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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To spend so much on ds for his birthday

171 replies

yippeekaiyay · 10/10/2011 12:44

Ds (age 5) has never really been one to play with toys. He likes to be on his bike/scooter/trampoline/playing at shooting basketball hoops etc.

When indoors (rare) he likes to play on his wii, dsi, paint/draw/colour in and watch films (I have got him in to all the films I loved as a child - neverending story/labrynth/drop dead fred etc)

Asked him what he wants for his birthday and he replied he wanted an xbox 360 with kinect. Its really expensive, so I am considering getting the xbox for birthay in november and kinect and games can come off santa

My mum thinks think is completely ott and ridiculous. That it is far too much to spend on a 5 year old and I should buy him somethingh for £20-£30

AIBU to want to buy him what he actually wants?

OP posts:

nethunsreject · 10/10/2011 12:46

Well. your kid and money.

Sounds like he has lots of 'big' stuff as it is and yep, I'd consider him spoiled, but if you want to spend the cash...

wornoutbutstillwonderful · 10/10/2011 12:47

No I don't see anything wrong with it tbh and This may sound a little harsh but the choice is yours not your mums. You will have great fun playing on it together and as long as you can afford it I don't the problem.

Trills · 10/10/2011 12:48

If you are not going short of essentials then why not spend money on things that you and your DS will enjoy? What does your mum think money is for?

worraliberty · 10/10/2011 12:48

Well spending £300+ on a 5yr old who prefers to play outdoors is a bit counter productive is it not?

How long until he gets fed up with it and goes to play outdoors again?

CamperFan · 10/10/2011 12:49

It's completely up to you what you buy! As someone who hasn't bought a Wii or anything like that, with no plans to, I would wonder why he would need a Wii and an xbox - aren't they virtually the same thing (showing my ignorance).

redskyatnight · 10/10/2011 12:50

Well I suspect the "norm" is somewhere between what your mum thinks and what you think.

From a practical point of view if my DC already had a Wii and a DS I'd question what extra he would get out of an xbox tbh.

That's also a lot of "gadgets" for a DC so young - what will you be getting him when he is older?

However it's your money so spend as you want.

Original poster

yippeekaiyay · 10/10/2011 12:52

Well I planned to trade the wii in towards the kinect - ds won't notice that it has gone.

My other option was a new bike as he has outgrown his current bike but his dad is getting that for him.

I think if he has the kinect we are all likely to play it. And he might be encourages to spend more family time instead of wanting to be in the street with his friends 24/7

OP posts:

cantspel · 10/10/2011 12:53

The xbox 360 with kinect is really good but be warned that you do need a lot of space to be able to use the kinect properly.

If that is what your son wants and you have the money then i dont see any problem in getting him it.

wellwisher · 10/10/2011 12:54

What a sad OP. Why would you encourage him to sit indoors staring at a screen when he enjoys being active outdoors? and when he is indoors, he enjoys creative play - why would you want to give him something that will discourage that?

He's 5, he probably doesn't even know what an xbox is. If you have that kind of money to spend, get him a climbing frame or swing for the garden and some art supplies.

PumpkinBones · 10/10/2011 12:55

We have a wii and an xbox360 but the latter is DH's really DS1 aged 5 virtually never plays on the xbox - I have found there are very few child friendly games, especially compared to the Wii - so for that alone, I wouldn't bother. THere is a new version of the Wii coming out next year, save the money for that

But it is up to you what you spend your money on, providing you are not going short to afford it.

worraliberty · 10/10/2011 12:56

Well look at it like this...the Wii obviously didn't work in that respect if he's not even going to notice it gone.

Your child and your money but from what you've said, it doesn't sound worth it.

I'd probably take him for a great day out and buy him some little bits I think he'd appreciate.

Original poster

yippeekaiyay · 10/10/2011 12:56

why is it sad - he asked for an xbox (and he does know what it is - we have played on a friends and was great fun) and I am considering getting him what he asked for....

OP posts:

PumpkinBones · 10/10/2011 12:57

I think if he has the kinect we are all likely to play it. And he might be encourages to spend more family time instead of wanting to be in the street with his friends 24/7

But you already have a Wii, which has lots of family friendly games...and you say he won't notice that the Wii has gone...which suggests he doesn't really play it that often?!

cantspel · 10/10/2011 12:57

Even the most outdoor type 5 year old will have to start sending more time inside with the on set of winter. dark nights and bad weather will see to that.

With a kinect he will still be able to be active and creative but in a different way. infact the sport based games are the best kinect games.

worraliberty · 10/10/2011 12:59

But you already have a Wii, which has lots of family friendly games...and you say he won't notice that the Wii has gone...which suggests he doesn't really play it that often?!

Exactly why I think the XBox will be a waste of money.

TakeThisOneHereForAStart · 10/10/2011 12:59

It's a bit of a false economy to spent £20-£30 on presents he won't touch. Better to spend more (if you can afford it/not be getting into debt for it) on something he will play with every day than less on something he will lose interest in very quickly.

If it's for his birthday then it's not really him being spoilt either. He hasn't just asked one for no reason, especially if he understands that he can't have everything at once and he will have to ask for extra games etc at Christmas.

The weather is getting worse now, if we get a rainy winter he won't be outside so much, not on a bike or scooter or trampoline anyway, so an indoor toy he will appreciate and use rather than one that will interest him for five minutes and then be discarded is surely better if you can reasonably afford it.

Original poster

yippeekaiyay · 10/10/2011 12:59

PumpkinBones none of us ever really liked the wii. That one was my idea when he was 4

OP posts:

squidworth · 10/10/2011 13:00

I would say my DS would always pick his x box before the wii he has much more fun out of it, but as a parent it can become hard to get age appropriate games.

Original poster

yippeekaiyay · 10/10/2011 13:01

I should point out that he is extremely destructive...Last xmas I bought him some board games so we could all play together and he has destroyed them all. I refuse to buy toys that have parts which can get lost or ripped or broken

OP posts:

midnightexpress · 10/10/2011 13:03

I agree with wellwisher, but your money, your choice of course.

I don't think that playing computer games = quality family time. And why on earth would you want to discourage him from playing outside with his friends? .

wellwisher · 10/10/2011 13:03

It's sad that you have a child who enjoys being active outdoors and being creative indoors and you are thinking of spending a vast amount of money on something that will encourage him to sty indoors and stare at a screen.

midnightexpress · 10/10/2011 13:04

And I certainly wouldn't be spending that amount of money on a child who can't look after his toys yet.

ThreeTrickPony · 10/10/2011 13:05

"He is extremely destructive"

This is a reverse post, isn't it? You are the disapproving Grandmother, aren't you?

No way is it reasonabke to buy a Kinnect for a child:
-- who preferrs being outside
-- has an wii but uses it so little he won't notice it going
-- is ectremely destructive and cannot be trusted with cardbiard games, let alone £300+ of electronic kit

And "family time on the X box" is one of the saddest sentences ever.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 10/10/2011 13:06

Ok so he destroys his toys and belongings and is rewarded with expensive electrical items....right.

nethunsreject · 10/10/2011 13:07

Okaaay, he destroys his toys?

Is this the plot of a kids' book?

If real, then don't waste your monay.

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