The Kids Christmas List – Parent Gaming Terminology Guide

I love Christmas and everything about it, from the build up to the present buying to the tree decorating to the Christmas carols. Presents for the family is my favourite thing and seeing the children’s faces light up on Christmas morning knowing Santa has arrived is priceless. However, as the children get older it becomes harder. They no longer content with toys, they want the latest gadget and games.

Both boys are proficient in their way around an ipad, xbox and love playing games with their friends. Minecraft, Terraria and Fifa being their favourites. The new Fifa 16 game is top on my oldest’s list. According to research from GAME, children everywhere are beginning or have already completed their Christmas list.  Has your child? Both boys like to write their list in a letter to send to Santa. Gone are the days of tearing out pictures in store catalogues, now it’s browsing the internet and sharing their lists. Or using an app.

Almost half (49%) of UK children, according to the research, will be starting or having started their lists, and around one in three children now use technology such as iPads or mobile phone apps instead of the traditional pen and paper. A few, 19% to be precise – will rely on parents to take a note of all the things they point at during TV adverts and during trips to the shops.

I still like doing the toy shopping trips. I find myself taking notes on my mobile or snapping a sneaky picture to “send to Santa”. How do you organise your Christmas list for your children?

With all the new games out there for their consoles, it gets a bit confusing when the boys ask for something like a Dive Clops character for Skylanders and what is the right Skylanders version to get? Giants, Swap Force or Superchargers to name a few. It has my head in a spin. I think I am pretty technology savy as I working in IT, but when it comes to gaming, I am lost in a dense wood with no light in sight.

It seems I am not alone, here are the Top 10 most obscure items:

1. A real dragon egg
2. Pet unicorn
3. iPhone 7
4. Glasses for a cat
5. That daddy’s job will be ok
6. A live walrus
7. Taylor Swift
8. Flight to the moon
9. Ferrari
10. The power of invisibility

Number 5 is very sweet and number 10 would be very cool. Thankfully, GAME are the light at the end of my dense wood with their useful glossary, below, and Gamer Claus. Gamer Claus is a new Christmas character from GAME who is around to help you if and when you get confused with an item on your ever growing list of things to buy for Christmas. GAME have also launched a Xmas list app, which is really handy.

Fred Prego, Marketing Director at GAME, says:

“Choosing what to get your kids at Christmas can be a bit of a minefield. As the research shows, most kids will be making note of the things that they want this half term and a lot of lists are going to be written. While we don’t stock any dragon eggs or unicorns, our Xmas List will give children the opportunity to start highlighting all the great games and accessories that they really want to be opening on Christmas Day, making it far easier for parents when it comes to buying presents.”

“And, if you’re confused about a certain gaming related item that’s on your child’s wish list, our new Christmas character, Gamer Claus, is on hand to help everyone get the most from GAME Season. Keep an eye out for him over the festive period.”

GAME have also supplied this handy infographic to help you out with any gaming terminology.

Have your kids written Christmas lists yet?

Disclaimer:- This is written in collaboration with GAME.