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

[CoffeeChocolateWine]

...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!

[quote CoffeeChocolateWine]Thanks all. I am looking into the Echo dot/wireless headphones combo now and will look at audible. If I was to subscribe to audible, could both my kids use the subscription or do they need one each? Also rethinking the camera.

Here’s a link to the jacket I’ve got my eye on. I’ve seen it and it is so beautifully soft and the buttons are stunning. I get that not every 8yo would be excited to receive it, but I do know it is the sort of thing my DD would swoon over if she saw someone wearing it.
www.riverisland.com/p/girls-beige-faux-fur-hood-coat-490480[/quote]
My 8yo DD would hate that jacket, she’s end up using it as a blanket because of the softness but would refuse to wear it in public, but my 6yoDD would love it...

Echo dots are great, my 8yo loves hers. I’ve got my 6yo one for Xmas in pink. There is a way they can play independently but that’s DHs area to investigate and sort. If you have amazon prime you get 1 credit each month, I use this each month to a new book, saved a fortune, especially on the Harry Potter audio books. Havnt tried the wireless earplugs but probably a good idea if they each have one in their rooms.

I haven't read the whole thread but what about a teepee tent (they are not expensive lidl etc) and look 'wow'. Also a lovely reading corner for her.

@burglarbettybaby, funnily enough, my parents are buying my 2yo DD a teepee tent with the idea that both girls can use it

It’s a very good point that the CD player won’t be exciting to her at all if it’s just replacing her old one. It does need to be something different. I’m very tempted by a dot.

One more possibly daft question...if we have more than one dot in the house, could they all play different things at the same time while connected to the same device or would each one need its own connection?

@CoffeeChocolateWine I don't think the coat works tbh. However a really nice CD player, maybe one of the Roberts ones with alarm clock, Usb etc would be good; personally I won't have anything like Alexa/ Google home in our house and especially not in a childs room, I have no wish for Amazon or Google or any other company to be able to listen in to what happens in my childs bedroom. I have my eye on this for my girls bedroom www.johnlewis.com/roberts-sound48-dab-dab-fm-cd-bluetooth-clock-radio/white/p5080384
A digital camera could be good, or if she likes arts and crafts what about some really good art materials, alcohol markers, special paper, proper watercolour paints and paper, and an easel?

Yes you can have multiple echo devices in the home. You can give them different names. I have one that also shows the time so it doubles up as an clock/alarm.

If she’s into arts and crafts how about a loom to do weaving that’s a bit different to the usual arty stuff . MakeBox had a good starter kit earlier in the year as one of the monthly boxes but you can buy them individually . Worth looking on Makebox anyway for different craft ideas .

Yes, different dots can play different things at the same time.

We use it for quizzes etc too

Made by soundmaster.

I think the coat for your DD looks like an excellent gift, especially if she's someone who loves soft, strokable things. A couple of years ago, we gave DD2 a fluffy coat for Christmas and she's only just conceded that she's outgrown it. It was blue, has no hood and isn't waterproof so is completely impractical and unlike any coat she'd ever been bought which made it all the more thrilling. For children who aren't really into playing with toys and don't have highly specific ideas, an extravagant coat is great. Gifts that were well-received by DD1 at a similar age included almost anything she assumed I'd say was unnecessary e.g. silver Converse-style trainers, flowery DMs (eBay), a pleather jacket, iPod and speaker, new duvet cover of her choosing, onesie, gift voucher for Costa (she still loves receiving these aged 15), magnetic earrings, name brand rucksack...

My DDs have never minded whether they've received a big item and smaller ones or a handful of medium-sized gifts - they have different interests and tastes. There have been years that we've bought a musical instrument at great expense for one DD whilst the other has received a pair of hankered after trainers.

I think a coat doesn't compare to the presents for the other children. A coat plus other bits would give the impression to me that you weren't sure what to get me, which is kinda what you've said.

Some of the other craft ideas from other posters sound good though.

You know your own child, the coat is beautiful and if you think she will love it and appreciate it then of course it can be a good present!
I also think a CD player is a good idea - aslong as it's a nice looking modern one, not just a bod standard one if that's makes sense? She loves audio books and if she's getting these from grandparents it would be a nice treat for her to be able to listen to them on her own little device by her bed!

I was a very crafty child (I still am crafty now as a young/ish adult haha) and I would have loved a little sewing machine or a big art set!

Ok so it seems we don’t have a problem anymore. Had DD1 in her happy place this afternoon doing lots of art and crafty things and, with no prompting from me, she reeled off about 20 billion things she’d like for Christmas!

What about an echo show instead of a dot? They were reduced to £40 the other day. I wondered if it might be easier because she can see it rather than just a black circle. You could also have a blue tooth microphone and it can connect to it, the lyrics appear on the screen (I think!) so it would be for karaoke as well.

If she likes baking, are there any kids cookery courses near you that you could maybe get a voucher for (for when we're actually allowed out), & maybe make a baking hamper to go with it.

Ice cream machine.

Normal camera if you're not sure about a Polaroid.

Day out activity

Thanks for the suggestions. She did have an old (basic kids) digital camera and she has access to an old one of mine, but I think the Polaroid would appeal to her more. The immediacy of taking a photo and it printing there and then into something physical to display. She never does anything with the photos on a digital camera and loses interest in downloading and printing hours after taking the photo! But even so, we’re going to hold off till her birthday next summer.

We have a plan now. Grandparents are getting both older kids echo dots and wireless headphones instead of audio books and we’ll download some stuff for them. DD has now asked for some karaoke/ microphone type thing and a couple of other things, and we’ve got enough other ideas (coat included!!) to ensure a very happy girl on Dec 25th.

Reserving the sewing machine and fabrics idea for year

Good stuff Op. Im glad you have it sorted.

I am glad you changed your mind about the CD player, I too was going to say it is too outdated. If she already has cd's you can convert them to audio to play on a wireless device. A big flaw with the Echo system though, is you can't listen to music in different rooms unless you get an Amazon music family plan. Also with audible you only get one book token a month and audible books are expensive. You could just get the one Echo dot for the bedroom (pointless to have two (and get the older one a Kindle Kids E-reader because they have built in audible). Or get the younger one a Yoto player or a Toni box. Make sure the grandparents hold out until Black Friday, the Amazon products are usually discounted from the week before. Much cheaper to buy then.