Christmas present 8 yo - going against the list?

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

My DD1 (ages 8) has started to think about Christmas, but the toys she is asking for are "silly" or too kiddy

For example - She wants a stretchkins (Think like stretch armstrong only in the form of a teddy... and its £30...) I KNOW this will be played with once, then that will be it.

Now - I was hoping that I could get her one or two things off her christmas list, but then give her something a bit more "grown up"

I know this sounds evil and yes I should get her what she wants but I just know it will be put in a draw and never seen again.

She does get pocket money monthly (£20) and she does buy her own things throughout the year (that she has to save for) so if she REALLY wanted something theres the option for her to save for it (She did this earlier this year, she saved and got herself a Frozen water shooter thing... That is now in the back of a cupboard gathering dust.... and a kool knits machine which is also now next to the frozen shooter ....

So back to my "grown up" present.... maybe something like a cinema pass etc or a hamper?!

What do you think?

BBRosie

I would do a mixture! Or perhaps gently make suggestions of more suitable things over the next few months and try and get her keen.

It's what we do with DSD when picking something for DD or because something isn't feesible!

Money_maker

A cinema pass wont save her money unless she has to pay for her own ticket - it'll save you money.

I had the same with my DD (7) last year, she picked a baby born medical computer thingamy whatsit which was used a handful of times and almost like this preschool type baby doll which has been virtually ignored. Both were pretty pricey.

We're trying to steer her towards a tablet of some type as she only has an innotab but she's suddenly got back into Monster High so there'll probably be more plastic fantastic carp heading our way. Anything too unsuitable and I will remind her of last years' 'must have' toys and how much play she's had out of them.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Money_maker wrote: »

A cinema pass wont save her money unless she has to pay for her own ticket - it'll save you money.

I had the same with my DD (7) last year, she picked a baby born medical computer thingamy whatsit which was used a handful of times and almost like this preschool type baby doll which has been virtually ignored. Both were pretty pricey.

We're trying to steer her towards a tablet of some type as she only has an innotab but she's suddenly got back into Monster High so there'll probably be more plastic fantastic carp heading our way. Anything too unsuitable and I will remind her of last years' 'must have' toys and how much play she's had out of them.

Ah sorry - As a family we go once a month but she's started to ask to go with friends (and their parents) which she pays for the ticket from her pocket money.


I saw Odeon do a "cinema gift tin" thing but not sure whether its any good as there wasn't a "kid" one.


I pay for a "set" activity (So cinema once a month, swimming every week, horse riding every week and brownies every week) and if she wants to do extra, she pays for it herself.


I hope that makes sense?

davidsdesire

wow...my almost 8y old granddaughter is FAR too young to go to the movies without her family. Maybe we shelter her a bit.

as for xmas...we have a criteria for the children. They get 4 gifts-something you want, something you need, something you wear and something you read. I feel we give them far too much and the meaning of the holiday are lost. So, I would give her one gift I thought she needed--the less babyish thing; and one that she wants-the doll.

Maybe it's time to put away some of the other toys and bring out the forgotten ones. I find that when I do that, the children DO go backand play with forgotten toys because they are there.

IrishRose12

Number 1 - she's 8.
Number 2 - she's still A CHILD.
Number 3 - She's innocent
Number 4 - she shouldn't be forced to want something or like something that her parents want her to have.

What's the point of writing a letter to Santa if you won't get anything or very little on your list?
Those are usually the toys that they will remember in years to come that they really wanted but Santa didn't bring me it.

This is also one of the many reasons children are growing up way too quick, because they are not allowed to be children and enjoy their childhood.
There's time enough to buy her tablets and whatever other "grow-up" stuff you think they should be getting.
I know 11 year olds who still play with dolls, prams and Frozen stuff.

A hamper for a child under the age of 10 is silly IMO, as is cinema passes....... especially for an 8 year old.

I really don't understand the problem with children wanting to be the children they are these days. Parents are far too impatient to make them grow up

davidsdesire

i do agree with IrishRose to an extent. I also feel that children are pushed too quickly toward being 'worldly'. I was collecting Barbie Dolls when i was 35 because I loved them. I get all excited at Halloween because it's fun....it's silly..maybe immature...but i don't care.

I would definitely get things from her list. I don't think there is a standard for children...i have one 9 year old gs who is into video games, another 9 year old gs who is almost University level in his interests and reading and hobbies...and one almost 8 year old who still loves to play with building blocks and dolls and has little to no interest in video games, computers.

Soon your baby will be 'grown' and you will miss these dolly tea party days.

Spendless

You might be surprised what she does play with if she wants it. A couple of years ago my DD wanted a furby and some ever after high dolls, which were new on the market. I wasn't keen on either, thinking that as she was then in her last year of Primary school they would be quickly outgrown and not played with. I ended up getting them anyway due to the good deal to be had (the furby came from my parents) and have turned out to be pleasantly surprised as she still now at 12 'plays' with them. Usually she's shooting a scene with her ipad with them to make a video, but they're not gathering dust either.

Are there other relatives who buy for her? Could someone else give her a gift from her list? I'd be a bit hesitant about the cinema vouchers at her age. Unless there is only 1 chain in your area, how do you know you'd buy for the right place? Even if there is only 1 place, most vouchers work on not giving change, which might then work out slightly complex if the friends family is purchasing the tickets together. Personally I'd leave that till she's old enough to make her own arrangements.

If you do do a hamper, what sort of things were you thinking of?

donnalou

As someone who grew up with a Mother who had set rules about what I should be playing with at a certain age ( On my 7th Birthday I had to give all my dolls away as she thought that 7 was too old to play with dolls) I would say let her have some of what she asks for because if she is anything like me she will only remember what she didn't have and wanted and nothing feels like that disappointment to a child She may change her mind by Christmas anyway.

I have two small daughters now who are 1 and nearly 4 and the eldest one still loves playing with baby toys as well as toys that I meant for much older children, I try to be very relaxed about the whole thing and just go with whatever she wants. At the moment Barbies are popular but she was requested a black bike with green monsters on for Christmas!

Money_maker

I dont think anyone is trying to force a child into wanting something, just trying to avoid getting a toy which they will never pick up and play with again after Christmas.

Most parents have some idea of what their children like to play with and which toys are short lived novelty value.

themull1

I bought most of the things my kids asked for on their christmas lists, yes, most things will be forgotten about in a few months, but christmas would be pretty boring if the kids just got what the parents wanted them to have!! I'm not religious either, and i don't follow the want, need, read etc, the 'need' present is really to save the parents money....

Get your daughter what she wants. There's plenty of time for hampers and cinema tickets when she's a teenager.