Families that don't have video game units

[eeyoremum]

Hello, let me start off by saying I don't want this to be taken as a critism of what other families do. It is just a question.

We are a family that decided years ago not to purchase any video game system. There will be no Wii or Xbox under my tree ever. There are many reasons for this but that is another post.

My question to families that do not purchase game systems what do you buy your kids for Christmas? As my sons get older (13 and 8) it is increasingly difficult to find things to buy them. We do have some computer games but they don't really bother with them after a day or two.

 

[JillandFamily]

Eeoyremum, I agree with you I am having some what of the same problem. We decided a while ago the same thing. My DD is 12 and this year has been difficult. The ideas are increasingly harder to find. Do your kids like to read? What about a series of books? or music? or my dd loves her Karoke machine?

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

We don't have a video game system either. My son is the only one interested in them and most of his friends have them so he plays at their houses. The Moms always ask me if he is allowed to play certain games. This year we bought him a full size hockey goal and the girls are getting American Girl dolls. It is getting harder as they get older.

 

[budbeerlady]

I would get them the same things our families bought us before game systems existed. (DD cannot believe there was such a day.....) Books, clothes, movies, foods, cds, etc.

Times were tight at my parents for Christmas. It was a sweater, outfit of some type, a tape or 2, 2 books and that was it. We didnt know any different.

 

[pamlet]

My sister's kids don't really have any game systems .. they're 15 and 13. They're both into Lego's ... and some complicated game I can't think of at the moment.

What are your kids interested in? That's the main thing!

When my older son was a teenager game system's weren't his thing - we always ended up getting him upgrades for his computer ... then there was the year he wanted to take up golf (and the clubs now sit in his closet.. )

Of course there's always digital cameras and mp3 players ...

Last year we got my younger son a personal dvd player...

 

[Robinrs]

The only system my 14yo son has ever had is the Wii which we got for him for his 13th birthday. I think the others are too sedentary and he never showed that much interest in them anyway.

My son is more of a DVD and computer person, and likes making his own videos. He puts them on YouTube and transfers them to his video Ipod, his main obsession. He also uses the Wii's wireless connection to see his videos on the TV.

All kids are not into video games. Your kids will let you know thier interests and you can center what you gift them with on that.

 

[maggiew]

Maybe some K-Nex or Lego Building sets.

Maggie

 

[AnninIowa]

CD's, DVD's, Books, Clothes...boys are hard to buy for in general!

 

[java]

Air hockey table?

 

[Lintasare]

Another option is if you have a home computer is to get some computer games for them. Many of the popular console games also have a PC version. I don't own any game consoles and buy PC games exclusively. I prefer strategy games like the Civilization and Ceasar series because they make you think and plan ahead.

 

[snowbunny]

Well good for you. We have the game systems after I said I never would. The first one was a gift from a relative.
I admire you for sticking to your decision.

Anyway - sports equipment? Science stuff such as Snap Circuits (really cool)? A copy of The Dangerous Book for Boys if they don't have that.

 

[twoeeyy]

our daughter is 15, She never showed any interest in video games so we have never owned one.

Yes it is difficult sometimes to come up with ' big ' gifts.

These are 'big' gift's that our daughter has gotten over the years, flat screen t.v. for her room, DVD player for her room, portable dvd, chocolate cell phone, I-Pod Nano, then Video, Canon S3 digital camera etc.. This year she will be getting an electronic writing tablet that she will use for Art ( what she is pursing as a career ) and for digital photo editing.It might as well have been a game system it cost 329.00

 

[LSchrow]

as another said, KNex (i LOVE playing with them!! )
sports equipment (not neccessarily a sort they are current in, try equipment for a sport they may be interested in). hockey (stick with roller first) is great for those ages. a bball hoop is fun for all
sports related clothing (jerseys, caps), or trendy clothes, if that's what they are interested in
music CDs, MP3 players, etc

i love books (& hopefully passed some of that onto my kidlets) so reading material of any type is good (e.g., a subscription to a mag that relates to their interests)

hth

 

[disneymom3]

We do have a Wii and a PS2--DH is a programmer, what can I say? However our kids are not allowed to have those games as their gifts. The games either belong to mom and dad or they are just family games. For instance, we all want My Sims for Wii so DH is "asking " for it for Christmas.

So, my kids gifts this year are actually a LOT of board games. DD will also be getting some craft kits/scrapbooking type stuff and things for her American Girl dolls. DS almost 8 is getting books, a few different games, Legos and a magazine subscription. There are lots and lots of things out there that have nothing to do with video games. Heck, my kids would probably be bummed if they got a vidoe game as a gift since they only get to play them once a week.

 

[WDWHo]

My kids have all the systems but to be honest I am sick of buying them games. Its the same thing every holiday, $50 game, or two, no imagination no surprise. SO this year I decided to change it up for my eldest son 13, beside video games another passion of his is EATING!LOL! So I had a budget of $150 for him and I bought him gift cards to about 6 restaurants that he loves. I will include a card that says these can be redeemed for dinner or lunch with mom whenever you want. This way, he gets to eat out one on one with me and spend some quality time and enjoy more eating out then we would normally do. I hope he likes it, I kind of think he will.

 

[8 Ears]

Good job sticking to your guns! We did buy them Gameboy's but they were not super into them. Oh "they" are DS now 13 and nearly 16.
We have bought them similar to what others have said... TV's, DVD players both seperate from the TV and with the TV, portable ones, stereo, K*Nex, magazine subscriptions, cameras, games for both family computer and their computers in their rooms (that are not on the internet and are second hand from family members that have upgraded), books, DVD's, movie passes...

Happy Shopping!

 

[the Fidge]

DS was given a PS2 and I can't stand it! I do not purchase any games for it. I purchase CDs, DVDs, books, clothes, rubics cube, disney dollars, disney pins and some stray things. HOw about an ipod or a musical instrument or air hockey table. Have purchased those in the past oh and a dart board.

 

[momof1princess]

DH refuses to purchase any sort of video game system-our DD10 uses my old computer to play educational pc games and she has a leapster.

 

[starrzone]

My youngest brother is 15, and a video/computer game NUT. However, to get to the point of your original post, the board game "Risk" has been a huge hit with him (and he's the kind of kid who always has to be "entertained"!). Every Boxing Day, the younger guys in the family all end up squished into the den with their Risk marathon going on...there's always lots of laughter and (good-natured) yelling!

Another thing my brother enjoyed was Lincoln logs (which, coincidentally, he only "got into" when we went to WDW when he was 13 and saw them in the World of Disney Store!). The non-brand name ones were fine with him, and he played with them for hours. Of course, there's always the good old standby of Lego...I don't think ANYONE could ever grow bored of Lego! If you gave me a set now, I bet I could spend hours with it.

HTH!

 

[snowbunny]

Just to add one thing. I'm not trying to criticize other posters but those that won't let them have a game system (a decision I admire BTW even though I wasn't able to stick to it myself), why would you let them have a TV in their bedroom?

It's the same (or worse) mindless junk food for the brain IMO...just wondering. My DD used to ask me for a TV in her room but she gave that up finally when we said Never. Their game system and computers are here in my office.