In my family, we do monthly birthday parties. We are lucky in that a farflung sister and her two adorable kids will be here for our October/November birthday party. Here’s the question: the 'rents are saying, “Our kids have everything. They don’t need any more toys.” So, what to do for/give to these kids that will be fun, but more than just more stuff? (I fear my farflung sister was serious when she recommended savings bonds. I, as the cool childless aunt, cannot in good conscience get my perfect niece and nephews savings bonds. The horror.)
So, what do you get for the kid(s) who have everything? Farflung sis will be in town for a week, and cousins love to play together. Perhaps something they can all play with but will be used up by the end of the week?
Or maybe a fun experience, like taking them out on a horseback ride and bonfire?
Who’s got some good ideas that won’t suck for the kids but isn’t a toy that will just get added to the pile? There will be three boys (11, 7, and 6) and two girls (11 and 6) at this party.
I agree with ‘experiences.’ Er, not to get too sticky or nothin’, but they might just enjoy a little more of your time and attention - whether they’d admit it or not. Sounds like they’re at the age where they’d still like to be treated a little more grown up sometimes, though not to excess, probably.
A Night At The Theater, perhaps. Or A Day At The Ballpark.
Seconded. I’m “Uncle Commasense” to the dozen or so children of my friends, and I have never given anyone under 21 any gifts except books. And the oldest of these “kids” now have kids of their own who are getting books, too.
Most toys will be broken or forgotten within weeks, but a book can change someone’s life forever.
I would have loved the horseback ride and campfire idea as a kid. Heck, I still do. I’m not sure where you’re located, but this time of year around here is good for hayrides and apple picking, as well.
I agree with experiences. Like maybe give them each a day in which you’ll do anything they want to do. Have a list of ideas but be prepared for them to choose something else.
Thirded. In my experience, kids who have “everything” usually don’t have a lot of books. We went to a party at a friend’s house last year. Their kids have every toy known to man but their bookshelves were barren. By any measure (weight, volume, count, etc.) our kids have more books than toys.
I just came across this site, and I love the concept. (Didn’t look at prices, though.) How cool would it be to get a new flying object or craft kit every month?
Oooooo, cool site, freckafree. I like the idea of books, too.
I have to admit, I’m kinda not happy about this “my kids have enough, they don’t need presents” concept. Just seems kinda… I dunno… punishing? Isn’t getting presents one of the cool things about your birthday when you’re a kid? It’s not like they get tons of stuff all the time from their aunts/uncles/grandparents. Plus, I think changing the “policy” as it were before the year’s over is not cool. Kids born earlier in the year got presents.
Okay, enough personalizing. It’s been bandied about to get them Visa gift cards so they can buy what they want. I know one nephew likes this idea because he saves all his gift cards up to get one big thing. Do most kids like them? Maybe that should be the standard gift from the aunts/uncles, and leave the actual presents that are wrapped to their parents and friends?
BTW, I totally agree with this. In this case, though, we’re talking about the monthly family birthday party in particular. One sis has suggested tickets to events as gifts (except NOT Hannah Montana. No one has a couple hundred to drop on tickets!).
niblet_head, are there any cool museums in their area? You could get them a family membership to a science or kids’ museum.
For my twelfth birthday, my grandmother got the two of us season tickets for the community college theater. We would both get dressed up, she would take me to the plays, and then out for coffee and dessert afterwards. I felt sooo grown-up and sophisticated.
Magazine subscriptions are another thought. It’s like getting a new little present every month.
I ahve to say, this leaves me cold. Gift cards are so generic, and if the kids already have too much stuff, this would just compound the problem.
I think books, an activity, or even just spending time teaching them to do something interesting would be worthwhile. I’m currently re-teaching myself to knit, and I remember being enthusiastic about learning how to do crafts and projects and such. It wasn’t just “girly” crafts like knitting and sewing, but I also enjoyed stuff like building model rockets and doing simple science experiments.
Also, the museums and arts venues thing is a great idea, as a lot of kids these days don’t necessarily get taken to museums, science centers, and arts venues by their schools as part of regular field trips. Make a big day of it, and with any luck, you may have an up-and-coming patron of the arts and sciences on your hands. If not, then at least they experienced it once. Just try to make sure it’s something “fun” for them; a lot of fine arts museums aren’t fun for adults, and may be completely lost on kids of any age.
Whenever I have a child to buy a present for I just whip out the markers and make a home-made gift-certificate to Color-Me-Mine/Brushfire/whatever the pottery painting place is in your area is called. You can later work out the times with the parents and you buy each child a pottery item (put a limit on it because they sell like waist high garden statues that are crazy expensive) and get yourself one and paint them! Its fun, you get something tangible out of it and you spend time together.
Treasure hunt with clues for all the kids to do together. Treaure hunts kick ass. The present could be a magazine subscription or some sort of cool science-y thing (ant farm, sea monkeys) , with candy for the other kids.
In my family, after the first few years the parents open a college trust fund so that people can contribute to the kids’ college funds. It’s a nice gift if you don’t know what to get them and spares the parents from dealing with more toys or dressing their kids in clothes they don’t like.
Any thoughts on gifts that will be all used up in about a week? For example, one year the kids ended up with silly string (don’t ask me how!). Much fun for them, finite amount, no need to store or take back on the plane.
Silly string, water balloons, snappers (those little popping bits of gunpowder in twisted paper).
Cookie/candy making kits.
Beading/pottery/sewing kits to make a gift for mom or dad.
If they’re exceptionally mature for their age, how 'bout a shopping trip to choose a toy or book for a children’s shelter or hospital or school library?
Establishing a routine of giving away some of this excess of toys to the needy is a good idea in general. Teaches a good lesson and gets rid of the dross. So that the aunties can give them an Easy Bake Oven sans guilt, kid gets a cool fun toy, they play with it for awhile, and if they give it away in a year who cares? But again, this is bumping up against my frustration with the 'rents in my family. If they have too much stuff, then stop buying them everything. Problem solved, wouldn’t you think, and then maybe they’ll appreciate special occassions like birthdays where they get toys and new clothes.
Gah! I can’t stop being mad about this. I may have to start a Pit thread.
I’m not sure where you’re located, but this time of year around here is good for hayrides and apple picking, as well.