AIBU to ask you to critique my DS’s Christmas presents

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I’ve seen a few threads on here discussing Christmas presents and if the OP has spent too much, too little, if X gift is too extravagant etc. Posters always have such different opinions on what is acceptable or different ways of doing it in their house. I thought I would say what DS 5 has got and what people think of it. He is an only child and I haven’t set a budget or totted up the amount, I just go with whatever I feel is right. He has expressed a real desire for the mario and he loves playing mine craft at friends houses and building his own houses etc.

In his small stocking he has got;
Wario Lego minifigure
Waluigi Lego mini figure
Mr happy bath bomb
Fidget spinner
2 candy canes
Spy pens
Whoopee cushion
Squishy dinosaur
Silly putty
Chocolate coins
Mr men book
Top secret stamp

Main gifts;
Metal slinky
Colour changing felt tips
Mine craft game for the switch
Pocky ball
Mario Lego starter set

I will accept all opinions

Sounds lovely and fun things, at that age I think he’d like to open a few things (rather than 1 iyswim).
You’ll always get some saying more or less, or different types of presents but there are so many other factors to consider that people are not aware of - so have confidence in your decision!

We usually aim to have around ten things to open, a mix of bigger things in the sack and smaller things in the stocking. Usually works out about 7/8 larger and 2/3 smaller. Then chocolate and satsuma in the stocking too. For us that is a good amount to be a nice pile but not too much - a few times we've ended up with more than ten and it's been overwhelming.

I also have a 5 year old boy and he has a lot more big things (mostly board games as he's a big fan, but also a magic kit and a kids smart watch) and a lot fewer stocking things. He's getting a switch for his 6th birthday a few weeks after Christmas.

Also just a word of warning, DS had a metal slinky (the original kind) and it didn't last. It got tangled beyond saving after a month or so. We replaced it with a plastic rainbow one and it's way better - indestructible and untangles really easily.

I think they are lovely presents & it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it's about whether you think your son will like them.

At that age, the only things my son wanted for Christmas were a toy drum & a packet of colouring pens.

I padded that out with some books, a plushie & sweets but that's what he got & he absolutely loved it.

This year he is getting a real (electronic) drumset because his love of drums is still ongoing several years later, so I would hang onto your money while you can & not worry about buying things because anyone else made you think you should.

Sounds fine to me. Some people buy more and some less but I think it’s plenty. Yes, people all do Christmas differently, my dc are older now and I admit there have been years when I have gone OTT and have regretted it. Now they are older things seem to be a lot smaller but more pricy and I don’t get much for my money.

I love seeing piles of presents under the tree but not to the extent where the room is overflowing with gifts (where do people put it all?).

@HeyFloof

That sounds a lovely selection. My dS is the same age and is looking very much forward to Christmas. He has (my DS) got quite a lot, I've culled it back quite a bit this year, but I do tend to go a bit mad. (Back story reason for indulgence; he's not supposed to be an only, lost DS2 last year, and, devastatingly, we are likely to lose this baby girl in the next few weeks.)

So sorry to read this. Will keep my fingers tightly crossed for a miracle for you

It sounds lovely and probably similar in quantity and cost to what we do. I personally always buy each child some books and a onesie or dressing gown. I don't tend to put as many toys in the stocking (usually more edible things and socks and colouring pens) but they do have a lot of relatives who also buy for them.

@User135792468

I wouldn’t say that sounds very much tbh. That is just my opinion though. The stocking sounds good but the main presents are quite small (slinky, felt tip pens etc) considering there are so few.

Yep, they almost all sound like stocking fillers to me.

I mean my kids are each getting a slinky in their sack they cost £1 - metal or not it's just a filler gift.

Mine are getting several types of pens (writing pens, twist-up crayons, bath pens, chalks as well if that counts) in their stockings all cost less than £1 for brand-name ones (Crayola etc...) it just seems odd as a 'main' gift to me. Unless you mean its one of those massive felt tip packs with hundreds of pens in that's as big as the kid? then yeah I get that as a main gift just due to the size etc...

Just looked up a Pockyball and it seems like a novelty item like I would put in the Santa sack (but I personally wouldn't pay £17 for one which is what amazon appear to be charging).

it's not about the amount and definitely not price (as it doesn't seem you have chosen cheap versions of things) but rather I just don't understand what differentiates the stocking spy pens from the main colour changing pens or the stocking whoopie cushion from the main slinky etc... here as they all seem fairly equal footing as 'small' gifts.

[quote softblueface]@ImFree2doasiwant I’m glad I’ve given you a few ideas!
I’ve found that about everything in general recently, everything is overpriced and rubbish. If they will be happy that’s the main thing, but I agree it’s hard.[/quote]
There is so much overpriced junk out there! I went to the entertainer with DD5 yesterday and she loved a Flossing Sloth which dances when you press a button. Thats ALL it does. Maybe amusing for 10 minutes but then pointless... and big, where would you keep that when they inevitable get bored.

@TheReluctantPhoenix see I don't think it seems much but then we don't have any extended family to give presents. Everybody's situation is different.

I think it sounds a nice list, and sensible. I try really hard not just to buy tat that will be quickly forgotten about.

I would recommend you ditch the Mr Men book - all grown ups remember them fondly but they are shockingly bad. Save yourself having to look for them nightly after you've "lost" then within the week.

My sons would be happy with a packet of pens as a main presents, especially colour changing ones!

People say kids don't appreciate things and get too much nowadays blah blah blah but that's why, because parents have their own ideas of what constitutes a decent or a proper present rather than what they would like.

We got my son the Mario starter set last year then he had a couple of sets off other people, they are really good as you can mix and match and do whatever you like with them basically

Sounds good to me. I have a 4year old.

He's getting:
marvel Lego mini figure,
mini connect 4 game,
a set of 3 Disney books 2nd hand,
LCD drawing pad/tablet thingy in his stocking
(plus chocolate coins, chocolate Santa and apple).

His main presents are:
rugby hoody to match daddy
a set of magnetic tiles to share with his brother
a superhero figure

He also has another superhero figure coming from father Christmas.

He will also get lots of gifts from family too so he will have more than enough overall. We have another gift to buy for him, not decided what it will be yet. We will wait to see what all our family choose and use that to inform his final gift from us. The final gift will not be more than £15, taking the total to around £100.

@WicketWoo Unfortunately we bought DS the whole set a few years ago and we read them so much we had to get the little miss set to stop us throwing ourselves out of the window. We then read them so much and have had to branch out to the newer stories and characters. His stocking book will be mr men and the new pet.
At one point we had to read 3 mr men books at bedtime every night. It was an awful time. We have now got it down to 1 which is significantly better! 😂

Fair point re the slinky and pens @mam0918 .
Do you think it matters if it goes in the stocking or not though? As in it’s all going to get opened eventually.

Some lovely present ideas from others posters!

DS2 will be 5 soon.

He’s getting:
Two board games
Lots of books- about 10 or so.
A very large Lego City set

Stockings are usually a little diary, sparkly pens, chocolate.

From other people (aka my in laws) he’s getting more Lego, a hoodie and a jumper.
From his big siblings they have bought books and a puzzle for him (I gave them the money).

For his birthday which is literally 10 days later he’s getting a Yoto Player.

We are a very low tech household (for context) so no gaming stuff for any of the boys.

Older DCs are getting:
Gravitrax/ similar kind of things
Books.
Tickets to something specific

From the in laws: Harry Potter clothes and PJs.

Everyone gets a Christmas Eve box with PJs and a book to read and a hot chocolate sachet and some scented Christmas play dough to keep DS5 occupied the next day.

I am aware this is a very frugal list BUT my children are hugely hugely privileged. They have a house full of books and toys, pre COVID we would travel a lot, and they have stuff bought for them all year so for Christmas we keep the list small and given that we can do more stuff than last year we are going

• to see Christmas lights at a fancy place (we are not in the UK) with a Christmas market afterwards
• see a show
• older D.C. going to see the Nutcracker
• going ice skating 2-3 times.

Sounds like a lovely set of presents OP.

I would put money on him loving the Whoopee cushion and silly putty more than anything!

Doesn’t sound like too much to me which is absolutely fine! I promised myself I’d reign it in this year with 3 instead of 2 but I think I’ve bought a bit much 🙄 as this is a being nosey ideas thread…

6 year old:

1. Spider-Man set ✔️
2. Hand drone ✔️
3. Magician set ✔️
4. Ninja outfit ✔️
5. Books ✔️
6. Water gun ✔️
7. Pez dispenser ✔️
8. Campbell’s biscuits ✔️
9. Solar system to paint ✔️

10. Tamagotchi ✔️ 11. Mr men jellies ✔️ 12. Spider girl ✔️ 13. Tracksuit ✔️ 14. Mini figure display ✔️ 15. Mickey Mouse notepad ✔️ 16. Hot wheels Dino launcher ✔️ 17. Playmobil police ✔️

Stocking fillers

1. Animals ✔️
2. Socks ✔️
3. Rocket pencil case ✔️
4. Rocket pen ✔️
5. Hot wheel ✔️
6. Puzzle game ✔️
7. Kaleidoscope ✔️
8. Dino chocolates ✔️
9. Lolly ✔️

4 year old:

1. Avengers set ✔️
2. Fireman outfit ✔️
3. Sonic tshirt ✔️
4. Animals ✔️
5. Dinosaurs ✔️
6. Dinosaur Teddy ✔️
7. Water gun ✔️
8. Dinosaur hand puppet ✔️
9. Pez dispenser ✔️

10. Chocolate fingers ✔️ 11. Mr men jellies ✔️ 12. Scotland tshirt ✔️ 13. Football kit ✔️ 14. Vtech camera ✔️ 15. Magnadoodle ✔️ 16. Playmobil tractor ✔️ 17. Blueg figures ✔️

Stocking fillers

1. Animals ✔️
2. Socks ✔️
3. Rocket pencil case ✔️
4. Rocket pen ✔️
5. Hot wheel red ✔️
6. Hot wheel man ✔️
7. Kaleidoscope ✔️
8. Dino chocolates ✔️
9. Lolly ✔️

8 month old:

1. Fisher price set ✔️
2. Baby Einstein light ✔️
3. Baby Einstein car toy ✔️
4. Musical mat ✔️
5. Vtech craw & learn ball ✔️
6. Vtech plane ✔️
7. Shape sorter bus ✔️
8. My first musical toy ✔️

Stocking fillers

1. Little tykes car keys ✔️
2. Mobile phone toy ✔️
3. Baby Einstein music player ✔️
4. Socks ✔️
5. Tube shaker ✔️
6. Car ✔️

DS1 got a whoppee cushion last year & absolutely loved it but it broke fairly quickly!

Since you asked I'd personally probably add a few more small things to bulk out a little such as jigsaw or board game (my 5 year old is a big fan but understand others aren't), character blanket or onsie, Christmas colouring book, selection box and a cuddly toy. But that's just my opinion (since you asked)

YABVU for not including an orange/satsuma in his stocking 😉. Honestly, I think it’s the only healthy thing mine eat on Xmas day!

So DS isn’t interested in cuddly toys or pjs etc. He sleeps in a vest or T-shirt (and no bottoms like Winnie the Pooh!) because he gets too hot, even in winter.
I remember always getting pjs and slippers etc for Xmas and we loved it. I know it’s such a popular choice but it’s just wasted on DS!

I definitely have been looking at board games actually so that’s one thing I could add. Maybe mouse trap? He’s started to really enjoy games and be able to lose without crying

Haha @LadyRoughDiamond, Xmas and birthday are they only days DS gets to eat whatever whenever, although he does love fruit so he will always include some! I will add in a satsuma

I'd go for Junior Monopoly or Junior Cluedo. Mousetrap is an exercise in frustration.

i don’t remember it being frustrating @Aroundtheworldin80moves! But I will bow to your better judgement 😂