Christmas present 8 yo - going against the list?

pinknfluffy28

My dd2 has just turned 8. She has asked for:
A 3ds
Lego minecraft set
Xeno monster

We have a rule with dd's, they can only ask "santa" for 3 things (not exceeding £250 max). We do this because we didnt want them to ask for anything and everything they see. We know that if it is one of the 3 things on the list, they really, truly, want it.

She is getting everything on her list, as she will each year, regardless of if I think it is unsuitable, or too babyish! Obviously they get other things too, that I think they will like. But I know from past years experience, that the most played with/loved/appreciated gifts, will be the 3 off their wish lists.

Maybe I am a mean mummy (my 8 y/o dd gets just £1 a week spending money!), but it has certainly stopped the girls being materialistic or ungrateful by doing the 3 wishes santa list. And it filters out all the things that they see on tv and want on the spur of the moment.

Edited to say that my dd's (15 & 8) always have a hamper as one of their main gifts from us (a tradition I started 5 years ago). They choose the theme during the summer holidays, and I go mad filling them!

This year dd2 has asked for a minecraft hamper, so I have got the little figures, some papercraft sets, a torch, soft toys, books, colouring books, stickers, a tshirt etc etc.

It has cost a fair bit, but I know dd will love it, as again, she has chosen/asked for it. Hampers for little ones can be lots of fun, and very well received if you get them right!

Flowfy

My children get what they ask for. you are only a kid once. waste of money or not, it is their choice. if there is money left after they have had what is on their list then i choose presents for them.

If they ask santa for presents and they are good, and you can afford it, why not let them have what they want.

TBagpuss

I think if you have asked her for a list, and she has given you one, it's a bit unkinf to then deliberately ignore it. Sometimes it's better to let them make their own mistakes.
If you want to, you could have a chat with her "I saw you'd put xxx on your list - do you think you'd play with that a lot? I wondered if yyyyy might be something you'd be interested in?" (yyyyy being something you think she might get more use out of)
You can also have a conversation about how she's picked A which is really expensive - if she had to chose, would she rather have A and that be her only gift from you / Santa, or have 2 or 3 of the other things on the list .
I don't tthink it is unreasonable to be gently introducing her to the idea that the list is a set of suggestions - she doesn't get eveything on it, and that cost is a factor.

Also - don't say anything about thinking somethign is too young or childish for her - don't push her to grow up. Maybe she wants something a bit 'young' because it is comforting. Let her be a child.

ciderwithrosie_2

To some, wasting £20-£30 on a bit of tat with little play value may not seem important if they spend several hundred pounds on each child, but to others this may be the child's main present as they can't afford/don't wish to spend more, so ensuring the toy has a 'long play life' is more crucial. I don't think it's nice to be scathing about those who spend less on their children at Christmas and therefore want a bit more value for money.

I always tried to (subliminally) steer mine away from the 'flash in the pan' toys or stuff that needed loads of setting up each time. I didn't want children complaining they were already bored by Boxing Day

Pookle

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

To some, wasting £20-£30 on a bit of tat with little play value may not seem important if they spend several hundred pounds on each child, but to others this may be the child's main present as they can't afford/don't wish to spend more, so ensuring the toy has a 'long play life' is more crucial. I don't think it's nice to be scathing about those who spend less on their children at Christmas and therefore want a bit more value for money.

I always tried to (subliminally) steer mine away from the 'flash in the pan' toys or stuff that needed loads of setting up each time. I didn't want children complaining they were already bored by Boxing Day

Well said :T

Mine write "wishlists" or letters to Santa but they know full well that "I want" doesn't always equal "I get". Pretty important life lesson!

I buy what I feel is appropriate for them from their lists - some thins they ask for are quite frankly utter tat - they've seen it on an advert and want it at that moment, but forget about these things pretty quickly.

I have an 8 year old boy and 9 year old girl as they're getting a mix of toys and some more "grown up" stuff. Yes in an ideal world they'd stay children for longer etc etc but buying kids toys just because you think they should be kids is equally as bad in my opinion, because you're still in danger of doing what YOU want rather than what they want.

My 9 year old girl barely plays with the toys she has, even though she has asked for them, so what's the point in buying more?! She's put several items from the Shopkins range on her list but I will only be buying one because I KNOW once she's opened it, she'll rarely look at it again.