So…. What have you got the kids?!

[TheGirlWhoLived]

I KNOW it’s not to everyone’s taste, I KNOW people could/will pile on about excess and budgets and gluttony, greed, and the spirit of baby Jesus himself … but I’m nosy and want to know 😁 I’m also here for the very divisive annual Christmas Fridge bunfight in a couple of weeks.

I’ll go first.

ds3 4 in January
stepping stones
magnatiles road add on
floor is lava game
craft tub
wellies
bluey aeroplane, some bluey people and a pool
Marble run
a shark car loader thing
pizza pizza game
Poseable cuddly Mario
paw patrol zoomer and his boat
lego adventure set
outfit
pick and mix box
stick man pj’s

dd10
slime set
bedazzler set
ugg boots
phone case
glow recipe set
sol de janeiro mini perfume set
satin pajamas
ipad pencil
white fox hoody
stanley cup
Outfit
ariana cloud perfume
tree hut scrub
jellycat coffee
freeze dried sweets

dd14
ipad pencil
Carolina herrera perfume
Jellycat marshmallows
conan gray jumper (not sure this will arrive in time!)
satin pajamas
outfit
freeze dried sweets
Laniege mini lip balms
summer Fridays lip balm
Ugg boots
hair rollers
whiteboard markers, magnets and accessories
Court of thorns and roses book set
better than the movies books one and two

DS8
Main present from me & DH:
Amazon Echo Show (he asked for this)

Stocking:
2 Mario amiibos
Connect 4
Mini rubix cube
Python coding book
Chocolate selection box
HD cable for Wii

DS5
Main presents from me & DH:
Light up Polaris teddy
Numberocks teddies

Stocking:
2 star teddies
Glow in the dark stars
Giant chocolate buttons
Space pjs
Glow in the dark space lego
Planet erasers
Planet stickers

DS7months

No main present so just a stocking
Firefly high chair toy
Lamaze Calimari
Elf teddy

Can you put some away for birthdays?

I get my DH a pair of (what I believe to be frankly overpriced) trainers every year plus other things... couldn't dream of giving a KID only a pair of trainers.

DD14

Charlotte Tilbury make-up and make-up bag;
Glow recipe set;
Box of cute 5ml mini perfumes (Miss Dior, J'adore, Scandal, YSL, Valentino and Prada);
Drunk Elephant bronze drops;
Sephora gift card;
Apple pencil;
iPad case with keyboard;
White Fox top that she asked for but thinks I haven't ordered;
Aelfric Eden hoodie;
Ariat riding socks;
Highlights at hairdressers that she is beginning for; and
Cash

How have you come to that conclusion?

You have zero idea what family anyone has... its so hillarious that you ASSUMED something you couldn't possibly know because theres 'no disclaimer' about how much family people have but you expect everyone to ignore your ignorance because 'I shouldn't have to put disclaimers'.

Forgot to add Laniege Candy Cane lip mask

You're very welcome x

People have to have digs, my 3 year old loves anything make up. My mam gave me her childhood christmas eve books (from the 60s) when I was little (6-9 year old) and they where full of fashion and style tips for little girl etc...

My kids all have tablets, its normal and they would be left behind without... they have access to computers and tablets at school ffs. People shouldn't be proud of having their kids fall behind their peers in terms of proficiency in educational tools.

At 8 year old a phone is a perfectly logical and normal gift, my parents bought me my first mobile phone at 8 (when I started going out to play with friends) in the 1990s... it was for safety so we could call for help if needed.

I swear some mumsnetters live under rocks... it bizarre people brag about living like prehistoric cave men with only a rock and a stick lol.

My kids are only young once and its such a tiny part of life... I let them enjoy it without worrying about clutter and upholding minimalism. A house with multiple children in is meant to look lived and played in. You walk in my house and you see toys, why would/should I be embarrassed by that?

Its definitely far more worrying going to a house that has kids but looks pristine and devoid of toys like kids don't live there. Its something SS look out for as a possible sign of abuse so not something I'm in a rush to idolize.

They have their entire adulthood to be hit over the head by judgements, societal tidiness rules (which are often ablest in function to boot) and people criticizing anything 'commercialism' thats not absoloutly necessary so I'll let them have fun as kids.

@pinkksugarmouse @housethatbuiltme I feel like there's a lot of ground between asking about storage and living in a house so devoid from toys that it alarms the social services.

Someone once said there are a few years where your kids are really visible. Play gyms and mats as a baby, ride ons and colourful big things as toddlers, duplo, play kitchens and train sets for preschoolers, lego and stuff when they're at school. It won't last long really. So much like House I'm just embracing it right now. Live in a 1930's 3 bed semi detached home. The play kitchen is in my kitchen, I've made a lego table using a trofast, we have a kallax full of duplo and random things like the balloon cars, musical instruments, building blocks, magna tiles, paw patrols, craft gear etc all in the lounge, as well as some books and all the Okido magazines!! Then the kids share a room and have bunk beds which has a bit of space underneath so that's got the train set, the hot wheels is set up in their room, next to the doll high chair and dollshouse. There's also a box for dressing up in there. It's busy, but right now I have a preschooler and a KS1 kid, so we have some big bits. It's nice that they're accessible and can be played with. It feels like we share the house, which I actually like. When I was a kid all my stuff was in my room, the lounge felt like my parents space, I didn't play in there much. I like that my lounge now is for all of us <3

We do also look at everything in the Autumn and encourage the kids to think about stuff they don't play with to make space for anything new coming in (also have winter birthdays so it's a good time). DH and I do this with our stuff and kitchen bits too. Good practice to avoid it being overwhelmed with stuff.

DS12
3D printer
3D printer filament
Gaming chair
Guinness book of records
Dog man book
Pokémon card set
New super mario bedding and blanket
High Vis coat for cycling
Microwave heated teddy

DD10
Kids smart watch
Yoto cards
Harry Potter Lego set
Voucher to have ears pierced
Wicked pyjamas
Tom Gates book
Voucher for build a bear
Microwave heated teddy

DS6
Keyboard
Sonic lego set
Sonic motorbike toy
Sonic Oodie
Pokémon bedding and blanket
Treasure X set
Microwave heated teddy

Plus tickets to see Six for everyone

The lists seem very long but a lot is second hand off vinted or great deals I've found - I've totted up the totals and actually it's not as bad as I thought!

Some of these will be 'from' extended family and the opening of them will be spread over 2 days and 3 houses!

Dd5 Stocking
Bath bombs
Felt tips
Selection box
Grinch socks
Choc Sprouts
Choc Unicorn
The Christmas Pig book
Unicorn academy toy
Bluey bubble bath set
Soft Toy Candy Cane

Total £30

DD5 Tree
Kids chronicles board game
Barbie campervan
Barbie clothes
Tie dye
Ghost science
Mystic Kitty
Headphones
Hello Kitty soft toy
Mr men guess who
Unicorn scientist
Lego friends
Lush Bath Bombs
Aqua Beads Set
Taylor swift book
Unicorn sno globe making kit
Fairy garden building kit
Crystal making kit
Unicorn academy toy
Soft Toy Corgi
Magic Trick Set

Total £185

DS18m Stocking
Car book
Truck
Selection box
Xmas socks
Sprouts
Toy gingerbread man

Total £16

DS18m Tree
Helicopter
Fire truck
Duggee toy
Mr tumble car
Trains
Bus
Jangly Blocks
Pop Elephant
Balls selection
ToyToolkit
Remote car
Football toy
Glove puppets
Bath toy

Total £100

Grand total £331

@pinkksugarmouse its easy to hide if you think things through. Most of my DDs presents get stored in suitcases that sit on top of wardrobes. Other presents under my bad. I keep Amazon boxs to put thing in under my bed, all my DDs see is a brown box, it they look. They would never dream of pulling the box out as it’s my room, they don’t just help them self’s. If they see a delivery and ask out of curiosity they are told, o it’s just something for Daddy’s work, they don’t question. I also have draws in my wardrobe I use for sorting clothes, they see me putting things like summer or winter clothes away, what they don’t see is when they aren’t looking I pack this stuff off to the charity shop leaving myself empty draws to hide things in. I also store in my draws, the bedding draws, anywhere I can hide something. There is no need for my DDs to go in these draws so they don’t see anything.

There has been times I will leave a brown box in the hallway or somewhere that has presents in, they would never dream of touching anything that isn’t theirs. We are in a good position as our next door neighbours are self employed and get lots of big parcels delivered, we regularly take them in and they can sit around for a while if the neighbours are away so my DDs are use to seeing parcels not for us.

At the moment I have a black bin bag with wrapped presents in my shower. It’s been out of action a while. I also have a big brown box with unwrapped presents. It’s my en-suite which we’ve told them is out of action (not completely untrue) so they don’t go in there.

I’ve even hidden stuff in kitchen cupboards before.

The hardest part is keeping track of what is where. I’ve gotten better at this and now keep a record of where I hade things.

Just an fyi, the Christmas pig might be pretty hard going for a 5 year old! There’s lots of emotions regarding divorce etc and can be a bit of a heavy read, dark in places!!

Oh! Thank you for the heads up, I hadn't really investigated it much to be honest! Will have a look through and maybe save for the future! She's got the jolly postman Christmas book too in her xmas eve box, maybe will just stick with that! (Hopefully nothing too traumatic in that?)😅

I probably used to buy DDs about ten things to open each when they were little but only a couple were main presents and the others were like little toys, a book, a card game etc.

Probably got them about 6/7 last year and this year, now they are late/mid about 5 things. Eventually it will be a couple of things each, like I get my DM or DH.

@worriedgal where did you get the crème brûlée kit please?

The trickiest year was when DD1 was 4 and DD2 was a baby. Stealing upstairs at about 11pm, trying to assemble a wendy house in DD1's room without waking her up. Then she was so excited, she ran straight past it in the morning and into our room! We had to take her back to show her and she said "Oooh! A barn!"

@DreamSpaceships

I got it from Amazon along with the blow torch and gas.
It's lovely and got a dish,metal holder for the ramekins to keep them out of the water and a few recipe ideas.
Dd2's girlfriend is a crème brûlée addict so hopefully will love it.

Beansandneedles you don't have to convince me that toys around the house are a good thing. DD now 22 had a stash of toys in our various lounges as her bedrooms tended to be small and anyway her things belonged in the lounge too.
I remember some of these toys and games fondly.

I only have one child though and I was just curious as to how parents with three or four children manage to store all these toys.

Of course there's a big difference between being knee deep in toys in every room and having a firm rule that they have to stay in the bedroom. Just curious. I know these threads can lead to judgement on all sides. Most of it completely unnecessary.

Don't worry, I am all in favour of toys in the lounge. I have them now but I've swapped kids toys for cat toys. Though like toddlers they prefer the box. 😅

ITSSSCHRISTMASSS
Yes I can imagine you have to be quite creative. As the oldest of five once I stopped believing in Father Christmas I was allowed to help put out presents for the little ones once they were in bed.
I recall us having a production line with my dad handing a gift down to my sister (next one down in age to me) then she would bring it downstairs to give to our mum to put under the tree. Sister and I swapped places so we shared going up and downstairs.

Of course they didn't get ours out until we were in bed.

My mum used to wrap regularly so if we did see anything then they would be covered in paper.

Ah the nostalgia. 🎄🎁♥️

Wow. If you look at my post I just said I was curious. I only have one DD and we did have her toys in our living room. I was happy for her to play in there. I most certainly did not keep a show home.

And the accusation of ablism. Seriously? I have had rheumatoid arthritis my whole life and keeping a tidy home has always been difficult. Cleanliness is a priority. Being tidy absolutely not. And my DD had autism so keeping her special toys and collections in various places was something I did for her to help her feel that home was a safe place with few changes. We both have to navigate a world not set up for people with disabilities. I volunteered and worked with others with disabilities too. How in the heck did you read my post and think it was ablest? What a horrible thing to say.

I made no assumptions about families with lots of children nor did I make any accusations. I'm disappointed that you didn't afford me the same.

I've had enough of these threads now. I have had some strange responses but this one crushed me.

To clarify of course my DD has not just had autism. Sadly there's no cure yet.

Ds4 (5 in feb)

Small wooden foosball table
Harty potter dobby Lego
Dinosaur egg filled with dinosaurs
Where's Wally books
Harry Potter plushy cushions
Leapfrog pad and some interactive books to go with it

Stocking fillers are some LEGO mini figures, chocolate, bath foam, bed socks

Ds 10 months has just got a few wooden toys from Aldi because he has no idea what's going on😄

Things I got, that were on dc(7)'s list:
Art set with a case
Wobble cushion
New Lego (got him quite a big one, so that's his main present)

Other things:
Sketch pads
Washi tape set
Coloured craft cardboard/ paper
A large Penguin plushie
Mini football table
Calculator
Classic dominoes
Music box (playing 'You're my sunshine')
Craft scissors set
New bell for his bike