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How often do you buy small bits and pieces for your kids?

18 replies

TotalElephant · 22/09/2025 11:00

Things like paints, modelling clay, sticker books, craft sets etc.

I don't tend to buy things like that regularly but I bought them a cheap pack of air clay the other day and omg the peace and quiet that I've had. Maybe I should buy these things more often.

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Flexing · 22/09/2025 11:14

Probably every other week. DCs love arty stuff and it’s so cheap, we now have a great arts & craft drawer that gets used every day.
I go to the charity shops every other week too, I usually get my toddler a few toy cars, as it’s 3 for a £1 (but they often give me them for free!)

Mumto2at · 22/09/2025 12:18

Constantly 🙃 a bit too often that my daughter wants one everytime we go somewhere which I'm trying to get out of the habit of 🫣

AliasGrape · 22/09/2025 12:31

Quite often. Nothing crafty recently as she had a birthday in the summer, had a whole class party and received an awful lot of colouring stuff, stickers, craft sets, jewellery making sets etc. So she's been working her way through those.

When she was a toddler I was forever buying stuff, picking up stuff from the thrift group or getting things in charity shops - but yes also buying new. I do try to keep bigger things to birthdays/ christmas now but I do still pick up little things fairly often - whether it be crafty stuff, things for baking, some hair clips, bubbles, or if I'm ever in a charity shop I'll check out the books, board games and jigsaws. She doesn't expect something every time we're out, if anything I tend to get things when she's not there so as not to build that expectation!

mickandrorty · 22/09/2025 12:42

We always have paint, pens, yarn, glue, card, glitter, play doh in the drawers. Every half term i stock up on bumper craft packs and kits to do.

RedSkyatNight25 · 22/09/2025 12:44

Same as the others. Every other week or so. I don’t mind buying stationary, crafts, puzzles so if they see it (within reason) I’ll let them buy it. It’s hard because sweets are cheaper and get the same enthusiastic reaction as a “treat” but crafts far better in every other way!

Hayley1256 · 22/09/2025 12:45

All the time! I also stock up on seasonal crafty bits at Easter, Halloween, Christmas etc

TotalElephant · 22/09/2025 15:25

Oo interesting, maybe I'm a bit stingy with them then.

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NuffSaidSam · 22/09/2025 15:33

Craft stuff I get as and when we need it, stuff like pens, paper, stickers, beads, clay, hama beads, paint etc. When it runs out it's replaced.

We go to the Oxfam book shop maybe once a month for some new books (and we also use the library to keep books fresh).

Board games and puzzles, once every couple of months maybe.

Toys would only generally be on their birthday/Christmas.

GroovyChick87 · 22/09/2025 15:34

Probably weekly or every other week.

FuzzyWolf · 22/09/2025 15:35

On a regular basis. They can often incorporate it into their homework or general play.

One of my children has to use clay as part of her physio so all my children get the same purchases given to them.

BigHouseLittleHouse · 22/09/2025 15:38

Quite often buy books, LEGOs, and baking n stuff, but crafts not so much as we get a lot from birthday party gifts.

I do love upgrading their kit: dive-balls for the pool, or new cycling gloves, or a random costume to play dress-up.

Littlebassist · 22/09/2025 16:23

Depends on the age of the child (obvs) but kids magazines are fab for this as well, used to keep mine out of trouble for a good few hours!

LivingDeadGirlUK · 22/09/2025 16:29

A lot less since I cancelled Amazon Prime earlier this year, but I like to get activity books etc at the start of each holiday. We went to by a card the other day and there was craft stuff on sale so we bought some.

sarah419 · 22/09/2025 17:46

we buy toys based on usage hours / independent play / peace for us

Usernamenotav · 22/09/2025 21:37

Probably fortnightly

HMW19061 · 22/09/2025 22:22

A couple of times a month maybe, usually a hot wheels car each (they do 3 for 2 so they get one each and I choose one which they think I’m keeping to play with..they’re only little… but really they’re getting put away for stocking fillers at Christmas). Generally keeps them quite for a little while once we’re home whilst they play with them.

Crafts and stuff tends to be just as we run out of stuff as we have a big box of different things. I tend to buy them a few extras in the run up to Halloween/Christmas/Easter as the Works tends to do little themed crafty bits fairly cheaply.

MyElatedUmberFinch · 22/09/2025 22:25

Mine are grown up now but it was every week. Comics/magazines/books every week and any craft stuff they wanted. Toys every couple of weeks which then changed to regular computer games/lego sets/sports stuff
. I now have 3 adult DC who are very appreciative of any gifts and generous too.

supersonicginandtonic · 22/09/2025 22:37

Most days 🙈

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