up in society's expectations of when you should 'burst with excitement'. Independent thought is another of our family values.

@morningdread - there are. There have been threads about 'padding out the pile' before

Does each child need their own pile?? Here everything gets jumbled up together, and you need to find your own present (and if you find one for Granny, who cant get down on the floor, you hand it to her). Would mixing everything up be a way of having similar numbers of presents, but no obvious size differential?

We don’t have piles either, it all goes under the tree and on the floor.

they don't need to 'burst with fucking excitement' over ONE DAY. They get plenty of exciting experiences all year round. But I WILL not have them grow up connecting excitement with a pile of consumables they don't need. Teaching my kids values matters to me. Also we're atheists so whilst we celebrate Christmas culturally I prefer to keep the madness of the day in proportion.

Sounds fun, like I said.

I don't think it's an obscene amount but I think it's a decent pile considering the expensive fossil! I wouldn't personally feel the need to add more, but if you do, what about things like yard of Oreos or Jaffa cakes, the big cracker shape multipacks or Pringles, or Asda do tubs of sweets like Flying Saucers and marshmallows for £3.50 which are all good pile fillers.

@Eatshootsandleaves82

Your DS seems to have very similar tastes to my youngest (also 10). You could add to the cricket pile with either pads, a bag (they're huge!) or semi-hard balls.

We always add in plush or foam versions of various balls (football, rugby, basketball etc) so he can tear round indoors with them on the day.

On the stocking filler thread, there was an electronic coin counter/ money jar that looks good. Debenhams, iirc.

American sweets also go down well.

DS1 on the other hand will want cold hard cash...

We got ds a pool table one year for £40. Its big so had the wow factor and folds away, we stored behind the sofa for a couple of years.

That's an absolutely incredible insane amount of gifts!!
Urm.. it’s really not. But if an exaggeration there..

Bit of*

my dd breathed in the dust from one of these kits and ended up in intensive care with a massive asthma attack. As you were

that a shame

Then there's a couple of OTT show
-offs, who love to scoff at people who don't have their money and attitude to buying piles of crap for the sake of it

You sound like a riot. Can I come to
Your house for Christmas.

I've been on mn for many years.

These threads always go the same way....

Op: dont feel I've got enough gifts, pile a bit small, help?

Posters like grobags: how DARE you!!??? YOU are killing the planet! That pile of gifts is obscene! MY children's gifts were from a skip. Under a dead fox.

Op:I think your gifts sound lovely and thoughtful and are obv not plastic tat.

Grobags: some people can't afford treats years round, or to go to exhibitions or out for lunch. So xmas is their one time a year their kids get spolied.

I've never said this before but, seriously, check your privilege!

You sound like a riot. Can I come toYour house for Christmas no, it's extremely exclusive!

no, it's extremely exclusive!

Thank god for that. You would suck the Christmas joy from my soul.

Really? Why?

Does each child need their own pile?? Here everything gets jumbled up together, and you need to find your own present (and if you find one for Granny, who cant get down on the floor, you hand it to her). Would mixing everything up be a way of having similar numbers of presents, but no obvious size differential?

Omg. How have we all forgotten this!!!

That's exactly what happens here. Individual stockings, but all presents, DS, DM, DF, DH, DG, and even the dogs all go under the tree and are handed out one by one to whoever it says on the label. It's just one big under the tree pile. Actually DF always has the "biggest" pile as he always wants pool stuff or golf stuff and it's always massive. But you never see that because it's never separated out.