If you are doing want, need, wear, read what are your kids getting?

[ChristmasIsComing2023]

I’m doing the stocking and a want, need, wear, read as the Santa presents 🥰

So Santa is getting my 2 year old:
Want: A Paw Patrol Ryder’s Pup Pad (he can’t talk yet but he carried one of these around Smyths and played with it for ages)
Need: A 2p machine toy (he doesn’t really need anything but he loved 2p machines when we went on holiday and there are none where we live so I figured it sort of fit 🤷‍♀️)
Wear: A Paw Patrol Outfit
Read: A book with wheels as he loves anything with wheels 😁

I do this loosely but also do one other gift...often a 'something to make/do' gift but not always.

DS(15)
Want - Gaming microphone with stand
Need - Cricket bag
Wear - Mystery football shirt
Read - Football poster (which has writing on it so... 😆)
Other - LED strip lights

DD(11)
Want - Customised high-top trainers
Need - Vanity case
Wear - Teddy bear bedding set (yes I know it's not for wearing but the amount of time she spends snuggled under her duvet I figured it kind of worked!)
Read - Baking book
Make/do - Selection of slimes

DD(5)
Want - Polly Pocket suitcase playset
Need - Djeco craft set (educational toys come under need)
Wear - Swimmable mermaid tail
Read - Set of books
Make/do - Potion-making set

I never understand this... if you want to buy 4 toys just buy 4 toys but attempting (and failing usually) to cram them in to bizarre categories is just odd but peak mumsnet.

I don't think in all the years reading the Christmas forum I have ever seen a 'need' that wasn't actually just another 'want' type gift. The explanations people come up with to attempt to justify it (when it doesn't need justifying... just buy what you want) is always hilarious. The 'twee' poem just doesn't work.

There is nothing wrong with setting limits/budgets though, if you only want 4 then thats fine... in our stocking they only get 4 'toy/novelty' things then stickers and game to share and sweets but I'm not going to limit myself to what those 4 things can be.

I'm not sure what's wrong with the 'need' gift also being something they want? You usually get people up in arms because 'surely if it's something they need then you should just buy it anyway!' Or if it's something to wear, 'but clothes are an essential item so you should just buy it anyway!' Everything on my lists are things they want or I know they will love... and that's a good thing.

My interpretation of need is something hobby/interest related for the older ones or something educational for youngest. I don't buy essential items for need.

Personally I use the 'twee poem' as a way to inspire a few ideas and give a bit of variety to the gifts I buy, it's not about being frugal and sticking to a budget. And I see it as a little game for myself to make gifts fit the poem...it's completely harmless but people hate it for some reason. If it doesn't work for you then don't do it. But it works for me.

I do it roughly for my kids and always have done. They’re teens now.

DS 18
Want - some merchandise from a TV show he likes, PlayStation game
Need - new backpack, desk lamp,
Wear - PJs, hoodie, fake Oodie, socks & undies
Read - book about classic films, a couple of novels I thought he might like (not a huge reader, though!)

DD 15
Want - branded make-up & toiletries, light up mirror for dressing table, art supplies
Need - hair accessories, toiletries,
Wear -knickers, bras, socks, pjs, sweatshirt, jeans
Read - 3 novels I think she’ll like & a book about fashion

ds(19)

Want -
Spending money for holiday with friends next summer
Need (replaced) -
Airpods as one of his 7 year old ones are now not keeping a charge at all
Headset for playstation as current one has a frayed/taped up cable and is making crackly noises (not an expensive pair)
He has been making do with both of above because he is saving for his holiday
Wear -
Socks, pants (he doesn't let me buy him actual clothes anymore 🤣)
Read -
Does a Spicery curry recipe book count?
Christmas Scratch card? (you need to read it I guess!)
Other -
Bottle of vodka, southern comfort, triple sec, wkd cans, orange juice, pint glass and a jigger
(if you have an older teen and live in West Coast of Scotland you'll know what it is for)

@NoTouch, it definitely counts as 'read'! In my book, all vouchers, tickets or experience gifts also come under 'read' because you need to read them to discover what your gift is 😉😆

I’m just using it for the gifts from Santa so that when he is older he will understand that he can ask for one thing that he really, really wants from Santa and then Santa will also bring him something he needs, something to wear and something to read. We will still get him other things though just not from Santa 🤷‍♀️

For teen DS....

Want - Sessions with a Personal trainer
Need - shaving kit
Wear - jogging bottoms, pjs, Christmas socks,
Read - not exactly, but a Waterstones voucher

People get so riled about this optional present buying framework OP, watch out 😄

DS8:
want: tamagotchi
need: cool pens
wear: goalie gloves
read: chess book

DS6:
want: inflatable toy thing, a ‘biggies’
need: not sure
wear: not sure yet
read: Ada Twist Scientist

Theyll get one big present from Santa plus stocking things, then the above and a main present from us.

Which potion making kit did you get?

@zaffa, this one...
Rainbow Fizz Potion Kit

And then I got a few bottles and utensils to go with it 😊

I think the categories are just a guide. Wear and need are better versions of those things. So an item of clothing they will love like a marvel sweatshirt rather than the basic option they would get if bought at another time. Read is a hardback picture book for the four year old or a whole trilogy for my teen.

@Pipistrellus, something to wear doesn't have to be an item of clothing though. Perfume/aftershave, jewellery, bags, make-up, face-paint, tattoo kits are all wearable things. Dressing-up costumes and football kits too...clothing but not standard stuff.

A item of clothing they will love works best for us. It's nice to have something that isn't the basic option I would normally get when they need clothes.

We don't do it directly but somehow it fits this year:

Read - a fantasy novel (and two extra she hasn't asked for)
Want - several Taylor Swift merchandise
Wear - jewellery and make up
Need - a new laptop, her current one is on it's really last leg.