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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Please suggest large(ish) extra pressies?

71 replies

Twoweeksandcounting · 18/12/2022 08:44

My daughter is 9, an only child. This year, we are going to the inlaws for Xmas day and other family on Boxing Day, so she will have lovely gifts waiting for her at both places. We’ll be waking up at home on Xmas morning, and I have just realised it’s going to look almost bare under our tree. My husband and I aren’t exchanging gifts this year, as we have booked a treat for early next year. So there will literally be her presents under the tree from FC and us.

She has a bike, which will obviously be very exciting and take up some space in the living room. But otherwise, she just has a few small bits and pieces. We’ve never been ones for massive piles of presents, but I would really like to pad it out a bit so it looks a bit more exciting. Don’t want to buy stuff just for the sake of it that won’t get used, so would be nice if any extras I get can be useful for her.

I would have started with a onesie and a fleecy throw, but I know grandparents have got her both of those. So I thought perhaps a new duvet cover set, a fun cushion for her bed, and maybe a primark version of an oodie if I can find one. Any other suggestions please? Can afford to spend the extra, but don’t want to break the bank!

OP posts:
CrapBucket · 18/12/2022 08:49

9 is peak age for enthusiasm about fun/character versions of 'things they would get anyway', here are some ideas!

Bubble bath
PJs
Hairbrush if new one needed
Box of cereal
Box of decaf grown-up drink i.e. tea/coffee
Ice cream
Can of squirty cream
Hat /gloves
School bag
Slippers

I would add something that keeps her busy so she has a new toy to play with or craft activities that aren't too messy for Christmas day.

Greekycheesey · 18/12/2022 08:49

We’re in the same position! I have also got:
small Lego set
nice lockable diary from paper chase and some nice pens
Guinness book of world records
Magic 8 ball (saw it suggested on here)

would love some other ideas …

It’s a difficult age - they still like things to play with but are a bit too old for toys

girlsyearapart · 18/12/2022 08:50

I got mine tubs of candy floss from the £ shop - look big but very cheap !

also a hit with my girls was a wooden box thing with pens and pencils in. Think they were from the works or smiths

along same lines was a big wheel type thing of Sharpies

Sturmundcalm · 18/12/2022 08:51

the years I've been looking for bulk I've gone with inflatable stuff!!
from daft air guitars to exercise balls - the exercise ball was a HUGE hit with DS (who was then 13) and he still uses it.

would second the food option - a box of chocolate cereal has always been a hit here (but prob depends whether you allow it normally!)

Perfectlystill · 18/12/2022 08:52

Guinness Book of Records. £9 in Sainsbury's

piefacedClique · 18/12/2022 08:52

Get to b and M. I’ve bought my two things like giant tumbles of Pringles, slush puppy cups, box of sharpies, loads of initialled stuff, toiletries and gift sets of smellies etc, packs of lip balms/glosses, hair curler etc

LuciferRising · 18/12/2022 08:53

Sainsburys have some nice cake kits. Solar system ones, bubble ones etc. Got them for DD birthday.

Slimjimtobe · 18/12/2022 08:55

Long hot water bottle
stuff to bake a cake
cushions for her bed
nice shampoo etc

BigGreen · 18/12/2022 08:59

I'm getting my kids a big box of outrageous chocolate cereal.

Useitorloseit · 18/12/2022 09:01

A bean bag?
A cushion for her bedroom?
A blanket?
An Oodie type thing?

verytired42 · 18/12/2022 09:02

Board games! my nieces were very into board games at that age and they’re satisfyingly big.
Risk, monopoly, articulate, game of cat and mouth, Carcassone, Catan (whatever you don’t already have)
Big glossy reference books about whatever she’s doing at school - there are nice DK books on politics and philosophy for example - I loved that kind of thing when I was a kid

Useitorloseit · 18/12/2022 09:02

Sorry I really should have read your OP properly 🤦‍♀️ wouldn't care but I get frustrated when people don't and here I am doing it!

FunctionalSkills · 18/12/2022 09:03

Craft kits /sets? Mine love that.

I've got a "big box of craft" to look big, a nice mosaic kit and a candle making kit.

Rainbowqueeen · 18/12/2022 09:03

Yep box cake sets is a great idea. Maybe a gingerbread men set if you can find it too.

Books

Santa hat if she doesn’t have one.

A Christmas decoration

Hot chocolate, mug and marshmallows

Food stuffs eg drinks she hasn’t tried before, crisps, stuff from other countries eg fortune cookies, bubble tea pack.

Socks

DelphiniumBlue · 18/12/2022 09:04

This is not what you asked, but I think you and DH not having any presents under the tree at all sends your child the wrong message. You say that you have enough money so get some presents for each other- even if it’s just token things( can I recommend Primark slouchy T-shirts ) so that DD is not the only one with presents.
For DD, maybe furry slipper boots? Books? A hoodie?

Iknowhim · 18/12/2022 09:05

BigGreen · 18/12/2022 08:59

I'm getting my kids a big box of outrageous chocolate cereal.

Sainsbury’s have some Christmas cereal that looks suitably disgusting.

Twoweeksandcounting · 18/12/2022 09:05

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I think edible stuff is a good shout, she isn’t normally allowed chocolate cereal, so will get a box of something ridiculously sugary. She also loves Pringles, so will look for the big tubs. Also I remember seeing the yard of Jaffa cakes or Oreo’s, so maybe one of those.

Guinness world records book already bought by grandparents!

I think I am going to go to B&M/Home Bargains and see what’s what!

OP posts:
Twoweeksandcounting · 18/12/2022 09:10

Can I ask what message you think it sends? Is it that she is the only one important/special enough to get presents on Xmas day? Or am I misunderstanding?

The thing is, there is nothing we either want or need. It really would be buying for the sake of it. She has seen us buying for others to take on Xmas day and Boxing Day. And actually, I just remembered that she bought me something while out with her nana the other week, and I’ll take her to buy something for her dad to put under the tree. So there will be those two things as well. She also knows that we are having a lovely weekend away as our Christmas treat.

OP posts:
Twoweeksandcounting · 18/12/2022 09:11

Sorry, above message was to @DelphiniumBlue Hope I’m not coming across as argumentative, I just want to understand if there is something I’m missing.

OP posts:
Sugarfree23 · 18/12/2022 09:12

Bean bag,
box of Crisps.

I actually think you and DH should go and buy some little things for each other. Even if it's stuff you'd buy anyway toiletry sets, chocolate, books, bottles of booze, top or t-shirt. That will help make the living room look less bare and make it feel like more of a family occasion.

LizzieMacQueen · 18/12/2022 09:14

But will you not also have under your tree those gifts you are taking to family on Xmas day and Boxing Day? They'll be wrapped and looking all Christmassy.

Twoweeksandcounting · 18/12/2022 09:16

LizzieMacQueen · 18/12/2022 09:14

But will you not also have under your tree those gifts you are taking to family on Xmas day and Boxing Day? They'll be wrapped and looking all Christmassy.

That’s a good point, to be honest, we would normally wrap them and put them in bags ready to be taken, rather than putting them under the tree here ahead of time, as the dog can get a bit nosy. But maybe we’ll do that this year

OP posts:
MerylSqueak · 18/12/2022 09:18

A cuddle cushion . I got one from Matalan and I've seen them in Home Bargains for £12.

LimeCheesecake · 18/12/2022 09:18

You should get gifts too and your dd should give both of you a gift. Christmas Day isn’t just about her, she needs to get that everyone gets gifts and she gives them too.(This is harder to remember to do for only kids). If you are going to family, put the gifts you’ve got them under the tree too.

For a bulky but cheap gift - tescos had some small air hockey sets around a tenner that are about 2 foot long. In the box look even bigger.

WonderingWanda · 18/12/2022 09:19

Puzzles are normally quite big and fairly cheap. A big set of felt tips and a colouring book. A paint by numbers set or one of those preprinted canvas sets from hobbycraft. Tie die kit. Outfit for Christmas day. A board game. 9 is a easy age to find ideas for.