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Christmas

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Original poster

Ds turns five the week before Christmas

38 replies

tiredanddrained · 12/12/2025 22:18

I feel like both his birthday and Christmas presents this year are a bit - shit, to be totally honest.

For some reason, he really wanted a spinosaurus toy. I don’t know why, he’s not massively into dinosaurs; more of a trucks and tractor kid, but I got it for him. Now I sort of regret it.

I’ve got him https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9375262 this too. And some colouring books and bits and pieces but I feel we’re kind of missing a showstopper gift that he’s going to be thrilled with. So just wondering if anyone has any ideas? Feel like his birthday will be a letdown Sad

OP posts:
toomanyducks · 12/12/2025 22:35

OP - I say this with kindness, not judgement, but you’re being ridiculous. He’s five. You’re spending £80 on that globe (which is a show stopping gift) and other bits. That’s plenty! You also got him what he asked for. Great choices! Don’t set expectations now for piles of “obligation / expectation” gifts. You’ll regret it, and it’ll backfire.

JanetareyouokareyouokJanet · 12/12/2025 22:37

Same as the person above. Stop giving yourself a hard time.

Somehowgirl · 12/12/2025 23:09

We’ve got our 4 year old the same globe for Christmas. I’m very excited about it myself- it’s a fantastic toy!

If you feel there’s something missing and he likes trucks and tractors, is there something else in that theme that he’d love? Maybe a remote control tractor or truck? There are some fantastic remote control trucks and diggers that actually function. One of my son’s favourite toys are his realistic trucks and diggers and a tray of kinetic sand.

Original poster
tiredanddrained · 13/12/2025 06:16

Thanks. It wasn’t actually £80 when I bought it, it was £60 in a Black Friday deal. But it isn’t the cost, is it? He doesn’t know what it costs. I think it’s great as well but I’m not him! He’s just so hard to buy for as he isn’t ‘into’ anything specific.

OP posts:
ACynicalDad · 13/12/2025 06:20

My kids still play with the glove occasionally and are in y6. At 5 the box could well be your show stopper…

Original poster
tiredanddrained · 13/12/2025 06:29

At five? At two yes I agree but at five ds is definitely aware of toys!

OP posts:
GoodBones85 · 13/12/2025 07:27

I think the PP’s point is that at 5 their attention span/interest in the actual toy can be very short lived. Where as the box on the other hand can have countless uses and oftentimes keeps their interest for longer…… DS is 6 and this is still sometimes the case for us 😂

agree with first poster we have been hoodwinked into trying to live up to unrealistic expectations of Christmas and gift buying which only benefits those selling the toys. Don’t engage with it. He will love what you have got him and will have a magical day.

❤️

RessicaJabbit · 13/12/2025 07:33

He'll be happy with whatever he gets.

DD will be 6 on Monday. She's getting
Little live pets lamb.
A puzzle
A notebook set.
Puffy pens
Kinder egg.

She'll be very happy.

Christmas

Scalextric
Hot wheels cars
Stationery
Barbie mermaid thing.

Checknotmymate · 13/12/2025 07:36

My ds had that globe at 5 and he loves it so it's a good one!

We do a lot of Facebook marketplace second hand toys as he always wants characters of things and you can get huge bundles for £10 and then pass them on to another family in a year and regain your money. Plus feel less crap about the landfill. I tell the DC they're second hand which means they get more.

WhatdoesitmeanKeith · 13/12/2025 09:25

These presents look really good OP! What makes birthdays special is it being the birthday boy’s day so a badge with ‘I am 5’, cake with candles & family get together, balloons if he likes them, his favourite thing for tea etc. that’s what will make it for him.

But the presents are good so don’t worry on that’s score!

dottiedodah · 13/12/2025 10:21

I dont know .I had a globe when I was a similar age(nothing like as super as yours!) and loved it .Would look at all the different places ,My cousin worked for the foreign office then. and I would delight in seeing where she had gone ,You sound a lovely carng Mum and he will have a lovely time .Pour yourself a sherry and quit worrying(My DD BD is at the end of Dec too)

Hoppinggreen · 13/12/2025 10:26

My DS turns 17 1 week before Xmas and DD turns 21 2 days before Xmas
Don't stress about it, I am sure he will love what you have got him

Mumtobabyhavoc · 13/12/2025 10:31

I would add any/all:

Hot Wheels Cars and Track
Lego
Trick remote controlled car

Check Amazon. I did most of my shopping that way.

BadgernTheGarden · 13/12/2025 10:36

It's tricky the birthday being so close to Christmas, I was always feeling I was only giving half a birthday and the other half for Christmas. So difficult to decide which for which and if it's really fair compared to a summer born child. But I'm sure they will be very happy with what they get, it's just us that worry. I agree with something like a radio controlled truck or tractor if you want to get something else that will be an instant hit with a five year old, make sure you have batteries if it needs them.

Needspaceforlego · 13/12/2025 10:39

What sort of spinosaurous is it?

Would he be better with 2 or 3 smaller dinos rather than one huge one?

Needspaceforlego · 13/12/2025 10:42

The globe is pricey but do you really think a kid will play with it?

I remember looking at those globes when my kids were little, but concluded they wouldn't get much use. But then someone else said there kid played with it lots.

Caspianberg · 13/12/2025 10:44

Maybe add something truck/ tractor based as birthday theme?

Small lego technic is good, My 5 year old built the small snow plough and crate lifter this summer when he turned 5. They are good as stay together better than regular lego to actually place with, the small ones were around £10.

Do a cake with mini hot wheels cars and digger ontop he as deco he can play with later. You can look online but a chocolate with toy diggers and Maltese’s or square chic make an easy building site cake.

Needspaceforlego · 13/12/2025 10:46

Op do you know what extended family are getting him, because thats part of the bigger picture of what new stuff he's going to have for the next year.

I'm also a family of Christmas birthdays, its a pain in the bum, esp at that age when they change so much over the year.

Caspianberg · 13/12/2025 10:47

https://www.argos.co.uk/browse/toys/lego/c:30379/character:lego-technic/

argos has the Lego technic bulldozer and backhoe loader for £6.75 at the moment.

Caspianberg · 13/12/2025 10:51

Also for a birthday so close to Christmas at this age, I would just buy less generally around now, and buy extra bits throughout the year as they grow a lot in a year. So garden bits or outside stuff or crafts and books just get se at easter or as a random treat in summer

BeepBoopBop · 13/12/2025 10:57

Getting so over this nonsense. Buy him a superyacht and have done with it. Otherwise realise a warm, safe roof over his head, parents who love him and feed him and care for him plus something nice to play with on his special day is ALL a five year old could possibly want.

Checknotmymate · 13/12/2025 10:58

Needspaceforlego · 13/12/2025 10:42

The globe is pricey but do you really think a kid will play with it?

I remember looking at those globes when my kids were little, but concluded they wouldn't get much use. But then someone else said there kid played with it lots.

This one gives you facts and quizzes about each country, animals etc. my ds loves it.

Somehowgirl · 13/12/2025 11:24

BeepBoopBop · 13/12/2025 10:57

Getting so over this nonsense. Buy him a superyacht and have done with it. Otherwise realise a warm, safe roof over his head, parents who love him and feed him and care for him plus something nice to play with on his special day is ALL a five year old could possibly want.

God almighty calm down. She’s bought him a dinosaur, a globe, some colouring books, and a few stocking fillers. Hardly the height of overconsumption.

OP we’ve bought the same globe and it’s absolutely brilliant. Ours was also in a sale. We’ve also bought some magnet tiles, some new trains for his train set, books, a board game, and some Lego. I think at his age you can’t go wrong with Lego and you can get a set that you know will be a hit like a truck or tractor as well as one of the basic mixed boxes so it can all get jumbled together to build new things when he inevitably takes it to pieces! I’d also recommend the Yoto player.

Somehowgirl · 13/12/2025 11:25

Checknotmymate · 13/12/2025 10:58

This one gives you facts and quizzes about each country, animals etc. my ds loves it.

Show quote history

Yes it has hours of footage from BBC nature documentaries on it alone. It’s brilliant.

Needspaceforlego · 13/12/2025 12:00

BeepBoopBop · 13/12/2025 10:57

Getting so over this nonsense. Buy him a superyacht and have done with it. Otherwise realise a warm, safe roof over his head, parents who love him and feed him and care for him plus something nice to play with on his special day is ALL a five year old could possibly want.

Why even comment on the Christmas threads if you don't want to be helpful?

For many Christmas & Birthday is not just the Wow factor on the day its what the child will use and benefit from through the next year and beyond.

People love to boast on MN their kids get nothing outside of Birthday and Christmas so its doubly important to get it right when they are next to each other.