Online Christmas Shopping

[Guest guest]

Sue w asked

> She has a dolls house she doesn't play with; dolls she never dresses.

> More soft toys than any child needs or wants thanks to lots of pressies

> from single people when she was a baby. She's very happy with a pack of

> cards (Uno, Happy Families, standard 52 pack to play solitaire), paint,

> paper, glue and scissors. Jigsaws are fairly popular too and she loves

> to help out in the kitchen.

>

>

Does she get chance to play on the computer or does mummy monopolise it?

There is an UNO computer game - don't know how good DS2 has it on his

Christmas List.

What about her own cookery book and apron, maybe some ingredients to get her

going?

Also there is an Art Attack computer game which DS2 also enjoys.

Or tickets to see a film or show?

Don't you think it is awful this feeling of buying for the sake of a present

for a child? I always feel like this when buying for DS3.

Trisha

SAHM to 3 boys

Jack 8, 6 and Isaac 2

[Guest guest]

Sue W wrote:

> I would love to have the guts to say for her birthday party 'If you were

> considering buying a present please don't - bung the cash in an

> envelope. We would rather have the cash and buy bonds for her with it!'.

> I can imagine how well that would go down!

I have done that for birthday presents from Grand mothers. The boys have got

a small present and then a children's bond. However they always feel that

Christmas is different and they should buy a present (or rather they should

give me the money to buy the present and then give them to the grandmothers

to wrap - I of course have nothing else to do!).

I seem to have come to an agreement with the older boys that cheques go into

the bank and cash can be spent. Although is saving for a motor bike

and Jack for petrol for his car (where the car is coming from I am not sure!)

so sometimes they feel inclined to put cash in the bank as well.

I have really tried this year with Isaac as we seem to have *everything*

already and I have felt that we have bought just because it is expected.

I agree that children's baking sets look rubbish which is why I suggested the

apron and cookery book.

What about a cross stitch kit or knitting bits? Is she likely to be

interested in them? Or Gel pens? they seem to be the craze in the boys

school.

Trisha

SAHM to 3 boys

Jack 8, 6 and Isaac 2

[Guest guest]

So where does a person shop online for pressies now etoys has gone?

I have absolutely no idea what to buy DD for Xmas or her birthday. Her

birthday falls a week before Xmas so she gets all the things I might

consider buying her then. She already has a mountain of pens, paints,

paper and most of the gifts she was given last year for her birthday as

we had her party them moved to Australia a couple of weeks later,

leaving all the gifts behind. These are all pretty new to her since she

has effectively only had them a couple of months,.

She could do with some new clothes but I know she won't find that very

exciting and we're doing a great job so far of convincing her that

advertising is pants - especially candy floss and ice-cream machines.

She has a dolls house she doesn't play with; dolls she never dresses.

More soft toys than any child needs or wants thanks to lots of pressies

from single people when she was a baby. She's very happy with a pack of

cards (Uno, Happy Families, standard 52 pack to play solitaire), paint,

paper, glue and scissors. Jigsaws are fairly popular too and she loves

to help out in the kitchen.

Help - any ideas?

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

Sue Woollett wrote:

> I have absolutely no idea what to buy DD for Xmas or her birthday.

Chess? Then she can come and beat the cr*p out of on a regular

basis. I'm getting Draughts because he may only be 4 but he is

rapidly approaching the stage where his knowledge of chess is better than

mine, and Daddy isn't always around to play against.

--

http://www.foxstitch.co.uk

SAHWM to (4), Kitty (2) and bump (expected Jan 2002)

[Guest guest]

Lego? She's probably past Duplo now, but our Duplo is used a lot

(although we tend to have to " Build " whatever DS happens to want at

the time).

Recently it's been " Bob's Yard " (as in Bob the B - for all his die

cast Bob machines) and now it's " Tarrytown airport " for the Jay Jay

planes that are really cars of the right colour.

He does also have flings of building himself, but gets frustrated

because he can't yet build what he wants.

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

> So where does a person shop online for pressies now etoys has gone?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sue wrote

> I have absolutely no idea what to buy DD for Xmas or her birthday.

Her

> birthday falls a week before Xmas so she gets all the things I might

> consider buying her then.

We're in much the same boat. DS b'day is 21/12 altho' he got his main

present from us and both sets of grandparents in the summer, he'll

still get smaller pressies on the day.

And it is difficult trying to think of things for the child that seems

to have everything and seems to play with none of it (sorry if that

sounds awful, but it does seems that way some times). I guess its one

of the problems of being an only child and only grandchild on both

sides.

So suggestions for 4yo boy would be helpful too.

DS has,however, come up with a few suggestions himself

1. Jay Jay toys - haven't seen any (except a couple on the JJ

website) and as its likely to be an outgrown phase in a couple of

months I'm trying not to look too hard

2. Oliver from the Tank for his Brio, although Brio has

definitely gone off the boil atm

3. Marble run - ELC - easy peasy thankfully

We've also been thinking of the Bob the B brio stuff, but no doubt

he'd want all 5 to really enjoy playing with them (at an £10 a throw

they don't come cheap) and as I mentioned earlier has gone off Brio

atm.

Also, he always plays at a friends house with one of those transformer

lorries that opens up to have miniature cars/track inside . From

Argos, so a possibility.

All thoughts appreciated :-)

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

[Guest guest]

Sue wrote

> I have absolutely no idea what to buy DD for Xmas or her birthday.

Her

> birthday falls a week before Xmas so she gets all the things I might

> consider buying her then.

We're in much the same boat. DS b'day is 21/12 altho' he got his main

present from us and both sets of grandparents in the summer, he'll

still get smaller pressies on the day.

And it is difficult trying to think of things for the child that seems

to have everything and seems to play with none of it (sorry if that

sounds awful, but it does seems that way some times). I guess its one

of the problems of being an only child and only grandchild on both

sides.

So suggestions for 4yo boy would be helpful too.

DS has,however, come up with a few suggestions himself

1. Jay Jay toys - haven't seen any (except a couple on the JJ

website) and as its likely to be an outgrown phase in a couple of

months I'm trying not to look too hard

2. Oliver from the Tank for his Brio, although Brio has

definitely gone off the boil atm

3. Marble run - ELC - easy peasy thankfully

We've also been thinking of the Bob the B brio stuff, but no doubt

he'd want all 5 to really enjoy playing with them (at an £10 a throw

they don't come cheap) and as I mentioned earlier has gone off Brio

atm.

Also, he always plays at a friends house with one of those transformer

lorries that opens up to have miniature cars/track inside . From

Argos, so a possibility.

He does like games too so perhaps Frustration, or something similar,

but then we have to join in, which is sometimes OK and sometimes

isn't!

All thoughts appreciated :-)

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

[Guest guest]

Sue wrote

> I have absolutely no idea what to buy DD for Xmas or her birthday.

Her

> birthday falls a week before Xmas so she gets all the things I might

> consider buying her then.

We're in much the same boat. DS b'day is 21/12 altho' he got his main

present from us and both sets of grandparents in the summer, he'll

still get smaller pressies on the day.

And it is difficult trying to think of things for the child that seems

to have everything and seems to play with none of it (sorry if that

sounds awful, but it does seems that way some times). I guess its one

of the problems of being an only child and only grandchild on both

sides.

So suggestions for 4yo boy would be helpful too.

DS has,however, come up with a few suggestions himself

1. Jay Jay toys - haven't seen any (except a couple on the JJ

website) and as its likely to be an outgrown phase in a couple of

months I'm trying not to look too hard

2. Oliver from the Tank for his Brio, although Brio has

definitely gone off the boil atm

3. Marble run - ELC - easy peasy thankfully

We've also been thinking of the Bob the B brio stuff, but no doubt

he'd want all 5 to really enjoy playing with them (at an £10 a throw

they don't come cheap) and as I mentioned earlier has gone off Brio

atm.

Also, he always plays at a friends house with one of those transformer

lorries that opens up to have miniature cars/track inside . From

Argos, so a possibility.

He does like games too so perhaps Frustration, or something similar,

but then we have to join in, which is sometimes OK and sometimes

isn't!

All thoughts appreciated :-)

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

[Guest guest]

wrote (3 times)

>

> We're in much the same boat. DS b'day is 21/12 altho' he got his

main

> present from us and both sets of grandparents in the summer, he'll

> still get smaller pressies on the day.

Sorry guys - something funny going on here

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

[Guest guest]

>Chess? Then she can come and beat the cr*p out of on a regular

>basis.

Can I send her down for lessons? I stopped playing around 25 years ago

when I stopped spending so much time around my grandad who was big on

chess, draughts, card games and memory tricks.

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

suggested:

>Lego?

Funnily enough have been thinking about K'Nex (we spent ages at the

museum in Melbourne making models as they have millions of pieces of

K'Nex there and you can play to your hearts content for ages).

I've also considered Meccano and more Lego but these are pressies I'd

usually buy for DH (whose birthday is on Xmas Day) although he has had a

Hornby train set and remote control racing car in previous years :-)

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

wrote:

>And it is difficult trying to think of things for the child that seems

>to have everything and seems to play with none of it (sorry if that

>sounds awful, but it does seems that way some times).

It's the same here. We have playroom full of toys and nothing gets

played with until other children are round and then it seems to get

demolished. I know part of the answer for this is to put away most of

the toys and change them once a month but I'm not that organised. And I

do think it must be overwhelming to walk in on all that choice. Maybe

flylady can sort me out on this!

>So suggestions for 4yo boy would be helpful too.

I've heard Bionicles are popular with this age group even though he

wouldn't fall into the recommended age range. I'm sure a couple of

people on here have kids that love them.

--

Sue

mum to Steffi the Pomwi

[Guest guest]

Trisha asked:

>Does she get chance to play on the computer or does mummy monopolise it?

LOL! Dad goes on it sometimes too, y'know ;-))) And Steffi watches

DVDs on it.

>There is an UNO computer game - don't know how good DS2 has it on his

>Christmas List.

Thanks - I shall look that one up. We have a laptop which she's allowed

to play on too.

>

>What about her own cookery book and apron, maybe some ingredients to get her

>going?

She already has three aprons (grandma with a sewing machine and a

pressie from my cousin's nanny). I've seen Children's bakeware sets but

they just seem to have smaller versions of everything and a rolling pin

that looks useless for making anything bigger that petits fours!

>Don't you think it is awful this feeling of buying for the sake of a present

>for a child? I always feel like this when buying for DS3.

Yes. Looking back I wish I'd spent less on her in the past five years

and invested the money into something else. She has some premium bonds

- we bought her 200 quid's worth when she was born - and she has once 50

quid twice on them. Or was it 50 and 100? Needless to say DH's and

mine have never won. And she's the only one in our family to have won

with four numbers on the lottery (I used to buy a ticket each for us -

it was 'her' ticket that won!).

I would love to have the guts to say for her birthday party 'If you were

considering buying a present please don't - bung the cash in an

envelope. We would rather have the cash and buy bonds for her with it!'.

I can imagine how well that would go down!

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

Sue said

> I know part of the answer for this is to put away most of

> the toys and change them once a month but I'm not that organised

I've always meant to do that too, but never quite managed it. The

only things that get put away are the baby toys that have sat in the

spare bedroom waiting to go in the loft for months now. Every now and

then he comes in when I'm hanging up washing in there and then spends

ages playing with his baby toys.

I really must get round to doing that. My plan was one box in the

bedroom, one in the front room and one put away, then rotate. Yes, I

must do that, yes I must, yes...perhaps :-)

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

[Guest guest]

Trisha said

> Christmas is different and they should buy a present (or rather they

should

> give me the money to buy the present and then give them to the

grandmothers

> to wrap - I of course have nothing else to do!).

LOL - I really flipped at DH over MIL last year (wish I'd had the guts

to say it to her directly). In early Dec we asked her to buy

something from ELC for DS for Xmas. On 19th Dec she told me they

didn't have it at the (one) ELC she tried so would I get it? WHAT???

When I thought I'd done all my shopping and in between work, food

shopping, present wrapping and cooking...(while she literally had

nothing else to do).

Fortunately same day I ordered online (last possible day to guarantee

pre Xmas delivery) and had it delivered to her house. Why couldn't

she have phoned up herself I just don't know. Poor DH really got an

ear bashing.

And this year, I don't know how many times I've already said to him,

" I am NOT getting the present for your mother at the last minute

again. Give her the catalogue number, website, phone number and tell

her to do it herself. " Poor thing, it's not his fault his mother's a

PITA sometimes.

Todman

Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5)

Mum to , 3¾

[Guest guest]

Well I cleared out the boys room yesterday, partly because that was my

flylady zone, partly because it really needed it and also because I need to

make room before the next lot of Christmas toys. I filled at least one big

black bag and was very ruthless about toys that were past their best or

broken (better ones that aren't used went into a bag for the charity shop

and for the school fair). The room is gleaming now, it has a clear floor,

everything is in those plastic B & Q coloured crates and it feels great to

have done it! This morning, called me up to say that he'd made the

beds and cleared up the one toy he'd been playing with and put it away...!

As I hadn't asked him to do it, I nearly fell over ;o)) I find that not

only does flylady work for me, but that it rubs off on to the others!

Hannah

-----Original Message-----

From: Sue Woollett

It's the same here. We have playroom full of toys and nothing gets

played with until other children are round and then it seems to get

demolished. I know part of the answer for this is to put away most of

the toys and change them once a month but I'm not that organised. And I

do think it must be overwhelming to walk in on all that choice. Maybe

flylady can sort me out on this!

[Guest guest]

In article , Sue Woollett

writes

>I've heard Bionicles are popular with this age group even though he

>wouldn't fall into the recommended age range. I'm sure a couple of

>people on here have kids that love them.

Did someone say Bionicles??!! ARRGGGHHHH.

Adam has been in love with them since he got a free one with his

Legoland Season ticket last March. He will be 5 next week and can make

them on his own now *without* even reading the instructions. The

instructions say 7 years, but they definitely appeal to younger boys

too.

Maura.

--

Maura

maura@... http://www.halftime.demon.co.uk

[Guest guest]

In article <00a601c17076$d1ab4980$d1287bd5@default>, Todman

writes

>Sue wrote

>> I have absolutely no idea what to buy DD for Xmas or her birthday.

>Her

>> birthday falls a week before Xmas so she gets all the things I might

>> consider buying her then.

>

>We're in much the same boat. DS b'day is 21/12 altho' he got his main

>present from us and both sets of grandparents in the summer, he'll

>still get smaller pressies on the day.

Why didn't my parents think of doing that?

Cath, also born 21/12

[Guest guest]

Some sites that might be able to give you links include :

http://www.homeshopping.co.uk/

http://www.allovertheuk.co.uk/baby.htm

and toys:

http://planetbaby.co.uk/ (this one has toys - I have only

looked at it, never bought anything there. It's been a

while, too, so it might be for small kids)

Or maybe some fun software? Am hesitating about this for

Calvin, because then I’d have to share

And I understand the problem; Calvin’s birthday is Jan 1st,

so exactly a week after Christmas. Not too bad this time,

as he’ll be 2 and doesn’t yet understand that he might be

getting cheated, but he’ll probably get wise in future

years and we’ll have to do a half birthday as well

(especially with a little sibling born right around his

half birthday!)

Phyllis

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Really? Your DH is satisified with a box of Lego?

You lucky thing... mine has got " wine rack " , " sleep " and " holiday in

Maldives with nanny " on his wish list! (Not that he'll get it).

Karina

Mum to Emilia (3) and Sebastian (1)

> I've also considered Meccano and more Lego but these are pressies

I'd

> usually buy for DH (whose birthday is on Xmas Day) although he has

had a

> Hornby train set and remote control racing car in previous years :-)

>

> --

> Sue

[Guest guest]

>

>3. Marble run - ELC - easy peasy thankfully

This is *very* popular here.

DS1 (3 and 3/4 at Christmas) is quite clear about what he wants " I'd

like a toy mixer and a toy hoover " (It's not that he's totally immune

to gender stereotypes AFAIK, it's just that the hoover (dyson) is

definitely a Boys' Toy in this house)

Jigsaws are also popular here - can't seem ot have too many (excpet

if they get mixed up!!). And of course books - The Gruffalo or

Zagazoo or Ketchup on your Cornflakes for example? Megamogs appears

to be out of print at the moment alas.

His own tape player? Rik Mayall has done IMHO a wonderful tape of Dr

Seuss stuff, including The Grinch and The Lorax. (The ELC personal

stereo (fruit of Sainsbury's vouchers in compensation for washing

tablet disaster!) hasn't appealed to ours, so we think something with

speakers will be better - though DS1 does have unusually sensitive

hearing (???? due to the extra hole in his ear) so that may be why)

I was very cheesed off that we had so many cheques unasked for DS2s

second birthday in August. I could have suggested a fair few things

he would have liked, but on the basis of some vague discussion they'd

had with DH months before, everyone seemed to think it would

contribute to the playground DH built in the garden - which I don't

think is fair - that's a present for our bank account not DS2.

(Initially talk of folk paying for the slide part evaporating when

they found out how much they cost...not that I blame them) Not a

single one of those cheques has been paid in anyway (and I don't know

where they've got to - it's a nightmare having small children lots of

cards and wrapping and trying to retrieve cheques). We'd told

everyone who wasn't going to be seeing us that he'd got a Wish List

set up at Amazon - someone did use it, thank goodness. It's not as if

DS2 was old enough to enjoy having a pot of money to choose what to

do with.

It's not that I mind the notion of money as a present per se (for

older children it could be their idea of heaven) - and the notion of

a college fund does weigh heavily with me! At least when people did

it with DS1 we went out that afternoon to spend it on more bits of

train set - we bought him a basic set and other people's

contributions meant he has a good set now and got to choose some of

it himself - but then, it was his 3rd birthday.

As to CD-ROM, DS1 is getting Dr Seuss Green Eggs and Ham so I hope

that's a good one.

--

jennifer@...

Vaudin

[Guest guest]

Karina wrote:

>Really? Your DH is satisified with a box of Lego?

He got the Robotics set a couple of years ago. Apparently you can make

all sorts of weird and wonderful inventions with it from a photocopier

to a robot that will fetch your beer from the fridge.

I've yet to see anything more adventurous that a car that flips over

though ;-)))

K'Nex, Robotics, Lego - as long as it has 'Cyber' or something similar

attached.

>You lucky thing... mine has got " wine rack " , " sleep " and " holiday in

>Maldives with nanny " on his wish list! (Not that he'll get it).

LOL. Grae has 'leather recliner with built-in massager and fridge in

arm (1200 quid) top of his. He can dream. We don't have anywhere to

put it for a start.

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

> I agree that children's baking sets look rubbish which is why I suggested

the

> apron and cookery book.

You don't say who old your daughter is, but I guess not that young.

Therefore, if she likes artistic things and cooking, how about a cake

decorating book and some proper adult piping nozzles and cutters. Especially

as her birthday falls just before Christmas.

DD1 cuts out holly and ivy for cakes and logs for me. I suspect an older

girl would have great fun doing the designs as well.

Also cake decorating is very addictive if she enjoys it, so it may solve

many birthdays to come.

(oh and I believe you can now get a form of clay that behaves like icing

allowing you to use flower cutters etc to make jewellery and fridge magnets

and the like)

Sue Hutchinson, Mum to 30/01/98 and Isobel (HB) 23/02/01

[Guest guest]

If anyone is looking for a child's baking set, Lakeland Limited have one

which looks to be better quality than toy sets.

Lesley

SAHM to four

Chair, Royal Deeside NCT

---------------

From: " Sue

>

> > I agree that children's baking sets look rubbish which is why I

suggested

> the

> > apron and cookery book.

>

> You don't say who old your daughter is, but I guess not that young.

> Therefore, if she likes artistic things and cooking, how about a cake

> decorating book and some proper adult piping nozzles and cutters.

Especially

> as her birthday falls just before Christmas.