All parents should know this instinctively, however just to make it clear, you should buy none of the following for children in primary or below:
- any "game" likely to result in someone winning and someone losing - yes, we know DCs have to learn to ride the disappointment rollercoaster and hold on, just not over Christmas, OK? We have plenty to argue about.
- anything containing vital small parts - these will either be collected up and recycled with the wrapping paper or go clattering up the vacuum cleaner with the pine needles - I assure you of this.
- anything which cannot withstand accidentally being stood on - the traditional crunch of footsteps at Christmastime at a house with small children has nothing to do with snow.
- anything for DC1 which is significantly flashier than for DC2 - this is the equivalent of doing tap dancing in flint-heeled shoes in a munitions factory.
- the "goat in the third world" card - young kids really don't get it and think they've been left out or (worse) that someone else has got their present - donate by all means and give a token present or give the card to older kids who can appreciate "opportunity cost" and can do the maths of an ipad vs subsistence, but for younger kids, frankly you're better not sending it all.
- anything noisy - OK, this is a selfish one - I just don't want to be woken up while DCs are unwrapping the presents...