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Original poster

Christmas Presents - what are the 'hits' and 'misses' for your dc?

68 replies

Earlybird · 26/12/2010 16:21

Curious to know what gifts have lived up to their billing (or exceeded expectations), and which are/were disappointments? Any surprises - good or bad?

Our only dud so far - a remote control helicopter that no longer functions after bumping (gently) into the wall.

Most popular so far? Walkie talkies - dd has been in the garden in the bitter cold, and is taking great delight in sending me radio greetings and 'important' messages.

OP posts:
cornyPrawnsdefrostJasonDonovan · 26/12/2010 19:48

got them both a sonic screwdriver which have both been most played with.

maktaitai · 26/12/2010 19:51

Well the ds was a serious hit, but hardly unexpected.

Also a massive hit was this trick in his stocking.

whomovedmychocolate · 26/12/2010 19:53

Hit for DD was her DS and Princess game (if I hear 'fiddle de de, a fiddle de dee whatever you want it to be' one more time I may kill someone). For DS the duplo thomas rail set.

Dud of all time was the fucking evil piece of shit 'planet orbit' track set from Sainsburys which is a loop the loop thing for cars with a launcher which we spent 90 minutes assembling and then did not have enough power to launch the cars into the loop Hmm It's going back to the shop. There may well be words exchanged. Hmm

whomovedmychocolate · 26/12/2010 19:53

Oh and also massive hit was the crackers with reindeer that wind up and waddle along. You race them. Everyone loved them.

tassisssss · 26/12/2010 20:07

maktaitai - I'm going to remember that trick thing for ds. His friend got a similar trick that appears to slice your finger in half and he loved it!

wind up toys in crackers big hit here too!

Guitargirl · 26/12/2010 20:31

Big hit with DD (3.11) was a Tinkerbell house with a flying Tinkerbell, DS (1.11) loves his garage and they both love this.

Original poster
Earlybird · 26/12/2010 22:40

Didn't hear a peep from dd this afternoon for two hours as she worked on building a huge barn (complete with doors and windows) using the huge box of blocks that Father Christmas brought.

I was a bit apprehensive that she would dismiss them as childish, but thankfully they came with a leaflet detailing dozens of items that can be built. She was/is completely absorbed by it.

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MollieO · 26/12/2010 22:48

Big hit with Ds was a electrical circuit kit where you can make up different circuits that make lights work and, depending on the configuration, make different (loud) noises - eg fire engine, machine gun etc.

It was a surprise present as not on his list at all. He played with it all day yesterday and today.

tingletangle · 26/12/2010 22:48

Blokus is a huge hit.

mamasmissionimpossible · 26/12/2010 22:49

DS (5) loves his vtech video camera. It has been glued to his hand since Christmas day. He has taken all kinds of random crap masterpieces!

DD (3) likes the playmobil playground and WOW toys friction car with horses. It needs no batteries too, even better.

Clever santa mummy! Wink

santadefiesgravity · 26/12/2010 22:54

Biggest hit for ds is his Boba Fett blaster gun (Was only £11 reduced in Debenhams as well)and his white puffle. Biggest hit for dd was her DSi.

Misses were pyjamas (JLS for dd "JLS I HATE JLS!!!!, and Spongebob squarepants for ds)

santadefiesgravity · 26/12/2010 22:55

MollieO where did you get that from, sounds just up ds's street and it is his birthday soon.

Northernlebkuchen · 26/12/2010 22:56

Three hits for me Smile

Dd3 (3) loves her toy hospital

Dd2 very keen on her sony MP3 player (pink trim)

DD1 delighted with her Boden spotty bag.

Belle doll, Gap top and Boden spotted velvet coat also gone down well. And a toy gruffalo.

ShowOfHands · 26/12/2010 22:59

A jacob's ladder. She can't remember a single other present.

Carrotsandcelery · 26/12/2010 23:06

For Ds: Lego Sets and Sonic Screwdriver are big hits here - even though he can't watch Dr Who as it is too scary.
For Dd: Scleich horse riders, saddles, bridles, rugs and bandages and Klutz Stencil Art seem to be the biggest hits.
20Q, Guinness Book of Records, Phenomenal Fun Facts and massive ginger bread men have also gone down very well.

Original poster
Earlybird · 26/12/2010 23:28

We visited a friend today. Their dc got a Wii game called 'Just Dance' that was a huge hit. It looked a lot of fun - in fact, it is already on dd's birthday present 'wish list'.

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MollieO · 26/12/2010 23:35

santad I'll check and let you know. It is with Ds at his Grandma's tonight (an evening off for me!). Got it last year and put it away until I thought he was old enough. I recall they do different ability levels.

SatinShoes · 27/12/2010 10:01

DD got 'Just dance' but she's too ill to play it. Hoping it will be a hit :)

Original poster
Earlybird · 27/12/2010 15:03

Satinshoes - sorry to hear about your ill dd.

Please do post with your opinion of 'Just Dance'. Would be curious to know if it is simply a novelty game that quickly wears thin, or if it has 'staying power' - iykwim. Smile Will help me decide if it is worth the money as I consider what to get dd for her Feb birthday.

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SummerRain · 27/12/2010 15:19

We had a brilliant year... they've absolutely loved everything they were given and we've had no duds at all so far.

I'll be reading this thread with interest though as two of them have birthday's in a months time Wink

dd (5, six next month) absolutely loved this and her playmobil stuff (circus from us and car and speedboat from grandparents). She's been playing with the Sylvanian families stuff my parents got them all day today and our friends got her one of those dolls that looks like a newborn and she's besotted with it, she barely looked at the dolls she got from Santa with the doll bunk beds, just chucked them to one side and put the other doll in Grin

ds1 (4) got the playmobil knights castle and a dragon to go with it and is delighted, spends ages playing with it He also got heaps of Ben 10 stuff which always goes well. We got him a Tag reading system and he does like it but has been too busy with other toys to spend much time with it yet.

ds2 got this car from our friends and although he's only 22 months has managed it really well and has played with it constantly. He also loves dd's baking set

all three of them love Hungry Hippos although some balls are lost already and they give no spares which is a pain but they can still play with it They opened the Lego Pirate game today and the older two really enjoyed it... simple but strategic.

Carrotsandcelery · 27/12/2010 16:37

My Dd got Just Dance last year and has loved it consistently throughout the year Earlybird. She asked for Just Dance 2 this year and was given it by her Granny, Auntie and Auntie's boyfriend. They are both great fun and we all play (age 6 - 38 in this household). I have also caught my Mum (68) playing it too so I would say it has universal appeal. My dh is most likely to play it with her so it crosses the gender divide as well.

Original poster
Earlybird · 27/12/2010 17:45

carrotsandcelery - that is quite a positive recommendation! Do you need to purchase extra 'equipment' in order to play the game, or is it simply the wii game that is needed?

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Carrotsandcelery · 27/12/2010 17:52

It is just the game. You hold the controller and it seems to sense enough of your movement. I don't suppose it is all that accurate but noone notices - it is just a great laugh.
It is also a sneaky wee bit of exercise when the weather is too awful for the kids to play outside for any length of time.
We got my dh the Michael Jackson dance game this year for Christmas but we haven't had a chance to play it. It is a 12 certificate so we will have to have a look first.
There is also a Broadway dancing game but I haven't played it so I have no idea what it is like.

Original poster
Earlybird · 27/12/2010 17:54

Thanks for that.

Is the song repertoire pretty good on the Just Dance games? Which do you prefer - the original, or Part 2?

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4andnotout · 27/12/2010 18:14

We halved the budget this year but every single present was played with and appreciated which was a first.

DD1 BFC jointed doll.

DD2 fur real chimp.

DD3 4 pairs of disney dress up shoes (clickclacks according to dd3)

DD4 Grandpa Pig's boat with Peppa and George.

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