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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it is completely normal to play with toys at 6 years old?

53 replies

pinkpaperpiggy · 31/10/2012 09:56

My older dd is 6. She has a great imagination and plays the most elaborate games with her sister and all their toys.

But lots of the mothers of the kids in her class seem to think 6 is too old for toys. They are getting IPods and laptops/tablets for Chistmas and are surprised when I tell them what dd wants.

My SIL was here at the weekend with her 5 year old and was shocked at the amount of toys my dds have on the go. Her dd was playing quite happily with mine but she said she has given her toys away as all she wants is art and crafts stuff now.

OP posts:
fanoftheinvisibleman · 31/10/2012 10:31

Ds was 7 on sunday and is wanting to go and spend the birthday money he was given on (more!) Sylvanian families. Of course 6 isn't too old. What a sad world if people honestly think this.

FlobbadobbaBOO · 31/10/2012 10:35

Just to add, I'm 36. When the DC's are are at school I have been known to brush the dolls hair. Just to get the tangles out you understand. Especially Rapunzel. And the My Little Ponies I plait the manes
In all seriousness, theres nothing wrong with gadgets, I have an ipad app that amuses the baby (8 months) and both of the other DC's have games on it. DS has a smartphone and we have games consoles in the house. But the thing is they do play with toys and games as well. In fact the availability of computers doesn't seem to make a difference, the toys get played with. If we cleared out DS's room the shit fit that would result would be monumental!!

FlobbadobbaBOO · 31/10/2012 10:36

X post chazs lego is addictive!, Grin

GoldenOrangeWhippoorwhill · 31/10/2012 10:37

Yeah my son is 18 and at University but he still occasionally plays Lego with his younger brother (16) when he's home. :)

Hexenbiest · 31/10/2012 10:42

I don't think there is anything wrong with gadgets - but the DC use the family lap top or read with DH on his kindle or borrow our phones for games or to look at or take photos.

We just don't think they need their own yet. I also don't get that why the assumption is you can?t have both toys and screen activities it is what I assume most households actually do.

There is also an assumption by these parents that they are in some way giving superior gifts which I don't 'get'.

halcyondays · 31/10/2012 10:43

Of course it is. It's not one or the other, though, given the chance most six year olds would have a mix of toys, arts and crafts, board games, gadgets and books.

Giving away all a 6 year old's toys is bizarre.

DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 31/10/2012 10:43

I am 26 and often find myself building with the duplo while watching tv, long after DS and DD have gone to bed!

I really hope DD (5) doesnt decide her toys are no longer needed next year [hsad] I'd be gutted.

Hexenbiest · 31/10/2012 10:45

My DH has actually taken lego in to help his undergraduates with a task. Apparently it was one of their favourite tutorials.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 31/10/2012 10:48

I think it very unreasonable for any mother to think a 6 year old is too old for toys. I'm also sure my nearly 6 year old and my 8½ year old would be very upset not to receive toys for Christmas, they play with theirs every day.

I think anyone who is bragging about buying their 6 year old an ipad is just showing off to be honest!

mollymole · 31/10/2012 10:49

Keep doing just as you are - there is IMO something wierd about parents who think their children do not need toys.
On his 21st birthday my son, and 3 of his friends (all at unversity) were on our local playing field with their science museum rocket launcher seeing who could fire the thing furthest.

MrsVincentPrice · 31/10/2012 10:52

Agree, DS (8) likes playing on the laptop and DD's Nintendo but I asked my DB to get him a huge Chad Valley spaceship for his birthday present. DB was a bit Hmm "surely that's for younger children?" but DS's face when he unwrapped it was fantastic, and he's played with it constantly since then. DD (10) is obsessed with screens but still plays with the Lego figures/dolls' house/teddies.

Occasionally I make "wouldn't it be nice to hand the Duplo/Sticklebricks on to an actual toddler?" noises but am comprehensively rebuffed by both DCs.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 31/10/2012 10:57

It is just bragging by the parents.

A combination of 'look how much money I have/look how generous I am being to my children/look how developmentally advanced my children are that they don't want mere toys any longer.

ornellaia · 31/10/2012 11:01

My DD is 7 and loves her toys, she was given a nintendo DS last year and has barely played with it, she much prefers lego. I was hoping the DC would be into their teens before they only wanted gadgets and gizmos for presents.

AlwaysHoldingOnToStarbug · 31/10/2012 11:06

I have unusual children who rarely played with toys so I've given up buying them. Not that that means they get ipads and stuff because they don't! DS3 & 4 were really into dressing up so used to get that but for some reason it's hard to get dressing up stuff for over 7's so they don't get any now. Obviously kids over that age don't dress up anymore.

We have a Wii that they all share and DS1 has a 3DS, but they've mainly asked for books and DVD's this year for Christmas. They are really hard to buy for!

CookingFunt · 31/10/2012 11:08

I am a lot older than six and have been known to play with the kids toys whilst tidying.
Or play with the bath toy funnel thing belonging to the toddler whilst I'm having a soak.

Catsnotrats · 31/10/2012 11:09

Imaginative play is incredibly important for children's development at all ages (my year 6s love golden time/ wet play as they get to play with toys - no electronic items allowed!).

Just ignore others opinions and feel smug safe in the knowledge that you are doing well by your dc.

Original poster
pinkpaperpiggy · 31/10/2012 11:10

Looks like IANBU then. Great.

To be honest even if hoardes of people thought I was I would still let dd have her Littlest Pet Shops and La La Loopseys or whatever as they really do entertain her.

She does occasionally play on the Wii and on the computer at home so she is not totally technologically deprived.

I do think most of the 'too old for toys' comes from the parents rather than the kids. When we have birthday parties or children over to play they all have a great time playing yet some of these are the ones whose parents tell me they don't 'play' anymore.

OP posts:
TheCunningStunt · 31/10/2012 11:14

Totally normal to play with toys. DS is almost 6 and he has his own iPod, access to an Xbox, ps3, ipad and laptops. He rarely play on any! He is always in his room which is filled with toys...and he plays with a wooden sword and empty boxes. There is no way I can get him interested in computer games because at times it would be handy!

We are a tech mad house and access is always there. We don't ban tv or games. Neither of my kids could care less about it. They play alone for ages which is great as I work from home!

CommanderShepard · 31/10/2012 11:16

I'm 30 and recently spent a very absorbing evening at a friend's playing geomag!

Inneedofbrandy · 31/10/2012 11:17

Why does it have to either or? My two have all manor or gadgets and a room full of toys (and a shed full of outdoor crap). Sometimes they just want to slob out on the sofa and play on iPod/3ds sometimes they want to read a book. Just because their FC has gadgets doesn't mean they don't know how to play ffs.

MrsCantSayAnything · 31/10/2012 11:19

My DD is 8 and has asked for Sylvanian Families and a blinking deigna bear!

6 is a baby still imo and if my DD wants dolls when she's 10, I will be happy.

Calabraaiiiiiiiinnnnnsssss · 31/10/2012 11:19

I got some Lego for my birthday last week. I was 51.

Also, I'm trying to imagine my eight year old's reaction if I tell her she's too old for toys and she has to get rid of them...

Original poster
pinkpaperpiggy · 31/10/2012 11:20

I don't think it has to be either or but it is definitely considered to be like that by some of the mums I know. Once the child is interested in computer games, Ipod etc then they are too old for toys.

I can think of 2 friends of dd's in particular who are 6 and have almost no toys whatsoever anymore - maybe a Barbie or two or a couple of soft toys but everything else has been put away or given to charity shops.

OP posts:
LadyofWinterfell · 31/10/2012 11:24

DD1 is nearly 9 and has asked for Sylvanians for the first time this year. I'm overjoyed! DH keeps reminding me it's for her, not me Blush

It's a nice balance as she's having a Kindle for her birthday.

Ithinkitsjustme · 31/10/2012 11:33

Different children want different things at different ages, at 6 it is perfectly normal for a child to want to play with toys, but it's also perfectly normal for them to want to do other things. My DS1 played with toys (lego, starwars etc) until he was in his teens, my DS2 played with castles and knights until he was about 5 and from then on all presents were sports orienated, my DD1 never played with anything, loved craft things etc but then decided she liked playmobil at about 11 and indeed had some for her 13th birthday, my DS3 is nearly 12 and still wants toys and my 4yo DD2 is obviously very much into dolls and teddies. It's worth bearing in mind that every child is different and gifts reflect that. I do think that sometimes parents (and peer pressure) are guilty of rushing them into thingsthat they are not really ready for and it's down to parents to work out whats best for their own child.

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