Has anyone ever done this for DC's birthday?

[thatselementary]

We live rurally so it takes about an hour/hour 15 mins to get to the nearest mall. Of course there's online shopping too but I wondered if anyone has done this with DC as it's a bit different to the usual birthday. As we live quite far from places with entertainment eg cinema/bowling/mini golf/trampoline centre etc, I was wondering if (and I'd discuss this with DD before we went) anyone has taken their kids to the toy shop on their birthday and letting them pick their presents? Obviously we'd have a limit/budget but I thought it could be special for DD to chose them whilst we have a day out (the plan being buy her some presents, go for lunch, go for an activity of her choice and then go home) which would eat up the whole day. The only thing is she'd be a bit limited I guess for choice as the mall in question only has these shops (in terms of kids/toys): Disney, Build A Bear, Smiggle and The Works. So I guess she couldn't get anything she wanted. Another idea could be to let her buy one of her choice on the day?

DD would be 4 by the way. Is it ruining the excitement of coming down to some wrapped presents?

I know this post is pretty pointless and not important but I'm extremely bored in lockdown.

Bit odd imo. We buy gifts for the kids. At 4 years old toy will know what she likes. If you take her to choose her own she will not understand the limitations of finance and Instead of the wonderful shopping spree you envisage it will actually be quite shit for her to be told no to many things.

Yes!! We have done this for our children the last year! All ages from 4, 6, 7, 10, 11. The first time was because we weren’t sure what to buy the 4 year old. I felt she would like slime/make up etc like her big sisters and Dad wanted to get her dollies and things which she does love also.
We call it a “Toy Haul” btw as it sounds like a YouTube video- the type of thing kids love x

At just coming up to 4 I’d want some more control over what toy she had and would hate to spent the trip saying no (no that’s too exoensive, no that’s a baby toy, no that’s too old, no that’s exactly like the one you have at home). Depends on the child I suppose. Isn’t there anything you think she’d like? At 4 I imagine a lot of the excitement if unwrapping too. I do like your day out plans though especially if you don’t go to the mall often. Maybe buy her main gift then add in the toy shops with a very small budget but don’t make it main feature of the day (focus on the lunch and activity).

I think it's a great idea for older children say 11+ but not for a four year old. They are bound to pick things that they would love for a day and be forgotten.

Yes I think that's probably true, I can think of loads of things she'd absolutely love. Agree maybe when she's older but not right now but will get her a small gift on day out. Thanks all. Out of interest, is she too young to appreciate Build A Bear?

Quite a nice thing to do. I remember reading Princess Diana took her boys to Hamleys to pick out their own Christmas presents at one time. At four your daughter may just want to grab all sorts of rubbish though so beware.

I think she’s slightly too young. We did it with DD when she was about 7. She had gift cards for shops she wanted and we went to Exeter and met MIL, SIL and DH ain’t there and had a girly shopping day, went to build a bear and had afternoon tea.

The excitement of a birthday is opening and finding out what is in the presents!

The day out is a go out to spend any birthday money, not for the birthday!

A 4 year old given free choice in a toy shop.....No. Just no. It WILL end in tears. Just order something online or via a click and collect if you have one nearby. Stick to the websites of retailers you know (Smyths, Argos, The Entertainer etc for toys) because you can guarantee you are getting the actual thing rather than some iffy knock off. She won't know you ordered it online.
What does she enjoy and play with now?

Let her look online or in Argos catalogue. My older kid gets very stressed about choosing unless it's a very easy choice i.e.. between two. My younger one would just want the whole shop!

My daughter did build a bear for 4th birthday and they all enjoyed it.

I was taken to Hamleys on a birthday shopping spree as a child, I thought it was the best thing ever.

As an adult I can see my mum had a budget and removed anything too expensive from the basket.

I think she would love build a bear. Tell her exactly what she will be allowed (be warned they offer beating hearts and smell etc to go in the bear which all add to the cost.)

We made a massive mistake doing this with our son when he was 4 - grandparents had given him £25 and we thought we'd let him choose. Spent the whole time saying he couldn't have things because they were too expensive and ended up with him rolling around with stress tummy ache - lesson learned!

I remember taking my niece and nephew to pick a toy from the toy shop at aged 2 and 3. There was so much choice they were overwhelmed and didn't know what to pick. I ended up picking for them.