How often do you buy new toys?

[IDontDrinkTea]

I have a 3.5yo child and I feel like they’re constantly asking for new toys every time we’re in a shop. While I get this is part of growing up and learning about the value of money, it has occurred to me today that I nearly always say no anyway. Her birthday is in Feb, Xmas is still a long way away and she doesn’t receive any pocket money.

So I was just wondering how often you as a parent tend to buy toys, or if your children already receive pocket money.

I think I’d perhaps be more inclined to buy something if what she asked for didn’t always look like complete tat - she loves anything that’s in the kind of ‘surprise’ packaging eg lol dolls, puppycorn surprises, Blume dolls, you get the gist. Half the fun seems to be opening it to see which one you’ve got rather than actually having a toy that has longevity and will get played with lots

I’m like you and often say no, but tend to buy something I’d we are going away on holiday (stay in the UK) or they’ve been particularly good as a treat.

The other thing is family members have their bank account details so put money in for birthdays and Christmas, so if there’s something they want outside of that they pay for it themselves - they’re 3 and 7 - so know the money will come out of their accounts and they can’t have something if they can’t afford it.

I have started giving my 2 £2 each per week. They can save or spend but it means they have some money to buy tat or save up for something that they want.

I also have a 3.5 year old and I also usually say no. I tend to buy things for him on the spur of the moment if it's something I know he'll love or it seems good value, but less likely if he's begging for it. I sometimes take him back to the same shop a few times to see if he's still interested (he rarely is).

Tbh he seems to pick up tat fairly regularly from days out, parties and relatives buying him treats, so we haven't bought any big toys for a while. Last proper new toy was a new digger for being dry a full week at nursery, maybe three months ago?

Just to add - we're going on holiday in a few weeks and I've bought a couple of new toys for that. And I have some new stickers in the cupboard ready for the next illness. Just bits and bobs, nothing big.

When dd was small, I only bought new toys for birthdays and Christmas but in between I would often say yes if she asked for something from a charity shop, summer fete etc.

I almost always say no to my 2 and 5 year olds and they rarely ask. I get them "new" toys as a surprise quite often but they're from the charity shop or FB marketplace so only cost a few £.

They sometimes get spending money if we are going on holiday or to the shops and I will let them (more or less) choose what they want to buy up to a value of around £5-10. I would not let them buy LOL dolls though, or anything I thought was age inappropriate or total rubbish.

Mine don't get pocket money but get quite a lot of money for Christmas and birthdays so they can spend that.

I buy on birthdays, religious celebrations and that tends to be it. If we are away on holiday or have gone to a museum or theme park type place I always let them choose something.

Charity shops/car boots/ Freecycle.

She gets loads of new toys and you don't care because your paying pennies or getting them for free...then.movinf them on

I always let mine but what magazine they wanted but pointed out the toys mjfnr break.

Obviously it's age appropriate but choosing is din fun

But how do you stop? My dd constantly.wants new toys. Every weekend, at every shop we go in. So she ends up with us giving in once a weekend ans if she's doesn't she asks for a crap magazine. She's 5 and a half now! I can't go on and I've tried to stop.

But how do you stop?
You say "no"!!

Mine is only 2.5 but I usually say no when he asks. I buy “new” toys when I see him take interest in something, eg - he’s obsessed with counting at the moment so I’ve picked up some number games/jigsaws etc. I buy loads in local charity shops, vinted, FB marketplace etc.

I also regularly check these places and keep a little stash of toys aside that I can bring out if we maybe have to spend the whole day in the house for whatever reason and I need something new to keep him occupied then I can bring something out 🤷🏻‍♀️

I never mind as it’s usually cost a fraction of the price it would have new. And then we sell on/donate what he’s finished with.

A good tip I follow with success is to take a photo of the item they want, saying you will take the picture to remember that this is something they want and they can add it to their birthday/ Xmas list. DS loves taking the photo so much that it distracts him from fussing about buying it. And he's never yet asked for one of the toys at a later point

Dd loves lol dolls, she's 4, I don't find there to be anything inappropriate about them. She thinks they are cute and plays with them a lot. I only get them as a reward for something though, so for example when she got a certificate at school etc. Also if we have an elderly relative in and out of hospital and so stay in a lot of premier inns visiting and sorting things out, I do buy her the odd new toy and usually a book for then just to make it less hard on her. I think it is ok to buy a few bits around birthday and Christmas, but wouldn't get anything main.

I just say ‘yes! Let’s add it to your birthday/Christmas list’. Then they are happy and usually forget about it.

Thanks, I didn't hear photo thing at Xmas, my consistency is the issue

I only buy big toys at Christmas and birthday, unless I think they'd really benefit from them e.g. DS(3) is desperate for a scooter. His birthday isn't until October so I'll probably get him one for Easter.

Other than that, I will get them something small if he fills up his potty training chart. A pocket money toy or comic, nothing big.

Grandparents give him money if we go on holiday, so he'll buy a toy if we go somewhere with a gift shop.