To think money given to your child should be saved for them?

Saved if given for saving, spent if intended to be used in something they would like (a toy or experience).

I've done loads with their money. We have a really big family so we use their money wisely and also to involve the member who gifted them money. For example, grandma bought you a new coat say thank you, que taking photos and sending them. Or, aunty Amy paid for us to go to the zoo, photo photo photo, thanks and kisses. Or we put it into his savings account. Which he has 2 of, one where the money is stuck till he's 18, the other we can access, so if he wants a new bike or shoes etc that aren't necessities right now, we ask him if he would like to use his money, to try and teach him the value 🤷🏻‍♀️.
I think it's totally up to the family x

I do a 50:50 split, half in their savings and half towards something of their choice

Sometimes would do that OP, but if there was a toy that I thought would help them developmentally or they needed a clothes item I would buy that with the money. As long as it is spent on the child I dont see it matters. I also think using it for entry to a zoo is a good idea.

Think it depends on your income. If you are regularly taking your kid on trips and you are essentially just using the money to pay for something you were going to do anyway then that is a bit rum. If your are on a really tight budget and you use the money on a trip that your child would never usually get the opportunity to do I don’t see a problem with that.

Like you, I save it for my children.

However, when they are old enough to understand money better that choice will be out of my hands. I will encourage them to save some, spend some but ultimately it'll be their choice.

But, I can understand if the money is not there for families, using it for something children need or experiences. It depends on your circumstances.

I think everyone’s circumstances are different here and would depend on what was agreed when money was provided. Sometimes I am given money to save for my daughter so I save it , sometimes I am given money and told to buy them a gift as person doesn’t know what to gift them. If I get a gift I always share a picture of the gift given with the person so they know where there money went. I’ve definitely heard of people saying they have given someone money to buy there child xyz such as a school bag and it’s been spent on things not for the child. I think this is unacceptable.

You do you. But stop being so judgmental about other people’s parenting choices.
FWIW I did put it all in DC’s account, but a trip to the zoo or whatever is an enjoyable day out for them. Taking them and telling them ‘Aunty Sue has bought us this lovely day out’ is fine.

Definitely save for child. The kid will appreciate the money a lot more when they're about to head off to uni (or even later).