No toys on DS6 list

[QuackWoof]

Hello, my budget for Xmas is £400 for my DS6. He wanted a Nintendo switch which eats up most of that. I’ve bought it tho as it’s what he wanted. His other gifts are pants, Pjs and a new toothbrush (he needs these), and then bath bombs, chocolates, a hair gel, a book, a puzzle, 1 small selection box, colouring in book, new felt tip pens and a football strip (top only, and got it on sale).

We don’t do gifts in our families so he doesn’t get other gifts other than what we give him.

I’ve just realised he basically isn’t getting any toys for Xmas, and I’m worried this is a bit sad at only age 6? But he doesn’t need new toys, as he has plenty, and he doesn’t need a bike or a scooter as he has these.

i don’t think there’s a law on hair gel

Oh so you're giving her plasters, and socks as a PRESENT?

Wow. I thought it was wrong to gibe needed items as gifts.... Tsk tsk....

I do buy 'nicer' essentials as gifts, why not?
She doesn't need fun patterned plasters, she'll find them extremely fun and most certainly will put them on as she sees fit rather than when she actually needs one
Fluffy socks I don't usually buy. You could substitute them for other things of a similar value if you see fit. [Confused]

@5dande I gave fun plasters in last years stocking. Think they were the favourite gift!! Haha. They were used alongside a play drs kit for toys that had accidents, very cute!!

so much joy from £2.99 🤣

My kids love plasters 😂 we have unicorn ones and paw patrol at the moment.

I didnt say there was a law saying its needed, in fact the very opposit when I said 'why does a 6 year old need hair gel?'

Hair gel is a bizaare item for a 6 year old, unless its some kind of hair 'care' product rather than styling needed for the childs specific hair type (maybe afro hair etc...) in which case its a need up their with shampoo but for a kid with hair like my DS it would nothing more than styling and would be a bizaare gift.

Things like underwear and PJs are standard Christmas gifts and I would definitely include in the budget. I also put things like a toiletries (nicer) in stockings so I don't see a problem with that. Better than stockings filled with plastic nonsense you'll just throw away.

I buy new electric toothbrushes every other year (that's about how long the batteries last) and definitely include those as gifts.

What's wrong with buying things you need for Christmas?

A switch is a toy and a big gift, i wouldn't buy a lot of plastic toys he doesn't need to make a big pile, there's no need for a big pile of toys (unless you want to show off on social media) and certainly don't buy plastic toys for the sake of it (even second hand, leave it for someone who's struggling to buy for their dc, not unnecessarily extra for yours).

In fact I'm going to repeat that,

If you can afford to spend £400 or even £200 on one dc for Christmas, don't go to the charity shops and buy extra toys just to make the pile bigger, when there are parents struggling to manage a budget of £30 per child this Christmas who need those toys. Donate some toys your dc have outgrown instead.

In fact, buy one less present and donate to a charity toy appeal. I usually spend around £40 somewhere like B&M on toys for the local toy appeal.

Litrally no one is saying anything about charity shops and the whole plastic rant is redundant too.

Honestly such an embarrassing rant from someone clearly over privilaged.

I definitely wouldn't buy things for the sake of it OP, he has a big "wow" present and will enjoy getting the other nice things.

Little ones don't need tons of stuff and tend to latch on to something that's their favourite anyway! Games are great for kids especially offline ones.

We live in an age where lots of children as a matter of course have plenty of toys. If he doesn't need new toys and has enough for imaginitive play, I wouldn't buy them just so he as "stuff" to open.

That being said, some sensory or creative stuff might be nice if you're worried about him only ("only"!) having the new Switch - like play dough or kinetic sand?

@mam0918 How you can assess my privilege from the fact that I give to charity I've no idea. Lots of people on low and moderate incomes who've experienced poverty give to charity.

There have been lots of suggestions on this thread, of buying plastic toys to make up the pile, including buying from charity shops. And the point stands alone, we're allowed to post related opinions on a thread you know.

And oh yes plasters are a huge hit with all my DC!

People save up all year to buy their kids gifts at xmas... they dont have a spare £400 because they're rich, there kids dont have an abundance of stuff they can just give away, its really not unusually to buy more than 1 thing because most kids dont get toys all through the year but should have more than 1 thing to offer healthy varity.

Your post said an awful lot about you luck and privilage to think the way you think.

@mam0918 You have no idea of my income, family situation or background and I'm not going to describe it to you here.

A £400 budget per child is a lot of money, this isn't someone struggling to pay bills, unless their priorities are way off.

I understand lots of parents struggle at Christmas but for some reason you want to criticise me for giving to a charity appeal and for suggesting others could do the same instead of buying extra gifts to bulk up the pile under the tree.

I won't respond to you again, I've no idea what point you're trying to make from your assumptions.

It sounds fine to me! I think there's nothing wrong with wrapping up ordinary things like PJs and toothbrush. He's going to get the Switch and the rest of it just means he has more stuff to open which is half the fun of Christmas for children.

So you deem plasters nicer than a character toothbrush 😂

Because, according to PPs it's absolutely atrocious to buy anything that could be considered essential...see pants, toothbrushes, socks etc.

People are fucking mental policing other kids stockings.

I never said anything about character toothbrushes.
I think for mine plasters are more fun. A character toothbrush I'd consider a 'nicer' essential, if you don't usually buy them anyway.

I think unless you're really skint and it's wrapping that up or nothing a multipack of basic socks etc isn't much of a gift... But I think if they're a little fancier than what you'd usually buy then it'll still seem quite special to DC!

So what, it's still perfectly fine to do that

I apologise, I’ve got you mixed up with another poster.

Stocking gifts are meant to be cheap and cheerful.

I agree give the pj's etc to bulk the pile but it does sound to me like it needs a couple of 'toys'.

The pjs/ pants are expensive and he probably won't understand quality etc so yes keep that off his 'Christmas list'.

Try something a little different to normal? Marble run/ building sets especially off eBay/ Facebook
Plus stationary/ chocolate will also be useful and add up.

Op, I think you sound very sensible.

The switch is an amazing gift. My 3 dc got the switch last year to share between them and it's been played on most days.

I don't see anything wrong with giving pjs or pants as a gift either.

Could you get a board game that you can all play together?

2 good quality board games, some extra books, and some fancy pencils for stocking have been purchased!

Thanks folks!

PS will the next debate be how bad I am for giving pencils in a stocking as they are clearly a need and should be provided by me not given as a gift? 😂 just to clarify, obviously if he didn’t have enough pencils for school I wouldn’t wait till Xmas to buy him them…