Fewer Christmas presents for children and a family trip instead?

[2kidswelshmum]

I’ve started to think about Christmas so I can budget accordingly for our two children - daughter age 7, son age 5.

And I’m struggling to know what to get them. I don’t want to get gifts for gifts sake that accumulate in their rooms/playroom and are not played with. (I regularly sort out what toys are played with and rotate etc etc).

I know it’s a magical time for children having a stocking and gifts to open, but I’m wondering if we can give less this year and suggest a family holiday somewhere instead? Like Centre Parcs, bluestone etc etc for memories rather than more things?

I’d still get them some treats to open + a little stocking, but I just feel at a loss to even know what to get them otherwise. Unless anyone has any ideas? ❤️

They quickly lose interest in new toys after the initial shine has worn off. The only toy that has stood the test of time and is religiously played with is their big set of magnatiles.

That’s a lovely idea - thank you, will look into it. My two would definitely react the same way ❤️

I think it can work depending on the kids. We got ours (12 & 8) tickets to a football match abroad and it was a 4 day city break and they loved it. They had a scarf and top each for the team we were going to see and some other gifts but they don’t really play with toys, already had consoles and I refuse to buy for the sake of buying.

Sounds like a good idea to me! Especially where you have a large family also giving them presents I think parents giving a stocking and just a couple of tree presents is absolutely fine, particularly if it is alongside a family trip. Alternatives to Centre parcs if you're not a fan (though our kids love it there!).. A theme park abroad like Disney or Efteling, a safari park like Port Lympne (the big cats are much more lively at night), a city break to Edinburgh or York if you have little Harry Potter fans, plus both cities have brilliant museums.

Thank you ☺️ Oh Harry Potter there’s an idea…❤️👌

I think it’s a good idea to do both if you can afford it. Like a poster suggested above, what do they like theme parks, Disney, Harry Potter, an activity holiday? Give them some spending money for their Christmas present.
To prevent you wasting money on gifts they don’t use, buy them gifts to open like an iPad, Lego , games, pjs , slippers, new trainers, stationery bubble bath are some ideas.

I would have been a very upset by this as a kid that young.

As a slightly older/teen? Sure - a special trip is a great present.

But, I do think the key is "special". it has to be something they actually want, that is extra to what you would normally do.

If you usually have 1-2 trips a year to X-type of place, you can't say "hey, your present is a trip to X-type of place, and we are going 1-2 times this year. They will see through that...

But something unique or special that they really want, that you wouldn't usually be able to do or afford? For example, when I was a young teenager, I was crazy about snowboarding, but we were not a skiing family, and never went. Had my parents offered a trip like that, instead of presents? That would have been the most special present ever.

It's not that it isn't a nice idea but it is really something the adults would choose. If you choose to give a gift like that I think it needs to be something the child would especially love and get excited by, like disney, theme parks, aquarium, riding centre or whatever. Maybe you could you choose something for each one based on their interest etc? You could still have a trip to CenterParcs or wherever if you want, but that feels like it would be a Christmas gift to (and from!) you and your husband.

Well i am not for over spoiling as a parent but presents are for Christmas or birthdays to me and trips ia something adults plan and children juat go along

A trip is not a present to me as a parent unless it is for an older child and or that is specifically for them as a mutual decision

I'm in a similar situation my kids have alot of what they need/love. Im considering asking all the family to contribute to this as a joint present. They both love building dens together. Not small but can be tucked away behind sofa. Reviews look good. Expensive hence think as a collective gift.

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For my cousins kids we give them their money early in december so parents can use them as the xmas days out on the run up to xmas. The parents found that helped make December more manageable and could do more of the xmas festivities.

Good idea, you can make it work by including essentials in the presents and buying second hand.

Totally see your point of view, but honestly I promise you my children are not like that. After reading through all these helpful responses and perspectives on the post, I raised the idea with them on the ride home from school yesterday and they were really excited by the idea. I very clearly explained it would mean less things to open, and my eldest even said “that doesn’t bother me Mummy, I have lots of toys”. I asked them to think about it for a while, and if they still feel the same way we will plan the trip together.

We don’t do multiple trips a year of this type, the idea would be it would be a trip that’s something distinct from what we do on the regular otherwise like you say, how is that special.

well it sounds like you’re sensible as opposed to people who say ‘they don’t need presents!’ To be fair though they don’t need a holiday either - kids will have as much fun visiting family and fairs and going to parks and having movie nights and board game nights in over Christmas as they will going on holiday where at the end of it you’ll say we spent much money and everyone wasn’t grateful/ behaved/ I didn’t get what I want out of it! Give me a good fun Christmas in over a holiday any day!!!

I see your perspective completely, and centre parcs was merely an example. It will be a child led choice if we go for this, not mine. And I’m not a fan of Centre parcs or Bluestone, they would be places I go for the children absolutely not us. Thanks for replying though, it’s useful to get perspectives and opinions ❤️

As long as they have some presents to open, I think it’s a good idea. We did Centre Parks one year and they had a pony ride to see Santa, which is much more magical than sitting at home.

Pa op, do they not believe in Santa? Did they not ask why they’d get less gifts due to a holiday ? (Honestly just curious!)

It’s a good question ☺️ they do believe in Santa yes. But the parents around here and their friends parents at school all generally say the same thing - Santa does the stockings, mummy and daddy do the presents. We went along with it because we saw that it stopped children who get less/more comparing “how good” they’d been for Santa.

edit- should also add we’ve said it’s based on where you live, in case they try and poke holes in the theory 🤭

My DD also likes experiences as gifts, and likes these (though your 5yo might be a bit young so this might be more for in a few years) - Mystery tours are fun, and you can book a city break around it, with the guide being the present. They’re good fun, puzzles to do while walking around a city and you do them at your own pace so can incorporate plenty of snack/lunch stops etc.

Some odd responses here. It is a budgeting decision on where to spend, it is not a conversation to have with the kids. The kids will get presents no matter what, OP made that clear. The question is how much to spend on presents, of which the answer has to be a token amount rather than 000s.

It is lovely that you have the time and money to go away and you absolutely should OP.

ah thank you - yes you’ve got to the crux of my dilemma 😆❤️

They are getting presents and a stocking, absolutely. I just need ideas for a few things that are actually worth buying/will be played with 🙏

At that age they don't know how much things cost. You can easily spend less on Christmas but still make them feel soecial with plenty to open. They also don't care if things are second hand. I wouldn't be telling them the trip is part of their present but I would adjust finances to prioritise the trip.

I think it’s a great idea. We have always done stocking from Father Christmas and one requested gift (not a big ticket item) wrapped from him and sat under the tree.

I have gifted my children trips before with a few gifts alongside. One year they got a trip to Disney Paris on December 27th for three nights plus two dressing up costumes each, ears, Disney pyjamas, Mickey sweatshirts, a Lego/duplo set each, bath toys and euros to choose a toy when there.

We've done this but we went away over Christmas and the kids were aware that is why their present pile was modest (first time we did it they were 6 and 11 so did understand)

Plus is we don't waste money on things that will take up valuable space we don't have and never be played is, and also being away just automatically makes us spend more time together as a family playing games, quizzes, watching films etc instead of the oldest child hiding in her room like she normally would.

We're doing it again this year and I can't wait.

Thanks for responding ☺️that sounds lovely. Were they similar ages (5 and 7)?

I’ve chatted to mine and they seemed very excited/understand the idea but I’m giving them time to process first.

Did yours understand it was part of the gift? Lots of responses on here seem to suggest children won’t be able to understand that (which doesn’t quite match my experience of my own two) but just keen to hear from others who have communicated this with children of similar ages before.

They might be a little young to appreciate that the fsmily holiday in May or whatever is why Santa was a little bit sparse. How about annual passes for local attractions that can be used the very next day (most of these attractions reopen on Boxing Day) and throughout the next year.

Brilliant ☺️ thanks so much for sharing your experience