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Christmas

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Original poster

Can two wow-ish presents have the same WOW factor as one WOW present?

67 replies

CoffeeChocolateWine · 26/10/2020 19:06

...especially when you’re 8 and your older brother and younger sister are getting a WOW present??

I’m just struggling with DD2 present-wise this year. I can think of lots of options for lovely mid-range presents that I know she’ll love but I don’t want her to be disappointed that she doesn’t have the big present that her brother and sister are getting! Am I worrying unnecessarily?

They’ll have the same number of gifts and the same value but DS and DD2 will have one big gift and say 3 smaller gifts, DD2 would have two biggish-but-not-as-big gifts and two smaller ones.

With Christmas looking very different this year, I don’t want to make the wrong call and have a slightly disappointed child! I just want them all to have a happy Christmas!

OP posts:
madcatladyforever · 26/10/2020 19:09

When I was a child I loved lots of small interesting presents. I didn't want a big present and the one year I got one I was really disappointed. I think my mum wanted the big doll more than I did.

user1493494961 · 26/10/2020 19:21

If you could tell us what the presents are it would be easier to advise, people have different perspectives on presents.

Spam88 · 26/10/2020 19:37

I'd agree it's difficult to say without knowing what they are. In theory I think it can work, but it really depends on what they are.

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateWine · 26/10/2020 19:42

So DS is 12 and is getting an electric guitar with an amp and then a few smaller presents such as tshirts, books etc.

DD2 is 2 and getting a balance bike and then a few smaller toys and books etc.

DD1 is 8 and I’m thinking of getting her a lovely fluffy coat with sparkly buttons and a little CD player for her room. I’ve also bought her a Djeco art kit and she’ll get books too.

There might be other small bits and bobs and obviously a stocking each but they have a big family that they’ll have nice presents from too so we don’t tend to buy loads of gifts.

OP posts:
ApplePlumPie · 26/10/2020 19:49

I think you are getting too caught up in your own thoughts about it (I hope that makes sense !) your children will love the presents you have bought them as individuals, and the age gap is enough that they won’t want similar things anyway.

My mum and dad got a bit caught up in making sure me and my brother had exactly the same value of presents and it did result in us both ending up with things which we didn’t really want but as money was tight we knew we had to be really grateful for anyway, and actually I wasn’t really interested in what my brother got I was only interested in my presents if that makes sense.

And the gifts you have got sound lovely, your kids will love them.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/10/2020 19:58

What parents see as wow and what kids see as wow differ. You are better placed than us to tell how much your DD would love her presents.

Mine have never been bothered about the size/value of presents (although when my eldest was five I prepped for Christmas pointing out how much bigger preschool toys were than big girl) toys. Their wow has always been that thing they've asked for.

Floralnomad · 26/10/2020 20:12

You are way overthinking this and I’m not clear which daughter is getting the smaller gifts . You know your children , neither of mine would ever have been wowed by a coat at 8 , irrespective of how fluffy / sparkly it was . We’ve never price matched , when they were young we tried to make the numbers roughly equal but never looked at monetary value . The way we figure it is if they are getting things they would like the cost element will work itself out over the years . Never been a problem here and they are now both in their 20s . ( I still don’t price match )

Toilenstripes · 26/10/2020 20:17

I’ve always hated the whole main gift/big gift and then a few bits to pad it out.

Bringmewineandcake · 26/10/2020 20:23

I don't think a coat and a cd player are wow-ish at all, sorry. Especially in comparison to an electric guitar and a bike (albeit a balance bike).

Has she not got any ideas of something she would like?

Jamhandprints · 26/10/2020 20:31

Sounds fine to me. She is still getting lovely presents. Does she already have an ipad or tablet? Amazon Fires are only about £30 on Black Friday and would be a more modern way to listen to music in her room...or an echo dot, also cheap on black friday.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 26/10/2020 20:56

What does she want? I’d not think a coat was a wow present as see clothes as essentials.

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateWine · 26/10/2020 21:15

A bit of a mixed bag then. To be fair, I think she’ll love the coat, but I agree it’s not a wow present. I will have another think.

She has a tablet, she and her brother have a PS4 and they don’t need more games. I had originally thought to get her a Polaroid camera which I think she’ll love but I just have a feeling she use all the Very Expensive Film in 20mins taking photos of her toys so I decided to hold off for another year or so!

She recently had her birthday and got things like roller blades, an animal adoption that she really wanted, perfume making kit, TopModel stuff etc so now I’m a bit stumped. She doesn’t play with toys quite as much as she used to but she’s getting clothes and accessories for her Our Generation dolls from her grandparents. She’s more into art and craft and baking.

My husband suggested a karaoke machine which she might have fun with but I’m convinced it’s destined to be used a few times then forgotten about! It doesn’t really feel like the right year to be buying her tickets to something or an experience. She doesn’t know what she wants at the moment...she says LOL doll stuff but it fills me with dread. She has loads tv at she barely plays with and I find the little accessories EVERYWHERE!

Will keep browsing these boards for inspiration...I’ve still got a couple of months!

OP posts:
Original poster
CoffeeChocolateWine · 26/10/2020 21:16

*She has loads that she barely plays with...

OP posts:
BathtubGin · 26/10/2020 21:50

Echo dot?

converseandjeans · 26/10/2020 21:56

It sounds lovely. I think a big fluffy coat is wow. What about a giant fluffy beanbag to match?

StormzyinaTCup · 27/10/2020 00:58

If she is into crafts etc maybe a child's/beginners sewing machine and some fabric and bits? or if she plays the PS4 regularly a gaming chair?

maybelou · 27/10/2020 01:06

If she's into art maybe an easel that she can use to paint on? If you erect it and wrap it up I think it will be a wow factor from the size alone, especially if you get some paints, canvases, brushes, sketch pad to go with?

Thehollyandtheirony · 27/10/2020 05:46

What about a craft hamper? You could include a few kits and lots of extra bits and bobs.

littlestpogo · 27/10/2020 07:11

Does it matter if she will use the film for the camera all at once? If it makes her happy? At least that’s a present she can continue to use and - if she gets pocket money say - she can save for more film? You can also get lots of cute little accessories packs.

She might even surprise you!

I think it also depends a bit of what she is like. My eldest would definitely upset without a wow present. My youngest is way less bothered ( and loves small things!) so would be very happy. It sort of depends which category your DD falls into?

Isadora2007 · 27/10/2020 07:27

I’d get a microphone and disco ball to go with the CD player and then that bigs up the CD player.

treeeeemendous · 27/10/2020 07:35

I'm not sure either of mine would ever have appreciated a coat for Christmas. To me that's a necessity not a present.

I have to saw I'm also not convinced by a CD player either. They are so outdated. I would think an echo dot and a subscription to Spotify would be far better these days.

NationalShiteYear · 27/10/2020 07:42

I don't think the coat is wow sorry. I have a crafter and think the sewing machine suggestion upthread is a really good one. Similarly your polaroid/karaoke machine. You can buy the Polaroid film cheaper in bulk sometimes.

I think the issue possibly is that the electric guitar for DS is VERY WOW, the 2 year old won't care and a balance bike is an excellent choice, but that does leave a challenge re middle DC

Original poster
CoffeeChocolateWine · 27/10/2020 08:56

Ha! Glad I haven’t actually bought any of this stuff for DD1 yet (aside from a couple of craft sets). I appreciate the feedback however overwhelmingly negative it is!

Ok, so the coat...there is absolutely nothing ‘essential’ about it. It is pure indulgence. She will love it and I will probably still get it but I agree now that I am overplaying it and it will just be an extra thing. I will rethink a ‘main’ present.

The CD player. Would really appreciate some advice on this. So she listens to audio books more than she listens to music in her room. She’s had a CD player since she was about 4 but just recently she’s moved into a shared room with her little sister and we’ve discovered that her current CD player doesn’t have a headphone socket so she can’t listen without disturbing her sister. We are in the process of getting bunk beds for their room so we had thought about getting her a wall mountable CD player to have by her bed so she can listen to her audio books at bedtime with her headphones on.

I agree CD players are outdated but she won’t be able to listen to her audio books without one and she’s getting more from grandparents for Christmas!

On the audio front we are really backwards. We don’t have anything smart but DH and I are thinking of upgrading as our present to each other this year but I have no idea how they work! So if we got DD an echo dot for her room, can she use it without a device (to connect) in her room? She’s not allowed the iPad in her room. Does this matter? Can she plug headphones into it? Can she listen to audiobooks on it as well as music? Sorry if these are really daft questions, we just don’t have this stuff in our house yet!

OP posts:
CottonSock · 27/10/2020 08:59

I'd get her the Polaroid.. the film can be part of the gift, then for birthdays etc.

sashh · 27/10/2020 09:00

Get the camera.

I have one (Fuji Instax) that I've taken to family get togethers, kids love it, once they work out you have to look through it; and it was really cute having my cousin's 3 year old explain to his gran that 'At first it is white, then you have to wait'.

You could get her some more 'film' as smaller gifts. You can also get accessories such as frames, albums, coloured filters. And the film comes in various options with coloured surrounds, confetti on it, loads of options.

The 'film' is getting cheaper, Amazon has some for £7.99.

My dad also loves it, he's in his 80s, he doesn't use it but he can put the pictures in his pocket to show to his friends.