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Original poster

Children’s books - do you give as a gift?

108 replies

fromheretothemoon · 16/10/2020 21:11

The reason I ask is that I have been looking at threads for weeks for ideas for DC, and when posters list what their DC are getting for Christmas books are rarely mentioned in comparison to toys, electronics and clothing.

DS(5) loves books and yet he is not often given them as a gift for Christmas or birthday; sometimes we are asked for ideas and we emphasise how much he enjoys books but he will inevitably get toys which mostly are a 5-minute wonder.

Do people think books are a boring gift? I usually always include a book and toy when giving as parents usually say their kids have too many toys but maybe I’m a boring gift-giver?!

OP posts:
Bikingbear · 17/10/2020 23:55

I normally do add books but you have to accept some people are readers and some just aren't. I don't believe that you can force, encourage, kids to become a reader. Some of my family are readers and some just aren't.

A book has to grab me in the first few pages to get me to keep going. DS likes to read together or it has to be cartoonish to keep him going.

I detest the smugness that some people have about their children being readers.
I also detest the attitude of schools that if a kid can't remember / switched off to the story they should keep them at the same level. WTF I am more than capable of mechanically reading Biff and Chip without actually taking any of it in!

footprintsintheslow · 18/10/2020 05:44

@Bikingbear imagine being a teacher and having to listen to Biff and Chip every day for the rest of your life. Drives me bonkers too!!!

SushiGo · 18/10/2020 08:32

@Bikingbear

I normally do add books but you have to accept some people are readers and some just aren't. I don't believe that you can force, encourage, kids to become a reader. Some of my family are readers and some just aren't.

A book has to grab me in the first few pages to get me to keep going. DS likes to read together or it has to be cartoonish to keep him going.

I detest the smugness that some people have about their children being readers.
I also detest the attitude of schools that if a kid can't remember / switched off to the story they should keep them at the same level. WTF I am more than capable of mechanically reading Biff and Chip without actually taking any of it in!

That's fair enough for adults, but children of all ages absolutely can be encouraged to become readers and it's worth the effort. Kids with books in the home do better at school.
tinkerbellvspredator · 18/10/2020 08:36

When DD was very little she loved getting books then at about 3 she decided presents meant toys and was upset if she got a book. A few years later she was happy with books again.

Now she's so picky about books and won't read most ones I pick and has to pick her own. Give me strength.

pastandpresent · 18/10/2020 08:52

I think it depends on the parents and the child. I have bought so many brand new books from charity shops after Christmas that are sign by lovely message for someone. If the parents don't read, I don't think they value a book as a gift.
Personally, I only give a book as a gift to the children I know they love books.

Lovemusic33 · 18/10/2020 09:17

I gift books to children in the family, I try and add a gift related to the book, for toddlers this year I have bought them a dinosaur book and a dinosaur plush toy.

Dd2 wants the new David Williams book so I will probably pair it up with something fun related to the book.

user27378 · 18/10/2020 09:26

I have definitely noticed this too on Mumsnet lists and when I watch Christmas Vlogs. I've seen many huge children's present haul opening videos, never a book in site. I'm also house hunting at the moment and I'm surprised at how few books, more often no books, I see in children's rooms. I always give friends children books for birthdays and Christmas, books as new baby gifts, and I've often had feedback afterwards that the books are the child's favourite. I think some people see it as on par with giving a child clothes.

UndertheCedartree · 18/10/2020 09:30

Yes, I give books. Last birthday it was the only thing my DS wanted! This Christmas I'm getting them 4 or 5 books as gifts.

Bluewavescrashing · 18/10/2020 09:32

Yes, always. Amongst other things of course. Toys, stationery, bits for their rooms, fluffy onesies, slippers, games for their consoles.

I do buy them books through the year too, we use the library and read together with their school reading books every week.

Books are a great present.

Jigglypuffler · 18/10/2020 09:36

Yes, normally buy a book. For other nieces and nephews I buy for, I tend to follow a pattern of getting them

Something to wear
Something to do
Something to read
Something to eat

My DS (6) loves books and book vouchers. He loves going to the shop to pick what books to buy. Normally something involving dinosaurs and poop 😂

Love51 · 18/10/2020 09:39

My daughter has just had a birthday. We've bought her a massive bookcase. No only do we give books as gifts, so do the rest the rather large extended family. She will let us know books she wants, or people will take a punt. The only person who has ever been wrong is me, I got the Narnia boxset of books and she isn't bothered. I think her little brother might like it in a year or so. He is less of a reader but reads Horrid Henry, Wimpy kid, Tom Gates, etc. I'm not expecting him to read the David Baddiel novels and later Harry Potters aged 8 like his sister. I have always read TO mine loads so fluency wasn't an issue. Even people in my family with dyslexia read avidly - it is a matter of finding the right books.

Chocolatepumpkin · 18/10/2020 09:40

Yes, every year. It's usually the books we won't buy normally, like big boxsets along with the the diary of a Wimpy kid, new David walliams (these are like a Christmas tradition in our house).

Fabuleuse · 18/10/2020 09:42

Every birthday/Christmas one of both DSs presents is a bundle of books all wrapped up together. I used to have a serious Book People habit - miss them a lot now they are no more! I've since used books2door which is similar if a little more expensive. I would buy full sets of eg Roald Dahl or the Famous Five and give them a few at a time - works out at something ridiculous like a pound a book.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 18/10/2020 09:43

My mum got carried away on book people website last year. I think DS got over 100 between them. But most have been read (they are part way through a few of the box sets). They read several books a week each.

Books are a constant in their stockings too.

TicTacTwo · 18/10/2020 09:44

I think books are hard to buy for once kids are school age
You don't want them to find the books babyish (too easy) or feel bad that they can't read them yet. Getting it wrong can make a struggling or reluctant reader feel really disappointed.
I regularly buy activity books with a set of pens/pencils/crayons for gifts as well as party bags. The Book People were good for buying in bulk but I think they've gone bust.

TicTacTwo · 18/10/2020 09:45

At age 5 my kids always had annuals.

Sally872 · 18/10/2020 09:50

Unfortunately books are not exciting to my 10 year old. I wish she enjoyed reading but she doesn't. I buy her books throughout the year and encourage her to read (insist for homework). So when grannies and aunties ask what she wants i try to give rhem a suggestion she will be excited about when opening as that is the reaction they will enjoy seeing rather than polite reaction.

As a parent I like books as gifts for her. But they aren't on her list and I don't give books as suggestions.

Bioprepper · 18/10/2020 09:51

I’ve bought my niece books for Christmas! She loves books and I know she will appreciate them and they will last longer than a toy. Whenever my children are bought books I always think it’s a great present and so do they. How can books be boring lol

Catawaul · 18/10/2020 09:54

Non fiction is good if you aren't sure of reading ability or getting a duplicate of popular fiction. You don't need a particular interest in the topic or great reading proficiency to still enjoy looking through a book on space or whatever, and they are really handy for school projects.

user27378 · 18/10/2020 10:33

I do hate my kids getting Annuals from others actually. Just a crappy character magazine in hardback.

Iftheclouds · 18/10/2020 10:53

I do yes and always have.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 18/10/2020 10:53

I don’t buy really buy books or clothes for birthdays and Christmas as feel they are essentials so get bought all year round and gifts should be something the person wants. I might buy the odd item if it’s something they have asked for specifically.

midnightstar66 · 18/10/2020 11:07

I think books are quite difficult to buy for other children. I buy my own ddvs quite a few as gifts (and throughout the year) but it's really hard to judge what another child might like. Dd1 is a particularly gifted reader (free reader by end of reception) so I'm always slightly unsure what level to buy her friends - too easy and they are a waste, too hard and I look like I'm bragging about dd. I like giving the national book tokens so dc can choose themselves

I tend to buy chapter books that fit with the child's interests, if they are too hard for independent reading then it can be read to them as a bedtime story. I often get books for DC's friends.

midnightstar66 · 18/10/2020 11:08

For dd10's birthday I've sourced a large collection of horsey books I used to read as a child. I'm so excited to give her them as I remember how much I loved them and she is equally horse mad as I was.

KiposWonderbeasts · 18/10/2020 11:13

I always buy books for children. Every time. There are so many wonderful books available, it’s lovely sharing them.