‘Things to do on your own while we sleep’ stocking ideas for DS11

[yellowsun]

We normally put a little Lego set or similar in DS11’s stocking to keep him occupied until we are ready to wake up and go downstairs to open his main presents. However, the last set he was bought sits unopened and he’s reached the age where, sadly, he’s not really enjoying Lego.

Does anyone have any ideas of other little things we can put in his stocking that will keep him occupied?

Im answer to OP, a pin impression toy would have been my top present and time waster - I spent hours using my friends' ones when i was over theirs...

So that gets my vote!

I had to Google for the name of it tbh - turns out looking up "needle toy that you put your hand in" will get you what you need. I was surprised, didn't think it would 😂

Rubix Cube. An annual.

We open his stocking on our bed (normally at 6am as he’s always been an early riser) then we sit up and recover until 7/7.30/8 when we get up

In fairness to PPs who 'got it for wrong', your title did rather suggest that you'd be going back to sleep while he played with the toy/s, rather than sitting in bed to come around before getting up properly

I usually try to get DS (also 11) a joke book, so at least he can snuggle under the duvet chortling to himself.

My DNiece used to wake really early so my sister put a Christmas film and a packet of her favorite chocolate in her stocking for her to watch/ eat. She's 21 and still asks for a film and chocolate in her stocking, it's become a lovely tradition.

I agree with

Puzzle books

Age appropriate colouring books & some nice new colouring pens pencils

There are simpler versions of Rubik's cube type puzzles this kind of thing:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SEWORLD-Twist-Popular-Transformable-Puzzle/dp/B078SH91LG/ref=mpssa1112?dchild=1&keywords=brain+teaser+puzzles+for+kids&qid=1604126388&sprefix=brain+teaser+puzzles+&sr=8-12

My siblings and I used to love that sort of thing around his age as did dd

Go even more retro with this kind of thing which seems to be having a resurgence in popularity?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ninja-Sliding-Puzzles-Pack-4/dp/B07QGFM7M6/ref=mpssa1117?dchild=1&keywords=sliding+puzzles+for+kids&qid=1604126546&sprefix=sliding+&sr=8-17

This sort of thing is weirdly addictive and actually quite challenging

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Childlike-Water-Machine-Handheld-Colors-Random/dp/B07ZRQSVPC/ref=mpssa112?dchild=1&keywords=handheld+water+puzzles+for+kids&qid=1604126623&sr=8-2

There are harder versions for older kids

or whole packet of Tunnocks Tea Cakes....

Wish someone would get ME that!

I was a bookworm so in mine there'd usually be a new Enid Blyton Novel (bro would get some kind of 101 things you never knew about... book and sis would get roald Dahl book - so depends on his reading preference) inc a new bookmark, a satsuma, choc coins, carton of 5 alive, word search puzzle book and new pack of highlighter pens for that (much better than ballpoint pen)

Around this age I started getting dd annuals which are still around but you have to hunt to find good ones as they're not really a thing now.

Came about from a discussion like this about what I used to get in my stocking as a kid and I mentioned I often got a blue jeans or Jackie annual, she knew about the magazines - but she was like

"What's an annual?"

And then I looked in usual shops and they weren't there, had to go to a traditional book shop in the end and she loved them! I think book retailers are missing a trick there!

You can get crap ones easily enough online but to get ones like we used to have you need to hunt a bit.

I'm with you, I raised dd alone and I did not need waking at 4/5 am and then having a full on day with her hyped up and no respite!

As well as enabling a little more adult sleep this takes the edge off the hype for them and they're a little bit calmer and less given to getting fractious which is no fun for them either.

I think the trap you've fallen into thread wise is that people do their Christmas their way and find it very strange if others do things differently.

First Xmas I spent with another family totally threw me! Not least because they didn't open presents until tea time! Not even the little kids!

I'd try a puzzle of some description. Rukix cube or something.

The weirdest Christmas opening gifts time has to be between courses of dinner, inc for a 3 year old child. Eat your dinner and you can open another present. Sorry but never again.

Excuse my spelling Rubix!

Give him an iPhone and unlimited access and you'll never see him again OP!

When my boys were into Rubix I downloaded solve instructions/algorithms, printed out, laminated and strung together as a booklet. They got so much use out of it and it kept them quiet for ages. Ds2 was a whizz.

Definitely don’t ram with loads of sugary stuff
He can wait for Christmas breakfast

Actually - at that age he can just amuse himself!! Read whatever

**I'm with you, I raised dd alone and I did not need waking at 4/5 am and then having a full on day with her hyped up and no respite!
**

In a single parent too. Both younger than 11.

I tell them they stay in bed until 7 and read and then come in to me when clock hits 7.

And they do.

At 11, if he can’t follow a very reasonable parent request, then that’s a problem.

I've always loved xmas and got up early. By his age the rule was not to jump into parents room until 730 so I'd pad about the house, put all the lights on and read a book. We then did stockings in bed, breakfast, then "tree presents" after

I dont get the lying in bed for 2 hours thing... if you are awake you are awake, just get up and start the day.

@mam0918

I dont get the lying in bed for 2 hours thing... if you are awake you are awake, just get up and start the day.

You don’t “get” that people like different things to you

I was sad last year when DS12 opened his stocking and then came into tell us -stockings are the best

Family usually arrive mid morning, then lunch about 2:30ish and then big present opening when that's finished from around 5:30 six onwards- DS is happy to wait as he can see the presents under the tree and knows most of them are his ! Only child and only GC on both sides plus adults only exchange token gifts

Having read back in the light of day, I suppose my first post does sound a bit like I’m planning a lie in while DS feels neglected. As I’ve said this is not the case! The time he sleeps in until and how he has slept overnight will affect the morning arrangements. If we’ve had a really broken sleep and feel like shit, we are not going to be jumping up at 6am for a Christmas Day of feeling awful. Well done to those who manage this.

To those saying that DS should know by now, I agree and I hope it won’t be a problem this year but I like to be prepared having had a couple of awful mornings un the past where we all had a rubbish start to the day. There are some reasons that affect his sleep which again, are not relevant to the thread so I haven’t mentioned them. So those who make judgements about things being ‘wrong’ or a ‘problem’ can please refrain from making judgements about other people’s children and their needs as you don’t know (or always need to know) this information. I can assure you all that DS is perfectly happy sat looking at his gifts while we doze / wake up for a bit. No need for a call to social services!

As PP as said, we all do Christmas differently and this thread was not supposed to be a discussion about this, just for some present ideas. Rant over!

I’ve ordered a handheld Pac-Man game key ring thing, a Star Wars joke book, a magnetic sculpture toy thing, some books and some goodies.

He’s got the needle thing and loves that! Also loved a rubix cube as he’s had that previously.

Thanks for all the great ideas!

I totally agree OP, we had a few really awful Christmas’s where dd2 didn’t sleep and we were up at 4am opening presents, by lunch time I was feeling pretty tired and ill. Now they are a bit older it’s much more relaxed and we spread unwrapping across the day, we don’t get up until about 8am but DD’s can open their stockings if the wake at 7am.

People do things differently, it’s not neglectful not wanting to get up at 6am Christmas Day.

11? A jazz mag
Sorry
I'm a bad person

I think DS will still want Lego when he is 30. He's 16 now and it's all he wants (although more expensive ones now)

We used to put something to eat ,something to drink ,something to read and a novelty toy. My kids used to open theirs eat the food and drink and then fall asleep until a reasonable time.

How funny that people find other people's Christmas Day 'schedules' so varied from their own 🙄
OP if he's awake early and you're not quite ready to get up, he could start by making you breakfast in bed, or at least a brew!

@Pieceofpurplesky

I think DS will still want Lego when he is 30. He's 16 now and it's all he wants (although more expensive ones now)

I’m almost 39 and still buy myself a Lego set each Christmas. Dd is 14 and still loves Lego 🤣

We somehow stumbled upon the idea of you can’t get up until you hear Santa’s bell ringing as he leaves the house of course that coincided with either me or exdh wakening and going to the loo so always between 6.30-8. Ours never question this when they were younger and would bring their stockings into our bed to open. This would take about 30 minutes then the excitement to get downstairs would take over.
Even now as teenagers they shout through “is it okay to get up” . Same routine with stockings and their father comes to our house at 8ish for them to open their presents.
Works for us.