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Christmas

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

Christmas Ideas for a child who doesn’t play with toys?

25 replies

AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 11:51

DD is 8 and stopped playing with toys about 6 months ago. Has loads of toys they just don’t look at.

I sorted them out with her and she said they’re all boring.

Looked through the Smyths toy catalogue and she doesn’t want any toys.

She asked for an iphone 15 which I’ve said no to as she has no need for a phone.

Already has a tablet she’d spend her life on if I allowed it. I limit her to 2 hours on a Saturday and then unlimited access on Sundays which she then refuses to come off even for food.

We have a switch she occasionally asks to play instead of her tablet but isn’t really bothered. She does any homework on my laptop and I’m not prepared to get her her own until the Christmas before she turns 11 ready for Secondary School.

Has a bike and scooter she refuses to use as I insist she wears a helmet where none of her friends are made to, I offer to get them out at least once a week and it’s always met with “Only if I don’t have to wear my helmet”.

She’s not into sport; we tried gymnastics, two types of dance and netball, she hated them all. She has swimming lessons but isn’t that bothered by it, it’s something she tolerates rather than enjoys.

She is a Girlguide/Brownie but I think is losing interest in that to although that might just be because it’s currently half term, she has done a bit of badge work this half term though.

Isn’t quite at the makeup and hair stage, she’s a young 8, only turned 8 in July and is the youngest in her year and all the others seem much bigger/older than her.

She still believes in Santa so need a couple of ideas. She has no idea what she wants, and usually has a list by this point in the year that she's been saving/talking about since her birthday, but this year nothing.

What on earth can I get her that she might like that isn’t a phone/tablet?

OP posts:
Nonplusultra · 02/11/2023 11:57

I think that there is a natural developmental transition from child’s play to more serious craft and sport activities around this age

What does she do to relax and unwind when she’s not on a screen? What are her favourite school subjects? What does she do/watch on screens?

AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 12:00

Nonplusultra · 02/11/2023 11:57

I think that there is a natural developmental transition from child’s play to more serious craft and sport activities around this age

What does she do to relax and unwind when she’s not on a screen? What are her favourite school subjects? What does she do/watch on screens?

@Nonplusultra She hates school and all parts of it, her favourite part is hometime.

She does like her cuddly toys but she has millions of them both here and at her dads.

She watches a lot of netflix and Disney+, her favourite seems to be cartoons like Bluey but also Spongebob, she keeps asking to watch Cbbc with Pokemon as well.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 02/11/2023 12:02

Books?
Art/Craft stuff?
Did she play with Lego? Maybe more of the "grown up" sets?.

Mycatstares9 · 02/11/2023 12:04

Squishmallows?

AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 12:04

Needmorelego · 02/11/2023 12:02

Books?
Art/Craft stuff?
Did she play with Lego? Maybe more of the "grown up" sets?.

@Needmorelego We don't need more Lego, we have loads of it that barely gets looked at.

OP posts:
AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 12:06

Mycatstares9 · 02/11/2023 12:04

Squishmallows?

@Mycatstares9 She does love Squishmallows, not sure if she'd like the little collectable ones. She has 2 of the very big ones and all of the Mcdonalds Halloween ones (thanks to her dad for always taking her to Mcdonalds on his weekends!)

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LadyGAgain · 02/11/2023 12:07

It's like you've written about my DD! She loves singing, dancing, performing, acting so a mirror is her favourite toy. I struggle with tangible gifts but I buy theatre tickets, concert tickets, days out and she loves that. Experiences not stuff.

Needmorelego · 02/11/2023 12:08

@AwkwardAgeForChristmas ok no Lego....(send it all to me 🙂).
There's loads of Pokémon books - encyclopedias of characters etc. In fact at 8 my daughter would have been happy with a pile of Pokémon cards.

daffodilandtulip · 02/11/2023 12:08

What about toys that aren't toys. Like if she's into Pokémon, some nice figures and a shelf unit to display them in?

BirthdayFlower · 02/11/2023 12:10

Art supplies, craft kits, nice stationery. Experiences- tickets to a show?

Andanotherone01 · 02/11/2023 12:12

Does she like make your own kits, such as bath bombs, lip balm? Bubble tea making kit?
How about a Roblox gift card (but I appreciate you are probably trying to discourage this)
Kids make up, hair things, skincare?
Money with the promise to take her for a shopping spree?
Special sweets or chocolates (Harry Potter sweet hamper, American candy hamper, Jelly Belly etc)
Kraci Popin Cookin' kits?
Baking stuff?

Both of my DDs were over toys by about 8 or 9 but love the things suggested.

AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 12:14

Andanotherone01 · 02/11/2023 12:12

Does she like make your own kits, such as bath bombs, lip balm? Bubble tea making kit?
How about a Roblox gift card (but I appreciate you are probably trying to discourage this)
Kids make up, hair things, skincare?
Money with the promise to take her for a shopping spree?
Special sweets or chocolates (Harry Potter sweet hamper, American candy hamper, Jelly Belly etc)
Kraci Popin Cookin' kits?
Baking stuff?

Both of my DDs were over toys by about 8 or 9 but love the things suggested.

@Andanotherone01 She has a bath bomb kit we've never touched, will have a look at refills for it though as I do think she'd enjoy it.

She does like baking at Brownies so I might look at a kit for that thank you!

Some other great ideas there I can explore to thank you

OP posts:
Andanotherone01 · 02/11/2023 12:17

AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 12:14

@Andanotherone01 She has a bath bomb kit we've never touched, will have a look at refills for it though as I do think she'd enjoy it.

She does like baking at Brownies so I might look at a kit for that thank you!

Some other great ideas there I can explore to thank you

Pleasure. My two love tangible and edible things (especially if they have made their own and can eat it!) I'm looking at a Slush Puppie machine for my 10 year old's birthday but so far the reviews aren't amazing - I'll probably go with a bubble tea set.

Leeds2 · 02/11/2023 12:37

Would she like a new (Pokemon?) duvet/curtains/cushions/bean bag for her bedroom? Might seem a bit boring to some, but my DD loved things like that.
Basketball hoop.
Books.
A baking hamper with, eg, recipe books, an apron, different food colourings and icings. You used to be able to get personalised spatulas on Not On The High Street, which were fun.
Trampoline.

AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 12:43

Problem with her room is it's tiny, we're in housing association and the room she has just about classes as a room, she has the bulk head of the stairs taking up most of the space, she just has a short single bed in there and thats it. - it's not even a full size single bed Her wardrobe is in my room it's that small so any rugs/bean bags etc have to go in the living room which is fine but may take the specialness of it away so I avoid things like that.

We are trying to move because DD does need a bigger bed - she needs a single not a shortie - but it won't be before Christmas I don't think.

OP posts:
Wanttoshavemyhairoff · 02/11/2023 12:44

If she likes baking , you could do her a big baking hamper? Apron , different sprinkles , moulds, baking bowl , whisk etc

Does she like arts & crafts? Posca pens are a big hit here , decent slime sets , air modeling clay , diamond art

Or popcorn machine , waffle maker , Slushie maker , mini fridge , air up?

Or tickets to something she’s in to , mine love Starbucks vouchers

AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 12:48

Wanttoshavemyhairoff · 02/11/2023 12:44

If she likes baking , you could do her a big baking hamper? Apron , different sprinkles , moulds, baking bowl , whisk etc

Does she like arts & crafts? Posca pens are a big hit here , decent slime sets , air modeling clay , diamond art

Or popcorn machine , waffle maker , Slushie maker , mini fridge , air up?

Or tickets to something she’s in to , mine love Starbucks vouchers

@Wanttoshavemyhairoff Brilliant ideas. She did make a Room in a Box with Brownies awhile ago and kept going on about wanting to make some proper figures for it so modelling clay might go down well.

She's obsessed with Popcorn and Waffles at After School Club so that'd work to.

OP posts:
housethatbuiltme · 02/11/2023 12:52

8 the the start of pre-teens and when most kids go through this change... it is a pain though as they are too old for toys and too young for mature young adult stuff.

Many do switch to technology... I would honestly get her a phone (but NOT an expensive Iphone).

ChickenPicken · 02/11/2023 12:54

The mini squishmallows (squishville) are fun of quite expensive. I agree with posh pens for drawing, acrylic pens and a pebble painting book were good when my dd was that age. Hexbug nano are quite fun. Upgraded scooter or bike? A fancy watch. Cute bedside lamp/nightlight. A Yoto player if she likes audiobooks (or the reading only style of kindle maybe?)

AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 12:54

housethatbuiltme · 02/11/2023 12:52

8 the the start of pre-teens and when most kids go through this change... it is a pain though as they are too old for toys and too young for mature young adult stuff.

Many do switch to technology... I would honestly get her a phone (but NOT an expensive Iphone).

@housethatbuiltme I'm not getting her a phone when she has a tablet that she already thinks she doesn't spend enough time on.

OP posts:
Torganer · 02/11/2023 12:58

A musical instrument? Learning an instrument and reading music is a great skill to have.

Hbh17 · 02/11/2023 13:08

At age 8, all I would have wanted was books, as many as I was allowed.
In fact, I'm pretty much the same now.....

Caspianberg · 02/11/2023 13:26

Does she have a kindle? Not a tablet one just regular reading one. It’s tech but just books.

mini easel, a how to paint x (animals/ Pokémon or whatever) book, paints.

housethatbuiltme · 02/11/2023 13:26

AwkwardAgeForChristmas · 02/11/2023 12:54

@housethatbuiltme I'm not getting her a phone when she has a tablet that she already thinks she doesn't spend enough time on.

My kid was addicted to his tablet and xbox at that age (now at 15 his PS and PC) but he got a phone at 8 and the novelty didn't even last a day. He uses it as a glorified clock for telling the time and setting alarms but it is useful to contact family too.

Emrie · 13/11/2023 20:50

How about experiences?
that’s what I get mine.
they are 5&3
in past we have had annual pass for water parks, wildlife park, sealife centre. Science museums,

this year they getting passes for theme park.
we do vouchers for days out, family photos( princess shoots this year)

we take pictures and create a memory book each year

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