How to make a laptop a more exciting present for a child

pigpen

when we got my mother one I wrapped it up and put it in a huge box.. I filled the box with helium balloons and then wrapped it again... she opened the box and these balloons and floated out.. then she found the present.. it was just a bit more fun.. you could put little stocking filler type presents in too.. socks, fruit, sweets, pens/pencils, slippers, and balloonies..

missbiggles1

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

Ahhh there always has to be one :T

I have bought him a laptop first and foremost because he will need it for school from this point on. Rather than buy him a present and then have to buy a laptop separately on another occasion, I have combined to kill 2 birds with one stone. It cost me £50. I would therefore like to spend a little bit more to make it a super duper present.

He is in no way spoilt, as your post implies. How dare you make such sweeping statements about other people's children? My son is, in fact, the least materialistic child you will ever meet. He is not perfect, he has his faults as do we all.. but a spoilt ungrateful brat, he is not! He will appreciate the laptop. That doesn't mean I can't buy him a couple of other little gifts to go with it. And just so you know, this post wasn't asking anyone's approval

You were the one who said he wouldn't be excited by it!

And, even if you only spent £40 cash on it, it's still a £350 present which is a massive amount to spend on an 11 year old.

bigmomma051204

Andypandyboy wrote: »

My 16 year old was thrilled with a laptop last Christmas. I think you are over thinking it. Haha, probably... its a habit with me!

Yes, he will do his homework on it, but he can do so many other things too. Play up that angle, £350 is a good laptop for an 11 year old, you should expect him to be grateful, not be looking to add to an already great present. I know he will be grateful, I just wanted some others ideas for little make-weights to open on the day...

A tip from someone with several children - don't set their expectations too high, too young! Each year it will get harder to find something that will excite or enthuse. I totally take your point... but he is my only child, and I am not able to have any more. His father doesn't have anything to do with him, so he only ever gets presents from me and my parents....So I know I am guilty of slightly over-compensating etc etc etc... But he knows the value of money, he knows that some years I can afford to splash out a bit, other years it will be a smaller affair. And he accepts that completely - last year, when funds were tight, he wrote me a note asking me to "please spend" my money "on the bills, instead of" his present because he knew I was hard up... He is the sweetest, most caring and sensitive boy I know (and I work with children so know a few!) even though I am slightly biased of course.. so he deserves a treat - and when I can give him one, I will. Because there are many times when he has missed out :cool:

Thanks for your reply

Georgiegirl256

I understand it only cost £50, that's a great bargain! I also understand you'd like to buy a few extra bits to go with it. But, as your post implies, it sounded like if you did only get the laptop then he wouldn't be very exited with it, it had to be made more appealing. I and others were only replying in response to that.

You posted for advice, so quit the attitude.

bigmomma051204

missbiggles1 wrote: »

You were the one who said he wouldn't be excited by it!

And, even if you only spent £40 cash on it, it's still a £350 present which is a massive amount to spend on an 11 year old.

Yes it is a massive amount. I agree. For my birthday, my Mum is paying for my boiler to be serviced LOL! :A

He is surrounded by friends who have iPhone 6s, iPods, etc at school. He is one of the minority who doesn't have one... because I know he doesn't need one. But he DOES need a laptop or PC because we don't currently have one which he can use and he will need it for school.

Flyonthewall

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

So...

This may sound a very indulgent post but its not, I promise!

So, its my son's 11th birthday next week - As he is now at middle school, more homework has become reliant on a home pc/laptop. I figured - why not kill 2 birds with one laptop... Now, he likes electrical devices (as a lot of 11yr olds do!) but a laptop isnt very exciting is it :cool: Its not even an exciting coloured jobby, as I got it from Tesco as a big bargain - £350, used Tesco Clubcard double up and ended up paying just £40 for it :T:T But it is just "grey" and a little uninspiring....

So now I am feeling a bit mean, as just a laptop with nothing to play on it, etc is not the most thrilling pressie, is it?

So - Can anyone suggest what 11yr old friendly things I could get to make it seem a little more appealing? I know people will get on their high horses and say he should be grateful... he will be, but I would like him to be more than grateful - excited perhaps? :A

Now - how does one buy PC games? DOES one buy PC games....?

For example - there is a new Minecraft Story Mode game out, which he would love .... I was going to get it on PS3 for him, then thought I would try to get it on PC... seems you can't?! Or am I being thick?

Any cool usb pluggy inny gadgets to give as a make-weight pressie with it? :cool:

Help!

Ps - this is the laptop...in case it makes a difference whether games etc will work on it?! http://www.tesco.com/direct/hp-pavilion-15-p264na-156-inch-laptop-amd-a10-8gb-ram-1tb-hdd-silver/796-2991.prd?pageLevel=sku&skuId=796-2991

He's getting a laptop, he'll be excited, especially if he loves tech!

The outside may just be grey, but once it's open the colour makes no difference, you're looking at the screen.

As for games, if he likes console gaming and he games with friends online stick to PS3 for minecraft. Some games are only available on certain platforms. Sometimes PC games get released at a later date than the console versions. Minecraft story mode is on console and PC though.

The laptop will be fine for games. If he has a PS3 he may prefer console gaming so don't go buying loads of PC games. You could buy one or two, but you'll need to ask him in future which he wants. The Sims games are best on PC (in my opinion) so if you think he'd like that you could get that (any of the series is fine).

If you want a cool little USB thing there are numerous gadgets but as he's doing homework on it then a USB memory stick might be an idea. You can get novelty ones. Marvel characters, for example. Check reviews though and never buy off ebay or from a chinese seller so as to make sure it's not fake. Buy from a trusted retailer.

He may also prefer using a mouse rather than the mousepad. You can get car mice (mice in the shape of a car, they even have lights). You can find them on Amazon. They don't cost much but if he likes cars he should like that.

bigmomma051204

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

I understand it only cost £50, that's a great bargain! I also understand you'd like to buy a few extra bits to go with it. But, as your post implies, it sounded like if you did only get the laptop then he wouldn't be very exited with it, it had to be made more appealing. I and others were only replying in response to that.

You posted for advice, so quit the attitude.

Yes it was a bargain. And perhaps I should have worded my post more clearly to explain that he isn't a spoilt brat etc....
I posted for advice - the advice I asked for in my post. I didn't ask for a sweeping generalisation about the youth of today being materialistic, etc etc!
If you had no advice regards my question, why bother to reply?

Andypandyboy

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

Ahhh there always has to be one :T

I have bought him a laptop first and foremost because he will need it for school from this point on. Rather than buy him a present and then have to buy a laptop separately on another occasion, I have combined to kill 2 birds with one stone. It cost me £50. I would therefore like to spend a little bit more to make it a super duper present.

He is in no way spoilt, as your post implies. How dare you make such sweeping statements about other people's children? My son is, in fact, the least materialistic child you will ever meet. He is not perfect, he has his faults as do we all.. but a spoilt ungrateful brat, he is not! He will appreciate the laptop. That doesn't mean I can't buy him a couple of other little gifts to go with it. And just so you know, this post wasn't asking anyone's approval

I don't think it was an endictment of your son, more of you:D. He will not know how much you actually paid for it, and really, that is immaterial, it is worth much more. I know it is hard, but it is such a good present that he will be thrilled.

He is 11, you have a lot of years in front of you to think of and provide, exciting gifts for Christmas and birthdays. It gets harder and more expensive, he may not be materialistic now, but if you set the bar too high he will soon get to be that way.

You don't need anyones approval of course, but trust me, you will be making a rod for your own back.................

pigpen

Andypandyboy wrote: »

My 16 year old was thrilled with a laptop last Christmas. I think you are over thinking it.

Yes, he will do his homework on it, but he can do so many other things too. Play up that angle, £350 is a good laptop for an 11 year old, you should expect him to be grateful, not be looking to add to an already great present.

A tip from someone with several children - don't set their expectations too high, too young! Each year it will get harder to find something that will excite or enthuse.

as someone with more children than you (probably )


While I agree in a sense... if you can afford gifts for your children then get them.. they are little for such a short time enjoy them, spoil them.. not to the point of expectation and brattishness of course.. but also teach them the important things too.. they are the greatest gift.. love, compassion, manners, kindness, empathy (my parents did a crap job at a couple of those, I know my failings, lol)

Last year my daughter wanted a bottle of snow fairy shower gel! she was just turned 14 and it cost £10 (I actually had a nutter on here have a go at me because I bought her it) .. the odd special present doesn't make them ungrateful or spoilt.. knowing you as parents worked hard for it and gave them it because you scraped together your money means more.

I do aim to get things mine NEED rather than simply WANT.. which makes a big difference.. mine also get nothing throughout the year.. absolutely nothing so I CAN spend more at Christmas.. the fact they get nothing else makes it special, the fact we are all together as a family makes it special.. people make things special not money.

bigmomma051204

Flyonthewall wrote: »

He's getting a laptop, he'll be excited, especially if he loves tech!

The outside may just be grey, but once it's open the colour makes no difference, you're looking at the screen.

As for games, if he likes console gaming and he games with friends online stick to PS3 for minecraft. Some games are only available on certain platforms. Sometimes PC games get released at a later date than the console versions. Minecraft story mode is on console and PC though.

The laptop will be fine for games. If he has a PS3 he may prefer console gaming so don't go buying loads of PC games. You could buy one or two, but you'll need to ask him in future which he wants. The Sims games are best on PC (in my opinion) so if you think he'd like that you could get that (any of the series is fine).

If you want a cool little USB thing there are numerous gadgets but as he's doing homework on it then a USB memory stick might be an idea. You can get novelty ones. Marvel characters, for example. Check reviews though and never buy off ebay or from a chinese seller so as to make sure it's not fake. Buy from a trusted retailer.

He may also prefer using a mouse rather than the mousepad. You can get car mice (mice in the shape of a car, they even have lights). You can find them on Amazon. They don't cost much but if he likes cars he should like that.

Thanks for the super reply Just what I was looking for!