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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:

FabbyChic · 10/10/2011 19:25

My kids have a 360, two old black first Xboxes, a Wii, DS, a PS3, laptops, Nintendo 64 the Game Cube etc.,

Its a sign of the times.

LeMousquetaireAnonyme · 10/10/2011 19:37

So what are you going to buy next year and the year after that, and so on? Will he have a ferrari for his 18th?

Henrythehappyhelicopter · 10/10/2011 19:45

If you can afford it and want to buy it then why not.

Pc world with the Kinnect and one game £245.

Slacking9to5 · 10/10/2011 19:46

My kids have a DS and a PC. Nothing else has been mentioned by them, are they deprived?

LittleMissFlustered · 10/10/2011 19:47

If he likes going outside a lot, what about one of those scooter things that is split into two, and you have to sort of pump and squeeze the two bits together to go forwards? My two are currently lusting after those?

I feel that an x box is a thing more suited to a joint present or an older child. Games for five year olds are few and far between, and you'll get more giggles out of watching him waddle up the street on a weird scooter

(I had a Mr Frosty, it was officially shite. As was girls world. I didn't like the fashion wheel thing my friend had, but my daughter snagged one for 50p from a jumble sale and loves it. Weird child!)

troisgarcons · 10/10/2011 19:49

Winter is coming, kids spend more time inside. Xbox with suitable games sounds ok. Although at 300 odd quid, that must mean you are going online?

chicletteeth · 10/10/2011 20:00

Why do people assume that year on year you have to progress with the cost of the presents such that a gold helicopter is in order for a 21st?

No logic there at all.

Notso we will go round in circles I think. You think it's a waste. I disagree. I've posed several examples of other things that, using your logic (based on lack of regular use), are also wasteful and you have not yet come back on those. Same way that other people go on about teaching values etc. yet, there is no evidence that just because a child has material possessions in the form of technology, they will be spoiled.

FWIW, I regularly take my boys out on days out too; half term is planned with most days out doing something. Some of it free, some of it not. Either way, not buying a cheaper laptop for one of them would result in an extra day out with money saved; they get those anyway.

I'm also about to buy a Wii as well- looking forward to having some good family fun with it. The dance party game is fab and even my two year old can play

chicletteeth · 10/10/2011 20:04

Sorry OP.
I'm not trying to hijack your thread but am really quite shocked at the responses on here.
Still, you and me and possibly fabby can go on spoiling our youth and setting them up for trouble later in life.

chicletteeth · 10/10/2011 20:06

post of 20:00:15 would not result in an extra day out

LeMousquetaireAnonyme · 10/10/2011 20:38

teeth because that what most of my DD1's friends' parents seem to be doing. It has to be better and better and better for some weird reasons...
Mind you I offered to take one of her friend to the natural history museum during the holidays and their 1st reaction was, OK! in London? That would involve a very expensive flight and a hotel stay I was just offering down the road.. so may be I am biaised

saffron · 10/10/2011 20:50

Spend what you want.
I do think that actually posting this question on here make you unreasonable, I am sure you actually have a mind of you own

Marne · 10/10/2011 20:52

Its a tough one, i guess if theres nothing else he wants then why not?

But then again i would not buy a 5 year old an xbox (dh would love one though). My dd1 doesn't really play with anything, she spends a lot of time on the pc or on the trampoline, we are struggling to decide what to get her for christmas as theres nothing she really wants other than an i-pad (or a tablet), she's 7 and i'm still unsure of buying her something so expensive that encourages her to sit on her bum all day staring at it.

Dd1's birthday is after christmas and she will be having a trip out (her choice) which will probably be to 'build a bear' with a friend.

Its your choice at the end of the day (not your motheres and not ours).

notso · 10/10/2011 23:04

Chicletteeth camping stuff, assuming you don't have set of everything (tent, stove, mallet) for each person in the family then of course it's not wasted.
Mobile phone, usage of that is two way so if you have it on to be contacted not just to contact someone then it's in use. If you are like my Mother and only switch it on when you want to ring someone then it is probably a bit pointless.
You may think my wastage logic is wrong but by your logic of it being easier, I would have two pianos, two Wii's, four TV's, four DVD players and thats just off the top of my head.
Like you say we probably could go round in circles. I think partly because we see computers very differently. I don't see them as a toy or for children, I know my DC use them at home and at school but to me they are an adult product.

seeker · 10/10/2011 23:17

I dont think it is too much at all, it will last him for years. All he will need for christmas and birthdays are games."
Such a sad posts,

hmc · 10/10/2011 23:23

Yanbu

chicletteeth · 10/10/2011 23:28

You commented on the amount of time it was used!
Also, your logic is not so great.
A laptop is a small thing that you take out put on a desk, use, then put away in a case when finished. It takes up very little room

Two pianos, and two Wii's and/or DVD players (which would both of course require a TV each)- well, a bit of a silly comparison isn't it.

I see them as a learning product but also something to have fun with, so probably our views on how they should be used influence our opinions.

It seems to me you have a set way of thinking how and when things should be used. Not everybody will agree with this
I would say your mothers mobile phone is not pointless at all, she turns it on when she wants to speak on it. What's pointless about that?

Still, your assumption that we all sit around in the same room using our own laptops (I haven't even given them to the boys yet) is a little misguided although it did make me chuckle .

marriedinwhite · 10/10/2011 23:30

Did I miss something. Our DC are almost 17 and 13. When DS was 6 he got a DS (or whatever came before it). When he was 8 he got the one that could be charged without having to buy batteries. In 2001 we got our first family computer and are just getting rid of it. The DC have ipods and black berries and had to beg for them. We had a Game Cube, then a Wii and DS saved up for an XBox out of birthday and Xmas money. Only in the last month have both the DC had their own personal lap tops and DD has DS's old one which has been refurbished.

Over the years they have grown out of scooters and bikes - neither have a bike at present, trampolines and climbing frames in the garden.

They are exceptionally lucky and don't mean this as a stealth boast, we are very very comfortable. I cannot, I really cannot get my head around a five year old needing a Wii and an Xbox who is allowed to destroy board games and also has trampolines and bikes and scooters, etc., and who has been bought all the films his mother loved as a child.

This year our teenagers have asked for a pair of Doc Marten boots (DS) and a kindle (dd) for Christmas. They will probably get what they have asked for.

notso · 10/10/2011 23:50

It's infuriating because she bloody well rings me on it, I can't find my phone at the bottom of my bag, so I don't answer in time and when I phone her back she has switched hers back off It is easier for me to wander round town hoping to see her than it is to reach her on her phone.

Yes but to quote you it would be "easier" for me to have two or more of all those things because they might want to have their half an hour at the same time.
However like you say different opinions on computers. Also my oldest is older than yours and I know that if there was a laptop in the house she would want it to be in her room, many of her friends have them in their rooms and they spend all night on Facebook, and other things I think are inappropriate.
I like my immovable PC in the dining room where I can see what my DC are up to, and by saying this I am not saying you don't know what yours are up to, just that one of my DC is at a different stage to yours are.

ChippingIn · 11/10/2011 00:12

I wouldn't buy an x-box for a 5 year old and I would hold off for as many years as possible, but mostly because I think the majority of the games are too violent, even the kids games - but I don't think my opinion is right and yours is wrong - simply different.

The ££ doesn't come into it for me wrt the x-box.

People spend what they can afford/are prepared to on their children at Christmas/for Birthdays - it varies enormously. You do what is right for you and your family.

I actually like the idea of the 2 part scooter

As for more family time - you are bound to get that with winter coming anyway. Maybe try thinking outside the box - would he like to learn to cook? Would he enjoy building a model together? Would he enjoy learning martial arts with you?

Morloth · 11/10/2011 03:28

Kinect is a real winner here for rainy/super hot days.

I have an active outdoorsey boy as well who goes a bit mental if he doesn't get a good run around.

Kinect is good for the days when he just can't get out and about. We also play on it a lot.

Great fun.

His interest in it does wax and wane though so bear that in mind.

Morloth · 11/10/2011 03:31

We found using a yoga mat for the area was good and it also cuts down on the wall shaking jumps.

If you are in an upstairs flat I would recommend against the kinect, you will drive the people downstairs batty.

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