WWYD - child wants non-age appropriate gift

[RoaryLion1]

My DS (3.5) has his heart set on a particular toy for Xmas. For months, every time I ask what he wants from Santa, he mentions this toy. He’s seen it at a local playgroup and loves it. The problem is - it’s clearly a toy for 1-2 year olds and is therefore too young for him (think big plastic truck). I think I should get it for him because otherwise he’ll be disappointed on Christmas Day - but part of me thinks he’ll get bored of it so quickly, it’s a waste of money. He’ll get other, more grown up gifts, but it still feels weird for his main present to be something for a little toddler!

so WWYD?

Get it. My children were desperate for a plastic rocket ship from the Early Learning Centre. Probably aimed at 1 year olds but they kept asking so in the end they got it and that thing got played with so much. They absolutely loved it.

I see you got it. Excellent!

For some reason seeing all these posts saying "big red" is making me think longingly of the big yellow teapot and I'm a long way off being 3!

I played with barbies until I was 13, I remember it being my biggest secret, I would literally get back from high school and set up all my barbies. My step sister in the same year also played with me, so it was something neither of us could tell anyone about.

Our doctor's surgery had one of these in the waiting room, and it was enjoyed by all the children who used to ride it literally to death. It must have finally succumbed to all this play because my 6yo was disappointed when we went recently and it was no longer there!

Um, by literal death, I meant of the truck. Not the children. Otherwise it would be a terrible choice for a doctors' surgery

How strange

My 7yo still enjoys putting things in trucks and pushing them around the house. It's more tedious now since we have to play the "Guess what it is" game.

OP I’m still confused why you thought he’s too old for it? Why would it be a baby toy? Also he’s a preschooler, what do you expect him to play with?

Hehe yes i was thinking a subscription to the Economist for his next birthday… 😋

This is lovely. We were also given DH’s old Brio a year or so ago - I think DH was more excited than DS when it emerged from MIL’s loft! I’m glad you’ve been able to pass it on to the next generation

Thank you all for the advice and the lovely stories of toys being played with for years and passed on…. And sorry to everyone who didn’t get a much wanted toy when they were little! Of course the most important thing is for DS to have a brilliant Xmas, and I’m sure the truck will be a great success… and might even make it to the grandchildren one day..:

If try and get a second hand one

Fair question - I guess I was thinking he’d get more out of something like Playmobil or Lego, which he likes to play with and make up imaginary games. They seemed a bit more versatile than a big plastic truck and likely to get more use. But I was definitely overthinking it and I’m looking forward to seeing his wee face when he gets the beloved truck on Xmas morning!

ETA to be clear I have absolutely no issue him playing with trucks (it’s what he does 90% of the time) - my a was more whether he should get something different/more grown-up for his big Xmas gift. But I’ve seen the error of my ways now!

My daughter refuses to part with her Tomy eggs! She's now 17!!!

He gets a truck from Father Christmas. .

if you had said she was 9 and wanted a real make up kit I’d have said wait.

but he’s a little kid and he will enjoy this toy.
and it’s not a huge expense.

get him some other things, but get him the truck .

my kid wants unicorn nonsense, she loves them, I think it’s pointless and doesn’t do anything for her development
than goodness Father Christmas is a bit more generous.

I thought this would be a 7yo wanting GTA. Get him the truck!

That sounds great - loads of play value. And little sister can inherit it when he loses interest so not a waste.

Cancel the cheque

Haha my youngest (now 4.5) got the leapfrog ice cream cart for his 3rd bday. My eldest (almost 9) plays with it still now 😂 it’s been the most used toy ever!

😂

Get him the toy he has his heart set on. It will make him happy

OP, it was only this summer that I was allowed to pass on an oversized car transporter and a large cement mixer toy, and my youngest is 9! He would have been about 3 when he got them. They had a good couple of years in the house, then moved to the garden, when they have transported sand and cars for miles.

So my point; he'll still get loads of play out of them. Yes, he might be into pretend ply with Playmobil etc, but he can still play with trucks (& we still have Playmobil pirates in use here, so plenty of time to gift along those lines).

He's still a baby! He's not 13. Get him the truck!

For years my children played with a massive yellow tipper truck that I bought in the closing sale of Woolworths.
It used to be tied with a ribbon to a ride on toy and brought my children so much happiness. Probably for years after they " should" have been riding on ride on toys.