Joint present suggestions for kids

Katieowl

Was just speaking with my daughter who's absolutely dreading xmas. She's three kids 4B, 9G, 11G and her partner has three also 7B, 10B, 11B. It's their Xmas for everyone christmas morning, which also apparently includes being in charge of stockings all round, plus gifts. Eeek.

Her partner may be between jobs at that time, too so money is very very tight. I suggested that only the youngest two actually believe in Father Xmas (she says youngest three LOL) and suggested a giant sharing stocking with vouchers for some treats down the line to spread the cost. Added twist, 4 of the kids are dairy free!

Has anyone ever done anything like that? Was it well recieved by kids? Got any other suggestions. 

We're all pretty frugal, DD has already nabbed youngest some gifts on the local FB sites. The cost of stocking fillers mounts up at an alarming rate when its x 6. TIA.

elsien

I have to be honest, a sharing stocking sounds like it could lead to arguments between children over who gets what. or the more assertive coming out better than the less assertive.
She could have a look in charity shops for items as well as on Facebook or Olio as you do get some things that look new in there. And stockings don’t  need to be huge. They are meant to be tokens rather than anything else.

flossymcfly

I agree with @elsien, a sharing stocking could be problematic when the kids start to argue over who gets what.

For our kids stockings, we tend to keep them simple, chocolate coins/novelty chocs (could be adapted for the dairy free kids) and little toys from the likes of Home Bargains - could substitute with art and craft supplies if that is better? Could also include an individual 'voucher' for a day out when the weather is better to shunt some costs down the line. No need to spend more than £10 per stocking, can even do it a lot cheaper with Marketplace and local facebook pages.

Katieowl

Good point both, I'm an only lonely mouse so I forget about squabbling!

saajan_12

I never understood the rationale behind gifts AND stockings as separate things. Surely stockings are to hold gifts, gifts (not stocking fillers) fill the stockings. 

Whatever they've done in past years can be changed. I would just do one gift each, £ based on what the parents can afford. No need for multiple giftS for each kid. Decorative stockings with perhaps some sweets if she wants the look.
Otherwise agree you land up with ££ spent on fillers which are not particularly memorable for the kids and soon becomes tat around the house. 

Brie

Don't forget that there needs to be an orange of some sort in the toe of the stocking - it nicely takes up a bit of room.  Roll a magazine of some sort - puzzle books or whatever - into the upright of the stocking and put whatever else in that.  It gives a shape to each and every child gets something similar but not the same.  And while chocolates are always great for them what likes them (like me) don't forget there's other alternatives.  Little Haribo packs, maybe the ones from Lidl?  A pack of mini cookies, pack of raisins, etc. 

And because our family was a tad bizarre we always got a new toothbrush.  Well that's what happens when one's father is a dentist.  But you could just as easily give something else practical like a hairbrush, bubble bath, fun socks etc.  They all take up space.

And as for not having a stocking for the older children because they don't believe....well I'd think they'd feel left out.  And as for the older...my OH & I still do stockings and it's just for us.

London_1

I found two really nice glass jars at a boot sale back in the summer and I'm going to decorate them with some sea glass (I do live on the IoW so will be beach combing) and put my great granddaughters names on each and fill with small items like sweets, pencils, ribbons (they both have long hair aged 5 &7) some pretty hair stuff and they are both very girly so girly bits from Home Bargains.That plus some colouring books and some reading books and probably fancy socks if I see some unicorn ones All my grandchildren are grown age ranges from 21-35 so I've only two little greatgrand lassies Erin & Ida to buy for.

 My youngest great granddaughter lives in New York so I send dollars to her Mum so she can buy Daisy something in the stores out there.

My grandchildren usually have the five grandsons jumpers or smellies and the two granddaughters usually some perfume or make-up

My problem is finding something for my two DDs

JackieO xx  

Taffy9264

We used to always get an orange at the foot and a special drink to be opened with dinner, I used to feel so grown up with a babycham or a snowball.

CapricornLass

Boys are always difficult to buy for.  One of my work colleagues always used to put new socks and underpants every year in her kids Xmas Stockings,  Perhaps some of the character ones?  It might also help if you look for multi-packs of things eg. fancy erasers, and divide the contents up amongst the various stockings.  I also used to split those bags of chocolate coins up between various stockings, because lets face it, there's usually plenty of cakes and sweets around.

If you type in stocking presents for boys on the Big River site, it will come up with plenty of options.  Set the finance limit - their idea of stocking present goes up to £145!  But it should give plenty of much cheaper ideas.   If any of them are into art and drawing, then the Works might have some useful things. If you are near a Flying Tiger shop, that should prove fruitful too.

We always had a real coin in the very bottom of the stocking - usually a bright shiny penny!

joedenise

I used to save all my small coins and divide between my kids stockings.  They also got an orange, chocolate coins, colouring book and pencils or crayons (never felt tip pens in case they drew where they weren't supposed to!).

HampshireH

We used to always get an orange, toothbrush, chocolate coins, socks and some small activity /toy in stocking.  That tradition has held