What's a Santa to do????

[mom2boys]

My boys are 7.5 & (almost) 9. The younger one gets very excited about just about anything he gets. He wants a magic set & cars & trucks - just about anything. The older one only wants a Game Cube & accessories. I can't justify that with the N64 investment we have made. But he hasn't expressed an interest in ANYthing else. I could have a grand time buying for the younger one & keep his cost to $150-$200. Obviously, they need to have approximately equal piles & equal $$ (as pointed out in other threads). The older one likes computers/video games & sports - not too exciting when it comes to Christmas shopping. Any suggestions?

 

[Robinrs]

I feel your pain...

My son wants a Sony Playstation which is $200 more than what I have! I daydream about the days just a few years ago when he was THRILLED with whatever "Santa" gave him.... I guess 9 is that cut off time, huh?

 

[RNMOM]

Well, I would probably buy the game cube and wrap all the parts and pieces separately. That way you would have a better chance at equal number of gifts.

Will the older boy share the game cube well? If so it will really be a gift for both of them. That would be another tact, get it as a gift for both and give a game to the older boy and the magic set for the younger. Something like that is what I would do. That and a few stocking stuffers is what I would suggest.

The other possiblility is to see of any other family members might want to contribute to the cost and get it as a group gift.

 

[mom2boys]

I like the idea of wrapping parts of gifts seperately. I just don't want to buy anymore major electronic devices - such as the GameCube. The boys have a 6 month old "gaming" computer with all of the bells & whistles - including a G4 graphics card, steering wheel, controllers & joystick & I don'/t know what else. Their computer is better than mine & I use mine for business! I am trying to stay away from electronics with both of them. It's just such a challenge with the older one. (It's only going to get worse as they get older ) He does like board games. Anyone know of any good ones for that age group. (We play Disney Monopoly a lot )

 

[Disney845]

Originally posted by mom2boys
I am trying to stay away from electronics with both of them.

Is this because you would rather see them playing outside than stuck on a video game inside all day? If so why did you buy a computer just to be played for games? If for some other reason you want to keep them away from electronics then I have no answers for you. Electronics are a very important part of todays society, and I would wager that they will only get more and more important, as society depends on them for more things. I am confused on your disinterest in the GameCube if you don't mind them playing the N64 or the computer for games. If you know the child will get a lot out of his present then isn't that a good thing. I would rather buy him one $200 item he would play with through out the year, than 8 $25 items that will lose their interest in a week or two. If you want to encourage more out door types of activities than maybe you should think about limiting game playing time for not only the video games but the computer. Maybe a basketball hoop. A bacci ball set or lawn tennis game could be fun for the whole family and provide you all with healthy out door exercise.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I feel your pain. My 3 year old wants a $200 Playmobil set, not to mention about 20 other things. Santa's going to be broke this year for sure! :lol

 

[cruisnfamily]

We're right there with you too!

DS (7 in three weeks) got the N64 for Christmas 00, by Christmas 01 he was asking for the gamecube. Santa vetoed this idea as the system was less than a year old. Well, since 3/02 DS AND DH have been lobbying for the Gamecube so Santa has knuckled under and bought the gamecube. This will be the last game system until DS is a teen! We are not going with the PS2 or Xbox as DS enjoys the Nintendo characters so much. The only reason I wasn't thrilled to buy the cube is that the other system is less than 2 years old, and he still plays it and he has quite a few games. I however have been outvoted!

We did go out and get several smaller items for him so it's not the only present under the tree but DD10 is gonna think she got way more as she did not have a "big" item on her list this year and got lots of smaller stuff. I actually spent less on her (by about $130) but she's gonna be happy because it looks like more. DS will be happy 'cause he really, really wants this and he is getting other toys he wants too, just not as many.

Hopefully everybody will be happy!

 

[Marla Hellwig]

That is what I am going through now - dd 11 1/2 wants a playstation 2 so bad she can taste it - trying to decide between that and the xbox - of course if that is what Santa brings - she isn't getting much else

 

[mom2boys]

The only reason I wasn't thrilled to buy the cube is that the other system is less than 2 years old, and he still plays it and he has quite a few games

As Sonya said, the N64 is only a couple of years old & still has plenty of play left in it. Many of the game system games are available in a PC version & our computer monitor is much better than the TV the N64 is hooked to. Our guys already use the computer almost daily for their homework & they are only in 2nd & 3rd grade. Although it is not a school requirement to have a computer, there is no way they could get their assignments done without it. I am not anti-electronic. I am just against spending another $200 for a system that requires $50 game cartridges. It seems that every couple of years a new system comes out that everyone has to have.
My guys are active with karate, basketball & cub scouts. I know that computers are vital in today's society. And they will be receiving a new printer (maybe with scanning capabilities too). Both boys are currently learning keyboarding skills so that they may be able to use laptops for notetaking in school by next year.
I am just looking for some non-electronic suggestions for my older son.

 

[wovenwonder]

Zipzaps -- tiny remote control cars at radio shack for around $20 PLUS lots of accessorries available for these. I put my name on a waiting list at two of my local radio shacks and received a call from one of them last night that one of my requests was here. So my DS13 is getting his zipzap! His 'big' gift this year is a downscaled sized pool table for the rec room AND Grandma is seeing that the Playstation 2 will be his this year too . I know what you mean about the systems going 'out' so soon! We have an old nintendo and also a Dreamcast both with many hundreds of dollars worth of accessories!

 

[Disneydenise]

Choose your arguments carefully. I have a 17 YO the games are important to the kids today. They talk about them constantly at lunch and when they are out socially. DD and DS have pretty much all the systems that are out except Xbox. I like the game cube it is small and the disc 's are easy to keep. The guys all bring the different games to each others homes and they have a great time together. I would consider just getting the game cube and then nothing else. Sorry your pile is smaller than your brothers he is old enough to understand why. Do you remember when all we got for Christmas was one gift? I have learned it isn't quanity any more with my son it is quality. I know the actvities are expensive but to get into a good college you need an activity. It is insurance for the future not only does it get them exercise it gives them another social outlet, builds self esteem. I wouldn't buy my son the game cube because he needed more equipment for fencing so he had to choose. He took his $$$ from Birthday gifts and bought it himself. Now he is trying to get us to buy a new gaming computer for Christmas. I wish I could do it because he is going to continue to play no matter what. I would rther have his friends here playing on the computer and the game cube and PS2 and DDR and know where they are and what they are doing and talking about than at someone elses home having fun. This is a short time that they are with you soon DS will be off to college and when they come home they go see all their friends and they aren't spending alot of time with you unless you made you home the fun house.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

It's tough as they get older, DSD is 11 and DSS is 9 almost 10. We bought the PS2 as a family gift (okay I was the one who really really wanted it ), so everyone is getting a game to go with it (including DH, who also bought an HDTV as a family gift but that's another story ). These two still don't really understand that when things cost more you get less, and well this Santa can't stand small piles under the tree. Luckily there is extra money this year. I have promised not to go wild, but I can say things not on my list have been bought. It helps that they are getting a PS2 at their mom's too so there will be plenty of games to go around. We have a N64 but never bought that many games since DSS would bring his from his mom's.

Okay now that I have not helped you at all, I understand your dilemma but it doesn't get any easier. lol As for non electric gifts for your older son...my DSS loves baseball but seems to forever be losing his so he is getting a whole load of baseballs, also something from his favorite football team (he got a personalized jersey last year, I'm thinking maybe a body pillow this year), he actually likes clothes (go figure) so he'll get some of those as well. Just look at your son's other interests and go from there.

 

[jenfur]

Okay, I agree with you on the electronic gift thing- you have to go out of your way to find something without buttons, whistles and beaucoup batteries! I am all for learning about computers and being prepared for th efuture, BUT kids need to develop their own minds through their own imaginative play instead of pushing buttons and getting a programmers idea of an ideal outcome.

I also know what you mean about the older kid is less satisfied than the younger. I have a 3 DS and a 7 DD, DD will be disappointed with every expensive, I wish I had that when I was a kid toy, unless the one thing she wanted most is in that pile. Last year it was Barbie Magic Key house- on Christmans morning we were going to hide it behind the other presents so she would open it last...BUT she was to depressing in opening the others looking for it that we just pulled it out THANK GOD, I already found her orange Fur Real Kitty!!! The 3 year old could open dollar store toys and be in heaven for days!

BUT, now I will get to your problem. You have a little time, when 9 yr old is at school, something disastrous will happen to your N64. You will then put it on eBay (secretly of course) sell it with all the games you have- use the money to buy the Gamecube. To equal out our kids presents, if one gets a really expensive gift compared to the other, he/she only gets smaller, cheaper ones after the big one. Black Friday is good for this expecially if your son likes board games.