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?

A £10 gift card for Greggs/Costa/Starbucks for the 16 year old, and any who might be 15/14.
Lush used to do little gift boxes for around £10, which might suit some of them.
Orchard do reasonably priced games or jigsaws for the little ones.
Cake in a mug type thing for any that are 7+.
Teen cook book for older ones, or cookery book aimed at younger children for primary aged ones.
A fiction book for all, age appropriate.
Guiness Book of Records is often popular with boys of 8+.
Nail polish set for 10+ girls.

The Present Game is novel (if you've never done it before, old hat if you have obviously) and fun.

Buy a bunch of little presents stocking filler type stuff across various age ranges with one or two 'bigger' gifts like a DVD or a book. Wrap them all and stuff them in a big red Christmassy looking santa sack.

Everyone sits around in a circle - you can do it at the table for example.
Decide where to start - you can just be arbitrary, or youngest or oldest first or draw numbers to start, or have a guessing game (how many miles from here to X and closest number starts).

First person rummages in sack, picks a present opens it in front of everyone.
Second person rummages in sack picks a present opens it BUT they can then decide to keep their gift or trade it with someone who has gone before them - and so on.

Ideally by the time you get to the end most people will have a gift that interests them.

If you bung in a few more than there are people then some people will get a couple of gifts and an opportunity to swap again.

I cant take sweets /chocs because of allergies etc. They will not play games altogether . The day will just be kids running around!

Feel mean now re budget - was just trying to be sensible really, on the basis of its highly likely whatever I get might be wrong, “lost” in the big pile of stuff they get etc.

16 ,13 ,11 are boys
11, 10,6 4 2 girls. All split across 2 families if you see what I mean

Im inclined to go just vouchers for everyone except the 3 youngest. Not very exciting but safest?

You can include the adults in this game too to get everyone involved.

Glitter lipsticks, mini novelty chocolates, tiny 'kits', all sort of things can work for the present game and don't need to be expensive.

This site has lots of ideas but there are plenty others.

https://www.cotswoldtrading.com/search/christmas-c21/stocking-fillers

Im inclined to go just vouchers for everyone except the 3 youngest. Not very exciting but safest?

Honestly - the present game is fun and more so if you involve the adults especially for people who have never done it before. everyone gets very invested in seeing what people are opening.

Im sorry - not being difficult - but we are just not that sort of family! I’ll have a look at the link though for present ideas

Just give each of them a £10 Vue voucher so they can see a film and get an ice cream whilst they are there! I really wouldn’t bother getting personal gifts if you don’t know them personally.

The parents must understand that 8 children is a lot to buy for. £10 per child is fine. I would go for a small gift rather than vouchers.

Could you get all of them matching pyjamas and then get a family photo of them all together on Christmas Day?

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc144802731?clickSR=slp:term:christmas%20pyjamas:6:110:1

You can get these in every age and in budget x

There's a great site called Wicked Uncle, they have loads of fun stuff.

Im sorry - not being difficult - but we are just not that sort of family!

What do you mean not that sort of family? In what sense? It's just opening presents and watching people opening presents, getting a little gift and swapping it! I've done it with strangers in an office environment, with friends and so on. Everyone likes getting a gift and for a one off it's fun. It can get boring if it's done regualarly but if you've never done it has a novelty value.

I'm perplexed as to what 'not that sort of family' means here. If you tell us what 'sort of family' you mean then maybe we can come up with something else

I'd buy some silly Christmas hats and christmas balloons. You'd get a great photo with them all in in it, which you get then print copies off and send to all the family. Win win.

I think I'd do something like remote control cars (chargeable ones rather than batteries). I bought the ones that flip over when they touch a wall, which went down well with my nephews and you can get them for about £20 on Amazon.
Also Waterstones was surprisingly good for gifts - I bought some little jelly things called crawlers that you squeeze and throw at a wall )they are soft) which then crawl like a bug. The kids liked them - my mum, not so much
They also had science experiment type gifts and books with a cuddly toy for the little ones. I'd probably do those kinds of gifts with a bag of chocolate coins each and that should be within budget.

With your budget; I would give them all £10 in a card, stuck to a selection box.

What about a reusable water bottle? SHO has a Black Friday deal. The adult versions are £15 but 25% off so £12 each and come in different colours. Then the “kids” ones for the little kids with straw tops are a bit more but still 25% off.

If the kids like tearing about together and there are enough sibling pairs, maybe you can get them these between siblings? https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/construction-and-cars/blasters-and-toy-guns/laser-x-revolution-double-blaster-pack/p/211190

Or some walkie talkies

I think the present-swapping game is ok with adults, but guaranteed tears with kids/siblings that age, especially when most will be hyper anyway from Christmas excitement.

Vouchers is good. Or hard cash, or book tokens for the smallest ones - it’s great to have the autonomy to choose for yourself when you’re small.

I think you are being given suggestions for playing games together because of the way you have worded your OP. Asking for help to be the “Fun Aunt” implies you want to have fun with the family/kids or for them to think of you in a certain way. What you should have asked was, ‘what can I buy these children for £12 that’s not completely shit’, which is a whole other thing from being the Fun Aunt…

Honestly, just hand them each a £10 note in a card. They’ll love it!

The jelly bean game? A big selection of jellybeans. Spin a wheel and choose a section- might be a nice or a nasty jellybean. Lots of fun. And no arguments about who takes the game home at the end.

If it's not your house, buy them a box of silly string cannisters.

I've just asked my niece and nephew, who are more like my own.

They both said, from different locations, in response to why am I the fun aunt?

Because you were there and you spent time with us.

A game each - toy for younger ones and fun games like uni, exploding kittens etc . You'll get them cheap around now especially if you trawl the bargain threads.. Then a pair of Christmas socks, (can get a multi pack of 6 for £4 in B&M) a mini Christmas rubber duck (Temu or Dunelm) and a candy cane/small box of sweets. Then they have things to play with, something to wear and something to eat.
If the 16 year old (and parents) are open minded you could get a version of Cards against humanity for kids! Although my kids liked things like Exploding kittens at that age.