Many families in the UK are feeling the financial squeeze more than ever and the bombardment of ‘offers’ and ‘deals’ on the television and in your inbox are probably adding to the FOMO. You might also be feeling pressure from family and friends around this time – they may want to go on shopping trips together, or have their eye on some plastic monstrosity in the sales that they want to treat your child to.
It is worth keeping in mind that many of the offers that you see around this time of year probably aren’t as great as they are hyped up to be. Brands and companies have similar discounts year-round, and the products on offer may not even be things that you or your child want or need.
As a part of the British Heart Foundation’s Toy Amnesty campaign, a survey of parents found that on average, children grew bored of their new toys after 36 days. It found that one in five children were fed up of trending ‘must-have’ toys in less than a single day, and some in as little as an hour![2] You might find your child asks for certain popular toys. This can be because having a toy that’s deemed popular by their peers can give them a sense of belonging to a group, though this doesn’t mean they will necessarily play with it. Another parent survey by the British Heart Foundation also found that almost a third of parents binned children’s toys in full, working order because they simply were not played with.[3]
As well as this, there is a huge environmental impact of Black Friday. Last year’s ‘Dirty Delivery’ report into the carbon cost of Black Friday found that the potential carbon emissions from the huge online shopping weekend was around 386,243 tonnes, which is the equivalent of 215 return flights between London and Sydney.[4]
It’s very tempting to click ‘buy now’ when you spot a seemingly great deal on your screen. To resist the temptation of impulse purchases that are likely to end up at the back of a cupboard or in landfill, try making a list of things that you actually want or need to buy. Speak to your loved ones about what they would really like, or even make an agreement to stick to only buying for children. You could try a Secret Santa or agree on a budget in advance. Try your best not to stray from your list!
Gifts for children that often come heavily discounted are discounted for a reason. It is likely that these toys are objects that will date quickly, will be of poor quality or your children will grow out of quickly. To avoid the never-ending cycle of toys ending up in landfill, consider more open-ended toys that can adapt and grow with your child, and used over many years to come. Simple toys such as blocks and stacking toys can be used with children for years, and will be used for a wider variety of play. Would you rather have the latest princess doll that your child is bored of by the end of the week or high-quality wooden toys that can be used for years to come, and can even be passed on through the family?
Charity shops can be a goldmine for Christmas party outfits, trinkets and decorations. You could even bring your child along to help you choose some special Christmassy treats and activities. Small businesses also need all the support that they can get around this time of year, so keep an eye out for any local Christmas markets or events. The day after Black Friday is Small Business Saturday, making it a great time to boost local businesses. You could even invite some friends over for a chat, a cup of tea and a ‘toy swap’ where you trade unwanted toys with one another that you think your own children may enjoy.
Instead of dropping a pile of cash on toys that will be boring to your child within the day, why not hire some instead? There are many services that offer toy hire where you can simply send back toys that are replaced once your child gets fed up of them. Some of these services also have monthly subscription services that send out a variety of age-appropriate toys which can save you money, have less of a negative impact on the environment and also stop you from having a home full of unwanted clutter!
[1] https://www.gwp.co.uk/guides/christmas-packaging-facts/
[2] https://www.goodto.com/family/family-news/kids-bored-toys-488182
[4] https://www.money.co.uk/credit-cards/dirty-delivery-report