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?

I would go with nerf guns for the ages 6 and above, and maybe a target ..get lots of extra ammo amd make sure they are all the same design and the ammo fits (there are different ranges). They can run around outside and battle each other. If you really want to get fancy look at this link and maybe see if any of the games might work for the families, and then show up with the supplies for the games and some gift cards for the ‘winners’. But actually a gift card for each child and you can make up some extra categories for those that havent won one yet…child with the highest hop, child with the slowest crawl etc

the littles get fuzzy friends..jelly cat brand are lovely and soft

Have also got them a smart game each from amazon - but don't know how they will be received. There are several aimed at different ages - look for "smart game" on amazon and options will come up.

Games
An 'Exit' escape game in a box if they're older
Actual presents, not money or vouchers
A big box sweets
Pie face & cream!

OP - I totally get what you're saying about not being the type of family to play games or dress up in matching pjs. My (ex) in-laws have a huge family with loads of kids running around. People would think I'm nuts to suggest a group game at the table. 😂

Just give the older kids cash in a card or an amazon voucher and the younger kids toys. Jellycat toys are actually super popular with kids of all ages this year.

I came here to suggest this. This is my go-to gift for those I don’t know well enough to get gifts for, that isn’t overpriced. I even buy my children one each year, as I prefer outings / memories over materialistic things that may even be used.

The younger ones are a bit more tricky, but what about a local soft play area gift card?

Oh and I found something similar to this in B&M 2 days ago (it’s not exactly the same as it’s not the pro version I got as the one in the photo was £10 more for basically the same thing as I got), but even I am addicted to this 😂

My 19 year old son was playing it for ages the other night, and my 1 year old loved popping it too! It’s a pop it type thing, but it lights up and you have to press the lit ones as quick as you can. I hate games but this kept me entertained for ages!!

Maybe as a something extra to go with a VUE voucher?!

Popper guns 2 for £23

Laser quest 4 guns for £32

Nerf gun £12 although you could easily get a cheaper one, plus spare bullets

Slingshot chickens - also for adults

Snowballs best inside

Blind bags might be a good option for the younger ones https://www.thetoyshop.com/c/pocket-money/blind-bags . I think a gift card would go down well for the teens. I would drop the parents a quick message asking for general ideas of what they like, dinosaurs, bugs, princesses etc then you have a bit more to work with.

If you look up Hero Toys on Smyths and set the ‘sort by’ to price lowest to highest, there are lots of cool toys between £5 and £15 (I love the duck walker for little ones!)

Would it be possible to get some kind of game or activity that would appeal to all ages? Years ago I got a limbo game for all my nieces and nephews. It was intended to be for the kids only, but to my surprise, all of the adults joined in spurred on by a few drinks. It was a big hit with everyone. I have some lovely memories (and photos) of the older generation taking part. Sadly, some of them are no longer with us.

I see there are a few teenagers in the mix so they'd probably prefer cash or a gift card.

There are some difficult people on her.
Presents rather than vouchers, BM a good place to start, something silly and fun for each of them. Boots do £10 Tuesday for the older ones. Something fun for each of them, put them in a sack, put a Christmas hat on and dish them out.
Some great ideas above, go silly and fun!

Thanks everyone. I think Ive realised a few things:

I was trying to avoid trawling round shops , risking buying something they dont like /already have
I was trying to keep spends down, not because Im mean, but because I tend to go overboard.

Im out of touch with them as individuals to know what will go down well.

But this is the issue we all have a Christmas isn’t it?! I cant get out of it if I want them to have a present . My idea of giving the parents money to get them a gift “from me’ is unreliable i.e. the younger ones are not likely to realise they have already had a present from me.

I will have a good look at some of the links - thanks. And I think fake snowballs are a great idea!

I would do this, or, even better, cash. But I would give it to them directly rather than their parents. Could you give them all a scratchcard each as well as something 'fun'? Obviously technically they are too young to gamble but if they did win their parents can claim it for them.

Teenagers aren't any more likely to enjoy a silly game or 'hilarious' gag gift than your average adult, in fact less so because they often haven't grown into the 'ability to laugh at yourself' stage yet and absolutely everything is mortifying. And generic things like a cake in a mug set or nail varnish and random B&M/ Home Bargains tat are neither personal nor fun. You'll probably just get a slightly askance look, a polite thank you then on the car back home they'll be laughing and saying it will be added to the 'most random/crap presents 2024' list as it goes straight into the charity shop bag.

If you don't know someone well, it doesn't matter their age, there is nothing at all you can guarantee that every single person will like so why waste your money? Either ask their parents for something they will like or just give them money so they can get it themselves.

Jokes books aimed at specific ages - I found some on amazon, went down a treat with 7 year old boy.

Perhaps I dont mean fun Auntie as such - more the Auntie that they like!

Do the allergies include senstive skin related complaints @Sidebeforeself ? If not bath bombs from somewhere like Bomb Cosmetics for younger and Lush for older. Most kids I know like them, boys and girls. Then maybe daft rubber duck for little ones, joke book or annual like Beano middle ages, fancy magazine or graphic novel / book voucher older ones.

While it sounds an interesting idea, not all kids have the patience to sit still and. Watch others opening gifts one at a time. Also, lots of children (especially ones who are ND) could potentially get very upset at the idea of having to swap the gift they opened and thought they could keep… potential for arguments.

OP has already explained that her nieces and nephews will be running around the house too excited to play a board game so I can well understand that the present game wouldn’t work either.

Yes, I actually can't imagine a worse idea for kids than the present swapping game. Guaranteed fights and meltdowns. Happy Christmas eh!