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What age did your children stop playing with toys?

49 replies

Crunchymum · 25/10/2024 12:58

Almost 10yo hasn't got a single toy on her Christmas list.

Is that it now?

OP posts:
Manchesterbythesea · 25/10/2024 16:05

My ds is 11 and was never really into toys. He got into WWE when he was about 8 and that only lasted maybe 18 months.
He usually asks for Football jerseys, sports equipment and this year he’s getting AirPods.
DD on the other hand was getting Our Generation dolls at 11.

elderflowerspritzer · 25/10/2024 16:10

It's more about different personalities, and what you actually class as a toy.

I'm in my 30's and I still like lego, games, plushies, craft kits and other things that might be classed as 'toys'!

Your daughter's Christmas list does seem particularly boring though - have you not got any ideas of something more interesting to get her? Surely she has more interests than pyjamas and water bottles?

Orangebadger · 25/10/2024 16:14

It's my 11 yr old dd birthday soon, she is getting Lego. Other than that and crafting clay she doesn't play with her toys much at all. But it's waned over the last year. She was still playing with her dolls 6 months ago.

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ForPearlViper · 25/10/2024 16:22

I think it depends on how you are defining 'toys'. It isn't as though kids aren't playing any more. Even when kids are asking for make up, etc, effectively they are still just playing with it in some way. Children have been playing at being grown ups since forever. Sports, crafts and other hobbies are all still forms of recreation.

WeWillGetThereInTheEnd · 25/10/2024 16:27

Our son in law, aged 30 plays with Lego - the kits clearly aimed at adults!

Crunchymum · 25/10/2024 20:12

elderflowerspritzer · 25/10/2024 16:10

It's more about different personalities, and what you actually class as a toy.

I'm in my 30's and I still like lego, games, plushies, craft kits and other things that might be classed as 'toys'!

Your daughter's Christmas list does seem particularly boring though - have you not got any ideas of something more interesting to get her? Surely she has more interests than pyjamas and water bottles?

It's a terribly sad Christmas list.

We aren't particularly curtailed by budget so I have no idea why she has chosen what she has.

She did say she'll pick more but when I asked there were no toys.

OP posts:
IfIToldYouThisAboutMe · 25/10/2024 20:14

My eldest didn't from age 8 except lego

Dd1 didn't from age 10

6yo has mostly asked for more blankets, make up, perfume, nail varnish and crafts.
Apparently barbies are babyish now her friends say but i have got her some as I know she'll like them

Newsenmum · 25/10/2024 20:16

Crunchymum · 25/10/2024 20:12

It's a terribly sad Christmas list.

We aren't particularly curtailed by budget so I have no idea why she has chosen what she has.

She did say she'll pick more but when I asked there were no toys.

Craft stuff? Maybe some event?

StressedQueen · 25/10/2024 20:20

My twins around 9 but they still played with art and crafts, bracelet making and lego. Just not like dolls and stuff like that.

My son around 10ish but still lego and race cars.

My current 9 year old daughter has completely stopped with all kinds of toys including art and craft etc but she's also definitely not someone who is into fashion or skin care or anything like that which I am ever so slightly grateful for because I don't want that at 9!! She is definitely the hardest to buy for.

My 6 year old girl still does. But compared to my 9 year old, she does love play make up sets, nail polish, mini disney perfumes. So still children related but not hugely into more babyish toys. Still loves her Barbies though!

Tiddlywinkly · 25/10/2024 20:25

At 11, my DD has not asked for any toys for her birthday. It's all about skincare and make-up. She plays with her dolls a bit and Lego, but says she'll be done with it by secondary school next September. I'm happy to take her lead.

I've got her a few Lego flower kits for Xmas that I know she'll love.

Thischangeseverything · 25/10/2024 20:54

It's not super close to Christmas yet. I think she'll come up with more.

I highly recommend Ion8 bottles! My dc has one and I love it so much I keep nicking it for myself!

My nephews still got toys last year at 10 and 8. But tbh a lot of them are poorly made tat.

I'm in my 40s and got Harry Potter Lego last year!

RuthW · 25/10/2024 20:56

Dd was about 5. She was very into board games, books, crafts etc.

sparklychair · 25/10/2024 22:05

I think playing with toys sometimes morphs into collecting. My son collects anime figurines and the occasional My Little Pony. He is approaching 40. He makes original Lego models too. And what about the thousands of adults into Minecraft, model railways, doll's houses? Camping - caravanning- isn't that just exploring and playing house?

All our family love board games...

I pity those who forget the fun of play and living in your imagination. People's taste in play changes as they age, but don't assume it stops and don't discourage it.

Xiaoxiong · 25/10/2024 22:10

Depends what you class as a toy. DS1 is nearly 13 and wants an electric guitar - DS2 is desperate for a new bike. They each want some books too, and posters for their bedroom. They just got a drone to fly with their uncle and DS2 got programmable LEGO technic for his birthday.

When I was 12 I remember just wanting piles and piles of books.

workingmumguilt · 25/10/2024 22:10

Have you tried the modern equivalent of getting her to go through the Argos catalogue and mark things she might like?

we do that with ours (using a Smyths catalogue) and we are always surprised what things they think they want!

Justploddingonandon · 25/10/2024 22:10

My 12 year old is still into Lego, but more the big display sets and has mostly moved over to warhammer ( not sure if they could as toys).
Nine year old is still very much into toys but starting to notice a bit of a rift in her friendship group as some move towards more 'tween' stuff like music, makeup and clothes.

CurlyHairVibes · 25/10/2024 22:49

At 11, I still played with Playmobil and barbies but not at 12, it was all about music, so instruments, tape record records and clothes. Dd1 played with sylvanian families and built lego until 12 and ddd2 stopped playing with toys as such at 10 but was into riding so did lots of imaginary play with schleich until about 12. They didn't get any skincare make up etc until 13 apart from lots of different body sprays and lip balms and glosses. It's all about hobbies from a around 11/12.

DelurkingAJ · 25/10/2024 22:55

DS1 (12) seems to have rediscovered Lego this half term. The birthday present he was most excited about was a smorgasbord of random stuff for his Raspberry Pi. He’ll happily play a board game. Many of his peers stopped wanting toy-toys by about 10 so he’s not out of kilter there. And he now loves a game of pool (there’s an elderly table at school…).

Violetcake · 26/10/2024 12:18

Livinginaclock · 25/10/2024 15:38

I don't even know what bum bum cream is!

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, its like £30 for a small tub! All the cool kids (in primary school) are getting one in their stocking this year! My neice and her friends are Sol de Janeiro daft, its almost all they talk about or it feels like that at times!

Newsenmum · 26/10/2024 12:31

Violetcake · 26/10/2024 12:18

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, its like £30 for a small tub! All the cool kids (in primary school) are getting one in their stocking this year! My neice and her friends are Sol de Janeiro daft, its almost all they talk about or it feels like that at times!

But what actuallt
is it?

Violetcake · 26/10/2024 12:44

Newsenmum · 26/10/2024 12:31

But what actuallt
is it?

Its just a body lotion that happens to be called bum bum cream that has the brand scent and is a cult product especially to kids.

Dontlletmedownbruce · 26/10/2024 13:24

No toys from about 9. I have 11yr old twins. It's lovely to have them all cleared away now except lots of teddies. No interest in lego which is the one thing that seems to span into teenage and adulthood. We have lots of arts and crafts stuff, lots of tech, scooters and skates, some musical instruments. They spend a lot of time on screens but mostly interactive games or endless chats with friends. They listen to all sorts of music. Dd makes jewellery and knits, DS makes comics and animates on an app. Both read a lot so we visit the library often. It feels about right age wise. My friend's kid got a baby doll from Santa last year age 10 and I have to say she looked far too old to be playing with it.

Newbie887 · 27/11/2024 13:14

My daughter is 7 and is losing the interest in toys. She still uses her imagination in other ways: playing floor is lava and making elaborate dens / puppy houses / nests etc with blankets and cushions, drawing and making stuff out of craft things, putting on shows. Her dolls, Sylvanians and playmobil only really come out when she has friends over. She and her brothers do still build with magnatiles and colourful Grimms block sets, and often the little playmobil animals come out to live in the houses. She is always making something for her little stuffy bunny to live in / sleep in / eat etc.

Her older brother (9) was obsessed with Lego from 5-8 but now is totally disinterested. He wants sports equipment for the garden, board / card games, football and Pokémon cards, books, football kits. He has never been very interested in imaginative play, now I look back most of that was led by me but left to his own devices he would either build stuff out of blocks / magnatiles / den making stuff, or head outside.

little bro age 5 still into toys and loves franchises like spiderman, hot wheels, transformers etc in a way his older siblings never did.

I think it depends on the child but also I think we expect children to play with toys more than they actually need to. 100 yrs ago you would have had very few actual toys compared to our children, and most of your fun would have been self-made with friends. Even as a child in the 90s I had a lot less toys and by 10 was spending my “playtime” looking after horses at a local stable, out on my bike, going to the park with friends, gojng on long exploring walks either by myself or with friends, reading, making treehouses, building fires and cooking stuff on them at the bottom of our garden. As long as children are still having fun and being social in some capacity I’m not sure there’s the need for constant toys!

Newbie887 · 27/11/2024 13:50

Crunchymum · 25/10/2024 13:28

It's a pretty sad list to be honest.

Hot water bottle
Water bottle for school that doesn't leak (😪)
Scalp massager
Pyjamas

She said its not her full list but said there aren't any toys she wants.

Aww maybe she just doesn’t really know what is out there to ask for. I still have to take the lead with my kids and mostly buy them stuff I know they will like/use, as otherwise they will just panic point at loads of random shit they won’t look at beyond Boxing Day (magic mixies from last yr I’m looking at you 🙄).

mine plus cousins age 5-12 played with Chicken vs Hotdog game the other day together and loved it.
Also on lists for girls similar ages in the family: -

  • crocs with furry lining
  • Lego secret chest (you build a jewellery chest with a secret compartment in it)
  • Paracord bracelet weaving kit
  • sewing basket with beginner sewing kits / materials in it. 10 yr old cousin is getting a beginner sewing machine
  • Boucle fabric swivel desk chair
  • Netball hoop and ball
  • this set to weave Xl chunky loom band bracelets https://amzn.eu/d/i6ZVckD
  • learn to draw kawaii books plus watercolour pallets and paper
  • colourful wireless headphones

maybe some inspiration there!

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