What To Buy My Children For Xmas?

[simon43]

I have 3 young children in the UK, (1 boy aged 7, 2 girls aged 9 and 11). Unfortunately, I have not been able to visit them for over 1 year (dam_n those airfares...).

Every year, I send what I think are suitable Xmas presents. But I'm continually stuck for ideas. I do not like to send plastic 'junk' because it will be broken/discarded within a few days.

Can anyone suggest some longer-lasting gifts that might be appreciated, and could strengthen the bond between my home in Thailand and the UK?

Some of the ideas that I have are not tangible items, such as adopting a baby gibbon from the Phukert Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre, setting up a (safe/monitored) penpal with some Thai schoolkids, er, um run out of ideas....

I need some suggestions!!

Simon

[mommysboy]

I have 3 young children in the UK, (1 boy aged 7, 2 girls aged 9 and 11). Unfortunately, I have not been able to visit them for over 1 year (dam_n those airfares...).

Every year, I send what I think are suitable Xmas presents. But I'm continually stuck for ideas. I do not like to send plastic 'junk' because it will be broken/discarded within a few days.

Can anyone suggest some longer-lasting gifts that might be appreciated, and could strengthen the bond between my home in Thailand and the UK?

Some of the ideas that I have are not tangible items, such as adopting a baby gibbon from the Phukert Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre, setting up a (safe/monitored) penpal with some Thai schoolkids, er, um run out of ideas....

I need some suggestions!!

Simon

Is this for real?

[Kan Win]

Money and let them spend it on what they would like to have

Really cheap right now BTW

I did.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

P.S. and quicker way as well with a bank transfer just in time before Christmas The Posts service is ...... well you know

I'm asking for some ideas because I don't want to send plastic junk to them as is the norm each year.

will you be paying for the pressies with your "plastic junk" btw

Edited December 10, 2008 by Kan Win

[soundman]

Yep - money!

I vividly remember that the best presents always came in thin envelopes.

Failing that - video games / electronic entertainment or gadgets.

if

You get them socks, bathing outfit, god forbid - new school books / uniform - you'll get the obligatory "thanks dad" and the stuff will be turfed before you can finish a can of beer.

Just my personal opinion of course.

[simon43]

is this for real?

[\quote]

<deleted>? I assume you do not have kids on the other side of the world? I'm asking for some ideas because I don't want to send plastic junk to them as is the norm each year. Is that so strange?

Simon

[Boo]

laptop & webcam so you can see each other online. If you already have that, then cash & they can buy their own gifts that they really want.

[RakJungTorlae]

Its not going to be much cash as he cant afford the airfare!!!

PWND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[So1DoG]

Its not going to be much cash as he cant afford the airfare!!!

PWND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet another childish post for Rakjungtorlae, Thats 2 min 5 minutes

[Geekfreaklover]

It is really tough knowing what to buy, clothes are often a good choice. Books. Toys which don't involve guns! My boys like toy animals, Thomas the tank engine and learning books at the moment. They are in Thailand, so guess kids like much the same thing world over. If your kids are in England then some warm clothing. Also you can get loads of DVDs here cheap, which would no doubt go down well.

Edited December 10, 2008 by Geekfreaklover

[Misplaced]

laptop & webcam so you can see each other online. If you already have that, then cash & they can buy their own gifts that they really want.

Leave it to the women to come up with a perfect idea. You'll be able to see , talk to them and vice versa.

[h90]

Wii for playing games including a modchip so they can play the cheap games.

[britmaveric]

mp3 player or smth similar? (for the older ones)

[torrenova]

Maybe ask their mother or guardian what they want and ask for ? Money is obvious but crass (though I used to love to receive money).

The Wii and getting it chipped is a good idea but as for sending anything, you are well too late unless you Fed Ex it. Then again, would you expect anything of value to get through the Thai postal system ? No.

I reckon I'd be hard pushed but you've got to talk with the people who see them everyday.

Is a belated Xmas trip with some prezzies an alternative ?

[madjbs]

In my opinion, they are too young to send money too, you should save that until they are a little older. Right now they will appreciate good gifts more.

Wii is a good idea, other than that you should get something for some sport or hobby that they like taking part in.

Thai post normally takes about 6 days to the UK, so it might get there in time, but the recent airport trouble might delay things, so best to send with DHL or something.

Edited December 10, 2008 by madjbs

[MiG16]

Ive deleted a couple of posts. The OP has asked for gift ideas, if you havent got any to share, theres no need to reply.

am also moving this to the family forum, where hopefully you will get more ideas.

I like Boo's idea of webcam, and microphone

otherwise maybe a video recorder, and a book on how to create your own podcast? or something to that affect? (I know one can always use youtube)

ahhh heres an idea ... why dont you create a blog, where you and your children can then use to post and read each others news, including upload photos, video or audio of your daily lives?

[Who, me ?]

Ive deleted a couple of posts. The OP has asked for gift ideas, if you havent got any to share, theres no need to reply.

am also moving this to the family forum, where hopefully you will get more ideas.

I like Boo's idea of webcam, and microphone

otherwise maybe a video recorder, and a book on how to create your own podcast? or something to that affect? (I know one can always use youtube)

ahhh heres an idea ... why dont you create a blog, where you and your children can then use to post and read each others news, including upload photos, video or audio of your daily lives?

That's a good idea !

You also can make nice pictures of you in various situations / location in Thailand, frame them in a very nice way, and send them over. You then send them some money for them to buy what they really like.

[Tywais]

mp3 player or smth similar? (for the older ones)

Good choice. I bought mp3 players for my nephews (Thai and about the same age as the older) last year and it was a big hit. Seems I never see them without earplugs in their ears anymore.

[Kf6vci]

There are computers in both households? You have braodband? Use Skype to stay in touch! An alternative might be a Voipdiscount.com account with you calling them from an internet cafe or arranging the call to be triggered online and then you get your mobile phone connected to the British landline. Costs about 4 Euro cent per call with a tough fair use policy of about an hour a day. (I hat but need them as I have not found an alternative except yet another one of their VoIP offers, voipbusterpro.com ) Speak to them every day!

Get them to get library cards - the girls should discover reading as there are many fascinating books for their age group.

Your sone might want to try a hobby. How about a simple model airplane, without R/C.

[LivinLOS]

I was just having this conversation with someone yesterday, about the only presents I really remember where ones that had some learning / curiosity aspect.

When I was about 7 or 8 my nans boyfriend brought me a book on making kites and all the kit to do it (rods, strings, non rip nylons, etc) and spent a day making one with me.. The old fella had taken me to a kite fair earlier in the year and I guess that was his reasoning.. Either way I loved that, made every one in the book, made many of my own designs and started a fascination with flight that I still have (had hanggliders, paragliders, done skydives etc).. A few years later logical progression went into model planes and RC planes.. And it all had that root in the day 'uncle Alec' bought me that kite book.

Also RC planes these days, which if he had adult supervision IMO he isnt too young for either, they are now dirt cheap, theres RC clubs in every small town and its a hobby that teaches engineering, physics, making stuff, etc etc

Also a bit younger than that age I was given a microscope.. Might be uncool and a bit geeky, probably very dependent on the type of kid, but to discover that whole micro world, looking at mosquitoes, butterfly wings, plant bits.. Well its one I can remember now nearly 30 years later. I do think tho that this could be a hit or miss depending on the character / attention span of the kid.

Course the lad probably is lusting for an xbox !! Me at that age was just starting the constant battle to get my first motorbike.

Edited December 11, 2008 by LivinLOS

[yogi]

how about a PSP games?they can play,download music,movies,and also use wifi.

[simon43]

Lots of great ideas. My ex is somewhat computer/internet illiterate. But I think my kids probably know much more than her about how to get everything working - or they can maybe get a teacher from the school to help.

My suggestion about adopting a gibbon was not intended to be the sole Xmas present! It just seems an interesting item to throw into the big box that I'll be sending over.

Kids love plastic toys! I've sent them such items each year, but they might as well buy this sort of stuff in the UK. I understand that kids probably prefer plastic junk toys to any 'sensible' and 'educational' present that an out-of-touch father thinks of

Simon

[bkk_mike]

Nobody in their right mind would actually send a gift from Thailand, unless it was something you could only get here.

It's what internet shopping was invented for (Amazon.co.uk is my favourite - at least since etoys went bust)... - i.e. cheaper shipping charges, no worries about them being hit with import duty on the other end (although if it's to an ex-wife that's possibly not an issue), you can shop closer to Christmas, and they'll even do the wrapping.

Add in that UK prices were set when the £ was 25% stronger than it is now, and things like laptops can actually be cheaper in the UK than Hong Kong at the moment, let alone cheaper than Thailand.

As for my choice of gifts, if they don't have one already, ipods of some description... - That's what I got my daughter's (in Thailand) for Christmas, and I'm pretty certain they'll be happy with them. (Got my luddite wife one a few months ago, and she's now talking about me getting her a laptop).