HELP present crisis 10 year old girl, wants something different than we thought..WYD

[Aweektilltheseason]

Last year she was desperate for nintendo sun and moon thing and a ninentendo console.

She fixed on this too late so she got something else, perfect to get her that this year but she says she has gone off tech and is fixed on a real pet. there is no way this year we are going to get her a pet....

MAYBE next year or for her bday but will need lots more time and thought.

So...what about the hideously expensive ( but still cheaper than the Nintendo and games) Fur Real Tiger! It does look good, interactive etc however I know she will eventually get more use out of the nintendo esp on car journeys etc...

[TheSpottedZebra]

Surely you'd just tell her that pets aren't gifts, aren't for Xmas, and aren't for children (ie they're for family?)

And if she believes in Santa, he can tell her this.

[Wolfiefan]

NEVER buy a pet for a child as a present.
Any pet you do get will be a family pet and the adults will do pretty much all the actual work and care.
So ask what she wants instead.

[Alittlepotofrosie]

Pets aren't gifts and this isn't a crisis.

[fleshmarketclose]

Don't get the Fur RealTiger it has limited play value and it won't be a substitute for a real pet. Explain to dd that pets aren't something to buy as a Christmas present they are a family commitment. If you do decide you will as a family get a pet later on then let dd enjoy the planning with you.
We bought dd a puppy when she was eleven,we were under no illusion that the care and expense would be our responsibility and so there has been no stress involved as we didn't expect too much from dd. Dd loves the dog who is now four and plays with him and fusses him daily but the walking in cold and wet weather, feeding him, cleaning up after him, bathing him when he has rolled in fox poo is all done by me or her Dad.

[Twinkletowedelephant]

Santa doesn't do livestock...

[Aweektilltheseason]

The fur real tiger I am mentioning is a toy its not a real pet, this is what I am suggesting instead of a real pet, I did say in my op, getting a real pet will take more time and thought and maybe a possibility next year.

Alittlepotofrosie

Yes it is actually, shes a wonderful wonderful girl and I want to make her xmas really special and get her what she wants as far as I can. We have had a very close death in our family earlier this year and she was amazing. So yes, we all know the different variations of crisis level thanks!

[Aweektilltheseason]

This has been explained to her! I have explained everything everyone has said! She still wants a pet! She is animal mad!

This doesnt help me on what to get her.

[Hulababy]

Definitely tell her that pets are not gifts. A lot of places won't even let people acquire new pets around Christmas time because of the problems of them being neglected and ignored once the novelty wears off in a month or two. If YOU decide to have a pt for the family, research it full and all be involved, making a careful decision.

However for Christmas - how about the Nintendo and maybe just a small Fur Real pet? DD had a few FurReal toys when smaller and, although she liked them, they do have limited play value so I wouldn't spend tons on one of the big ones.

[Hulababy]

She still wants a pet! She is animal mad!

Im afraid then you have to just say No and tell her that this is not negotiable and it simply isn't going to happen at all.

[Aweektilltheseason]

I think I may have written my op wrong, I thought I had made it clear we are NOT GETTING HER A REAL PET .

hulababy are the small ones interactive to the same degree?

[Aweektilltheseason]

I have said that - SHE ISNT GET A REAL PET!!!!!!!!!

She isnt getting a real pet! She has been told no!

[bellsandwhistles89]

I think the OP has already decided she isnt getting her child a pet for xmas but instead a Fur Real Tiger.

You could always get her a Nintendo and get her a game like Nintendogs or another pet game. Hope this helps.

[Spartasprout]

Not the tiger but my grand-daughter adored her fur real cats. She had a couple of them that she played with for a couple of years, so I would say go for it. She still had Snowy in her bedroom and she's 16 now

[bullyingadvice2017]

I have a dd10 they are old enough to understand that no pet means no pets. And if you keep just saying a pet with no other sensible suggestions then it will be a guess and actually you might end up with something that's a bit crap or not what you really wanted.
But I think they are a bit past interactive cuddley toys?

[Marmighty]

If she likes animals what about some riding lessons or a chance to go and help out at a Shelter/zoo/sanctuary? Some sort of animal based treat with real animals rather than a toy. She'd learn a lot about what is actually entailed with looking after animals which would make her a more considerate pet owner if you so decide to get a pet at some point.

[InnercityPressure]

What about some sort of special trip to a zoo? I think there are some where you can stay overnight or a 'keeper' experience.

But I reckon the Nintendo would still go down well once it was actually a reality.

The FurReal Tiger will be boring quite quickly. I agree with others, get a smaller one if necessary.

[InnercityPressure]

Sorry x posted with the rest of the world

[LIZS]

Can you still get virtual pet games for Nintendo ds?

[OlafLovesAnna]

A 3DS and a pet care game might be good? My DS 10 loves his zoo keeper experience so that might be a good combo with a smaller Fur Real.

[Peachypossum]

We had the wolf cub many years ago, he was totally gorgeous but limited play, more of a sit on the bed and stroke him occasionally toy (Which I may have loved more than DD did. Now I am debating where it is so it can go on my bed). He made gorgeous baby howling noises and snuffled etc. Despite the limited play they are rather fab.

I think she would potentially get more use from the console, as another PP said can you get games where they have pets etc? Also at 10, she is quite close to the jump where my daughter totally changed her interests and moved onto music, you tube and phones etc, closely followed by make up. Difficult and I probably really didn't help. Sorry

All these posts about real pets!

[AdamBarlowsQuiff]

I've just been trying to find the game my DD has for her 3DS. it's 'nintendogs+cats' . She's 8 and can spend a fair bit of time on it but also loves her pokemon games.
She also asked for a real animal in her letter to santa and I explained he doesn't bring them the same as you. I did wonder about a robotic rabbit but in my experience the novelty value wears off these things so I've got her a build a bear version (40%off at the mo). HTH!

[Aweektilltheseason]

thank you - some great ideas here, never knew nintendo had pet games we don't have any ninentdo consoles so totally in the dark about that.

She is madly still into her pet toys - carries her soft toy everywhere. Which is why I was uming and ahhing about her possible last year of this sort of thing ie getting the fur real tiger, but they are 99 but do seem very interactive. The ninendo and game didn't budge in the Friday sales so would be 129 + games

Looking after animal experience is also excellent idea!

[LIZS]

Dd had a nintendo ds game called Dolphin Island which occupied her for ages.

[Emily7708]

Don’t waste your money on the Furreal Tiger for a ten year old, my DD had the expensive cat a few years back and it was played with for about an hour.

How about getting her a fingerling monkey, it’s one of the must have toys this year.