Is this too much for a Christmas present

[ShirleyB25]

Hi all - Not sure if I'm posting this in the right place, but ...My 12 year old son has said he would like a drum kit for Xmas. He's quite tall, so a junior kit would be too small. Full size kit costs £160 (plus if you want to pay). Do you all think that is too much for a Christmas gift? Also space as at something of a premium in our house - but we could make room.
(We have 2 other children - younger as well)

I'm thinking he may only play them for a few months and then something else, but I guess I should give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he will continue. He's played guitar for a few years but doesn't want to have lessons this year....

Any thoughts would be appreciated - thanks for reading!

I don't think it's too much if you can comfortably afford it.

If youd struggle to pay it then yes it would be madness, especially if you're not sure that he'd last more than a few months.

However, I think you are utterly mad to be considering this if he can't play drums! Think of the noise! The dreadful, dreadful noise!

I know, the noise aspect is not appealing. My 7 year old daughter plays the violin though, and it's quite a slow learning curve there as it's such a difficult instrument, so that is a 'mixed bag' already.

my other half is all for getting him the drum kit, and suspect I'll give in on this one!

Do you live next door to me? Just want to check before saying, yes go for it .

If it is affordable to you then it is not too much. Deciding if drums are a good idea is a different issue! I am the evil stepmother who said no.

The cost is entirely up to you and what you can afford . The noise however! Do you have neighbours? Could you consider the electric type that you can use headphones with.

Well I guess if you can survive a 7 year old with a violin you can pretty much handle anything

But maybe include some lessons in the present!

Floral that is a good idea about the headphones and oreo we live in a semi and the other half is a holiday home, so you should be safe.

Get him a set of drumsticks, a drum pad (to practise on), and some lessons. If he's still committed after a pre-determined length of time, buy the basic kit (snare, bass, hi-hat) for his birthday/as a reward for something (good grades/behaviour you want to encourage etc).

The fact he's fed up with the guitar already suggests these expensive items come too easily and are not valued/appreciated because he hasn't had to earn them IYSWIM.

Get drum lessons. If it goes good then you know what to get him next year.

Ooh Pancake I was going to say that, I would also get him lessons as his present.

bestest that's mean , it's Christmas you don't have to earn your presents! The OP didn't say he was fed up with guitar just that he wanted to stop lessons , perhaps he finds the lessons dull .

I agree with the first part of Bestests post - & that's what I'd do.

The second part, however, makes no sense at all?! He's been playing the guitar for a few years and doesn't want lessons again this year. How on earth does that equate with not having valued or appreciated anything??

Very musical family you have there :)

Thanks for your suggestions; it has given me some food for thought as it were. He's started at secondary school this year and I think he's concerned the guitar lessons will be too hard for him .

I like the idea of a waiting a while for the big full drum set though, as it is a commitment to do something for more than a month or two!! I think music lessons of any sort are good if the child is enjoying it, so would be happy if he did that.

It was Lego stuff last year. Lego etc is super, but he builds it within 2 or 3 days, plays with it for a few more, and then that's it. Although I suppose he did build his own models with all the Lego acquired too....