How to make second hand toys look a little more wow

[GettingOldWithoutStyle]

Just because without the jazzy packaging I'm left with a wrapped cardboard box, I'd like to make them look abit more wow. I've bought my kids a few second hand bits, it's much cheaper, better for the environment and means I feel less guilty buying things which might be a passing fad (they're 5, 3 and 11m!)

Any suggestions for a mum of 3 on a budget?

Mine is 10 now, but we've done similar from him being little; playmobil, Lego, whatever, but couldn't afford new. He's just bought a reconditioned iPad with his own money as he sees buying new as a bit of a waste of money sometimes. So it can have long lasting good effects for them to learn that not everything needs to be new and wrapped to within an inch of its life.

Is it not recyclable?

Pieces of material? Reusable year after year😁

Don't wrap them.

The wow factor is seeing them all out and set up and ready to go... unboxing was always a nightmare and kids have no patients.

Small boxed things, books, teddies etc... might get wrapped but second hand play sets, ride on toys, tents etc... just out and ready to go.

Yep this is our way too.

Wrapped presents from us but anything Santa delivers is set up and staged ready to go.

Was the same when I was a kid.

I've always bought mine second hand toys. They are similar ages to yours, this year will be 6yrs, 4yrs and 2yrs. I made a load of felt gift bags with tie tops to them that their toys go in. It makes wrapping easier and better for the environment as they are all reusable.

Loose balloons on the floor amongst the presents are a great cheap way to add excitement and make a small pile look bigger.

Lucky dip!

use a massive box full of shredded paper as suggested above - toys can go in wrapped in whatever) - kids take turns to pull one out. Maybe you could differentiate each child’s parcels in some way so that they can tell by feel while rummaging if they’ve picked one for themself!

put a couple in for the adults too!

This would only work for smaller items though

We always unbox and assemble the bigger toys on Christmas Eve. I usually add a giant bow from Home Bargains. Then DC can play with the bike/dolls house/toy kitchen/giant hot wheels track etc straightaway on Christmas morning.

I don’t wrap them. I set them up ready to play with. It has a wow effect and saves that restless period where they’re waiting for everything to be put together.

I've bought second hand since my dds were born, they are now 14 and 11 and I've still managed some things. Infact dd1 is pretty much done thanks to vinted. As mine got older they actually ask for second hand as they know they get more for my budget.

Ive got reusuable boxes I use each year, they fold down flat, I just put new tape on to secure them and undo it after Christmas. I've got some sturdier ones that stack inside each other too.

I have bought clear plastic storage boxes in the past that I planned to store the new toys in, used a few stickers on them.

For small toys I bought super cheap poundland crackers and put the presents inside. Then each dd got a box of crackers each which they loved!!

I keep packaging like plastic balls from surprise toys and reuse these every year.

One year I got a second hand tent which I set up a few presents inside.

I've done a big wrapped box with lots of small presents wrapped inside like a lucky dip.

We bought DD. a large Brio trainset second hand and just set it up in the living room in the middle before the tree. She didn't even look at anything else.

While her playmobil castle was bought new, DH and I assembeld it (with lots of wine and swearing and it took 2 nights), we just sat it up and covered it under a big bedsheet.

We used to this because of budget certainly the younger ones won't even notice or care
I used any Cardboard boxes wrapped toys in tissue and wrapped in Christmas wrapping
Now, you can buy boxes from places like card factory or home bargains
Any small toys tissue paper in a gift bag
They always had second hand bikes and scooters which I put a bow on handlebars and threw a paper Christmas tablecloth over
You can still reuse boxes and gift bags
It's the right thing to do, for budget and environment
I also bought books from charity shops

Thanks everyone, some great ideas on here. I've actually started saving bits of tissue/paper packaging, you know the stufd that come inside nice delivery boxes. I have some Christmas ink stamps so I'm also think I could use these to make plain brown paper abit more christmassy and maybe do different colours per child to make Christmas eve easier for me. Lots to do...I'm hoping I have plenty of work zoom calls from November onwards 😂😂 perfect for doing some stealthy crafts whilst listening in 😀🤫

I'm also painting some mini wooden pegs, and using little drawstring Hessian sacks for "advent calendars" this year, hanging them on some festive string. They're actually a lot better shape for putting things in than the little square boxes I've found! Just an idea in case anyone else is looking for more sustainable/different Christmas ideas

Like this but for about a tenner 😱

@SootspriteSearcher can I ask what sort of things you got for your teen from vinted I'm always looking for ideas, thanks!

I think I wouldn’t put it in a box but wrapped in tissue with Christmas patterned clear cellophane wrap layered over and ribbons/ bows