Help me be the fun Auntie this Christmas!

[Sidebeforeself]

I dont always see my nieces and nephews every year for various reasons. But this year Im likely to see them all ( includes a few great nieces/nephews too!) So eight in total ranging from 16 - 2 years old.

I dont get presents for adults anymore. Sometimes they buy me some chocs etc but not set routine.

What the hell do I do? I dont want to turn up empty handed . I dont want to spend a fortune and I dont know them all well enough to choose a gift. I have to avoid food gifts because of their dietary needs.

I thought about giving money to their parents and saying ‘ buy something from me” but that feels a bit soulless and then do I just give each parent the same amount of £X per child???

Im over thinking it I know, but Im so looking forward to seeing everyone. Im finding this Christmas hard due to past bereavements so Im keen to get into the Christmas spirit.

Any suggestions? Has anyone found themselves doing something similar?

What's your budget and specific ages - people on here are really good at inspiring me with my three with things I haven't thought of/unexpected hits.

Just make sure you get gift receipts as at those ages they're likely ly to blurt out if they already have something.

I'd take a couple of games. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and/or Exploding Kittens/Articulate. TCGCP is basically a better version of snap but it brings my teens (15 & 17) out from their room and all adults/younger primary children I've played it with have had a good laugh from it, it's just so stupidly funny! (And sore! Teens don't take the whole 'snap' part gently 🤣)

For the little ones, can't help with that without spending on them specifically. But you can't go wrong with Big Potato games and they're probably on Black Friday deals on Amazon ATM. Making memories are better than presents anyway 😁

Gingerbread house making kits with decorations appeals to children of all ages for a Christmas Eve activity - it depends when you're seeing you them of course.

for my nieces and nephews (and theres a lot of them) I give money £10 because thats what's available in my budget and then a box of chocolates. we usually go for hers/celebrations, these always go down well.
One time we didn't know when dniece would get the gift so didn't want to do chocolate (could have been months before they got it) I did Uno with some money instead. as pp has said a game is good fun.
the youngest I always get something as its easier to buy for them. The very youngest this year (a few months old) will be getting a nice story book.
previous years ive done a story book and a soft toy that relates to the book.

Thanks for your suggestions so far. I dont think a game will work unfortunately. They will only be together for one day and they’ll be running around, playing with their other presents etc. Plus, who keeps the game ?!

If you could list their ages and your budget it will help posters offer suggestions.

Look out for places like Argos who do 3 for 2 in toys which may be useful for the much younger children- toys like Duplo/Lego are usually popular up to primary age. Older ones/teens maybe a £10 Amazon voucher etc, but it all depends on your budget.

There’s an instagram called “the.joys.of.4.boys” and she shares easy games to play at home for the whole family. There’s a highlight on her stories showing loads of stuff and it all seems so simple but fun

Ive said there are 8 aged between 16 and 2 years old. My budget is £100 ish.

One possibility is giving the parents a sum of money to spend on an experience

I'd pick a theme and everyone gets an age and (interests if you know any) version of the theme. Like, they all get a book or all get a craft set or all get stationary...

Is there much outside space? Can you get them a nerf gun each, or enough power popper guns (or slingshot ducks or fake snowballs for inside) - and put them in teams and see who wins? Extra points if you can get hold of a pile of big boxes and give each team 10 mins with a roll of packing tape to make themselves a team hideout in the garden.

Specific age/sex info would help us make suggestions!

Would it be possible for you to ask the parents what the children are interested in and then read a bit about it beforehand (e.g. specfic book or videogame)? In my experience, kids really appreciate an adult who will listen to them rambling on about their own great interest in life. If you have the patience and headspace to read up in advance then you would be an absolutely golden addition to the party.

I'm talking about things like Pokemon or whatever David Walliams book they are currently reading.

Ages 2-5 cuddly toy. Ages 6-11 lego kit, water bottle, fun socks, pj's. Over 12 costa card, tkmaxx voucher, water bottle. All get chocolate coins.

This! I have a teen and even she finds it difficult to buy a Secret Santa for a friend without a wish list.

If you can't do any food then add a pair of funny socks to each of the older ones. Buy some multipacks and split them up.

Honestly, I think on that budget/circumstances you're not suddenly going to become a famed fun aunt! I'd also avoid giving money saying it needs to be for an experience as realistically the parents would need to put in a fair amount themselves to make any experience doable.

I'd either ask parents for suggestions around the £10 mark, or just do that for the younger ones and give the older ones cash/vouchers. It's a rite of passage for kids to go spend their Christmas money/vouchers afterwards! Don't just try and guess at what they'll want as then the parents need to return it if it's a duplicate/kid doesn't like it (boo!) or ends up as clutter for months to come (double boo!)

I would go with the game idea.

What's the household ages.

For example do the older ones have tech? We had a huge hit with the retro sonic and us playing with them. It had tertrus and all sorts.

Middle ones the games suggested.

Screwball scramble always leads to great tournaments here. Even with granny.

I would do
ages 2-5 sticker/ colouring books and crayons/ pencils
5-8/9 Lego
10+ is a bit more tricky to be fair. Maybe stationery, Rubik’s cube, or other ‘game’ type of thing. Vouchers/ cash may seem like a cop out but kids that age do like to have some money to choose their own stuff too.

Nobody would know what stationery was for, and Lego is expensive.

Google funny pens for teens and funny pens for children. They have come up with loads of original designs, mine craft, funny cats, bendy pens etc. For the little ones stubby crayons, etch a sketch, Spirograph

Tbh,

(And I know it's a planet disaster)

I would get them each a massive helium balloon.
Any leftover cash to be split between older ones.

If you're driving you could get a cylinder and fill them up just before you go in, or card factory sell them filled for about £5-£15 depending on how big they are. (They take up way more space than you think in the car)

"Remember that Christmas when AuntieSelf brought all those balloons?!"

£100 for 8 children or £100 each?

If £100 split for 8 thats really difficult

Every child is different and if you dont know their likes and interests its going to be even harder

Are you a game playing family?
Playing games are always fun.
What about Games where you win prizes?
Take small prizes , Chocolate , sweets, small teddies, things like that?

We always used to have a treasure hunt as kids on Xmas morning and I do it now for my DSC. Easy, cheap and fun. They can work together or individually.

All of the pens are under £10. You could add a small pad too. I would organise some pen and paper games. Consequences, who can draw the funniest animal type of thing

Oh you think thats not enough? I was trying to curb my usual tendency to go overboard! By fun aunt , I just meant someone who’s put a bit of thought in , rather than just buying everyone a selection box! I could definitely go up a bit in budget