Don't want to buy anything off DS's wish list

[mockorangey]

DS (4) has a Christmas wish list that he has been collating since his birthday in the summer. The problem is I don't want to get anything from it as I'm not confident he'll actually play with anything. The biggest problem is that he wants the Paw Patrol sea patroller and associated pups in their sea vehicles. However, he doesn't seem that interested in Paw Patrol anymore as far as I can tell (doesn't play with his other PP stuff and rarely watches the show).

What do you do in this situation? Spend the money knowing that it will in all likelihood only get played with fleetingly, or go off-list but risk them being upset on Christmas morning?

[Applepudding2018]

I'd have s chat to him about why he's put it on his list, e.g. Is this something that his friends at nursery talk about and like to play with do he thinks he should? 4 is old enough for this conversation- you aren't telling him that Santa isn't getting it, just having a chat around why he thinks he wants it in case he changes his mind.

[trancepants]

Have you tried taking him to Smyths (or local toy store) and just spending an hour or so wandering around, taking your time and giving him fairly free reign while you watch him to see the toys that really take his interest?

[Misty9]

I would second having a chat with him about whether he is still interested in those toys - including pointing out that he doesn't play with the ones he already has. Ds has just added a really expensive Lego toy to his list - and not only had he gone off Lego until now, this set was also half bloody price before black Friday if I thought he'd play with it then we'd get It, but he barely plays with the Lego he has so we've had a chat. It helps that he's obsessed with something else - so a replacement might help your ds if you can identify one?

[mockorangey]

I've had the chat - I asked if he really wanted it as he doesn't play with or watch PP anymore - he was adamant that he did want it and he would watch PP the next day (he didn't). Tbf, I think he did really want it when he first put it on his list a couple of months ago, perhaps he doesn't quite realise that he's grown put of it now. He tends to only watch one TV show/be into one thing at a time, but I'm not sure what the next thing that will replace PP is going to be. I've taken him around toy stores and there have been thing that have captured his interest, but if you ask him what he wants for Christmas, the sea patroller is still it. He asked Father Christmas for it yesterday and FC said that "whatever he wished for would come true"

[Newdad19]

Get him the boat

[YerAuntFanny]

If it's all he's asking for I'd get it.

My 5yo DD has only asked for 1 thing, a green toolbox with toy tools in it. I have no idea where she saw it or why she wants it as she's never really done role play but she's been asking for months.

I've managed to track one down and I'm excited to see what she actually has planned for it :o

[Myshinynewname]

I would hold off buying anything for a little longer then ask him again. Perhaps ask him to write a letter using his list for ideas and just picking a couple of toys from it - if it’s still the main thing he is asking for I would get it tbh. If he only picks a couple of items it gives you space to get a couple of toys which you think are more suitable for him too.
My ds asked for a toy tiger last year. It was really expensive and I thought it looked rubbish. I was completely wrong, he still adores it 12 months later.

[trixymalixy]

i'd get him the boat.

[Snowwontbelong]

All ds 4 has asked for is a £2 plastic tool kit!!
Suggested a selection box but he was adamant he couldn't eat that much chocolate!!

[mockorangey]

Yeah I'm thinking we are going to have to get it. The other things on his list are even worse - eg different versions of things he already has, just because he has seen someone with it. At least this one was a idea that came from him. Might have to see if I can get hold of a second hand one thoigh, otherwise paying £50 is going to be painful

[SleepingStandingUp]

If you buy it new, don't touch it and keep the receipt. Just before Xmas ask again what he's hoping Santa will bring. At least you can return it worse case scenario

[slappinthebass]

My eldest did this, asked for the first things that popped into her head and didn't play with them at all. Following year I said she was only having surprises and it was a massive success. Thankfully she's never really had specific requests since and I'm not a fan of lists at all. With her younger sibling, I've always steered her towards her requests by playing videos of the things I have in mind that she'd like on YouTube. Works a treat, especially with a bit of reverse psychology. 'I was thinking of buying this for cousin James, do you think he'd like it? Yeah it's really cool isn't it. It's a shame you already asked Father Christmas for the sea patroller... hey! How about I send an email to him and see if I can get a message to say you'd like this?'

[slappinthebass]

Otherwise send a letter from FC saying that he knows he's asked for the Sea Patroller but he has something better in mind.

[mockorangey]

Ha ha, I like those ideas slapp

[akmum18]

I’d personally buy what he asks for (within reason!) children take in everything and I remember being the kid who didn’t get what I asked for and it stuck with me for a long time. They’re only young once when he grows out of it he will have at least got the toy he really wanted and he’ll remember that. It can be disappointing getting the toys your parents pick rather than what you asked for. There is still time for him to change his mind but I’d assume he won’t and that he will play with it. Is there a relative who could buy it for him? Then any cousins it could be passed on to eventually?

[madmum5811]

Ours has grown out of paw patrol since the summer. Drives me nuts how quickly these fads last. I would take a walk around a toy shop as well and make a new list.

[madmum5811]

Fade not last.

[EdtheBear]

I had a similar issue DS wanted Paw Patrol at 4.5 and l knew it was something he'd out grow fairly soon.
It was all he asked for I bought the Pups on their own I think i got all the action pups for about £30. Glad I didn't buy the pups & vehicles and other toys.

[4forkssake]

Can you tell him FC only brings things he knows you really really want & he knows you'll play with. So maybe think of some other ideas in case he thinks he's a bit old for it now? If not, be prepared to buy it (& maybe keep the packaging & resell it next year).

[EdtheBear]

Another option is to buy second hand there are loads of people selling PP bundles on Facebook / Gumtree. If he only plays with it for a few month's then its not £££ loss.

That also means you can spend the rest of your budget on stuff he'll actually play with.

[Owletty]

My 6yo ds has asked for;
A skateboard (he's not getting one)
A scooter
Some football top trumps
And his own bathroom! (He's not getting that either) 🤣

[MadameJosephine]

DD knows that when you write your list for Santa it’s just to give him ideas, it’s not an order form. This year for instance she asked for a £200 ride on unicorn and she knows that is not going to happen but that Santa will get her some of the other things on her list and then other things that she hasn’t asked for on her list but he knows she will love

[Didiplanthis]

My ds outgrew watching Thomas 2 years ago but still has phases where he loves playing with his Thomas track and trains. He got much more imagination to play with stuff like that now than when it was more 'age appropriate' so it doesn't necessarily follow that he won't play with it. I'd love to get rid of it all but they are only little once and if he really really wants it I would get it.

[BubblesBubblesBubbles]

I had this with my dc2 last year - wanted this paw patrol truck thing was £45! We got it and I can safely say apart from taking it out of the box it’s been used twice when we have had other kids over!

I’d see if I could steer him towards something else. They seem to grow out of things really quickly!

Unfortunately dc1 is obsessed with shopkins and bloody LOL’s this year I am expecting some disappointment as I can’t afford the house which is £180, I also know it will end up never being used like the shopkins ones, which was a Birthday present.

[Leyani]

I had that last year. He already had an octonaut thing but was adamant that the only thing he wanted was another version of the same. Promptly grew out of it and rarely played with as I’d suspected so I’m glad I at least went for a £10 second hand one from eBay rather than full price (lack of box disguised by staging it as a play scene which he loved). We just sold it for similar price so not much harm done