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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To just HATE "bring a toy" days at my DC school?

66 replies

TimelyNameChangey · 15/12/2014 21:56

They're so frigging fraught!

My DC don't have an awful lot of toys. They're ten and 6 and they have things which are mainly made up of loads of pieces and are craft based or they're soft toys, dolls, houses etc.

The older one has a tablet.

What on earth do yours take? We just don't DO board games!

OP posts:

Mehitabel6 · 15/12/2014 22:14

I meant work out what to take to school by themselves. I can't think that I ever organised mine-except to veto things that might get lost.

Original poster

TimelyNameChangey · 15/12/2014 22:16

Fur mine too. Well mine would rather read.

Mehit Well I do organise mine as the 6 year old would try to take something of her sister's and the older one would either not take anything at all and that's not in the spirit of the thing or she'd take something not suitable like her tablet.

OP posts:

Mehitabel6 · 15/12/2014 22:18

Pens and paper seems the best bet.

Ilovehamabeads · 15/12/2014 22:20

We don't do board games either. The only game we have that is actually fun is a Lego sheep one. And Dobble, which isn't even a board game it's a card game. My DD will take that to school (even on a normal day and they play it if there's indoor play)

steppeupunderthemisletoe · 15/12/2014 22:24

OP - simple - you tell them they choose what to take it has to be:

yours
not electronic
no small pieces
you don't mind if it gets lost.

They go off to choose, and bring it to you to check it passes all 4 rules, and if not, then the answer is NO, doesn't pass the rule, go away and try again.

It only goes into school if it passes the rules, if they can't find something, then they don't take anything - not everyone does.

We have taken toys without all their bits before, eg horse, but without all the tiny accessories.

Mehitabel6 · 15/12/2014 22:26

Sensible advice steppeupunderthemistletoe. Problem solved!

Original poster

TimelyNameChangey · 15/12/2014 22:26

Pens and paper is a bit pointless since the school has plenty.

I will tell them to sort it out tomorrow. I just wonder why we're in such a minority about board games! Surely most other people don't REALLY enjoy them! THey're torturous!

OP posts:

whothehellknows · 15/12/2014 22:29

Card games, maybe? Uno is a good cheap one and if you lose a few cards it won't matter.

MrsGoslingWannabe · 15/12/2014 22:33

Why can't we just drop 'em off and pick 'em up and not have to supply a toy/cake/fancy dress/other random nonsense every other week?! Its so tedious.

steppeupunderthemisletoe · 15/12/2014 22:33

we love board games, it was ds birthday yesterday, he was 12, his choice of day was grandparents over to roast dinner, followed by evening playing board games in front of the fire. We had a great time.

I hate some - monopoly is torture, so is mousetrap, although I have found a way of jump starting monopoly by dealing out half of the cards at the beginning, which makes it better. But some are great, they work best with adults and kids together, nice comfy place, a light humorous touch (nothing worse than hysterics over losing) We love card games too.

But each to their own. There are other things we don't do that other families love.

Pigriver · 15/12/2014 22:34

Sorry, my kids are year 2.
As a teacher I don't really like these days. The kids just drift round aimlessly. Little groups will play really intensely but the rest are a bit 'meh'. I hate they way they become so gender stereotyped in their play when they have their own toys. When they aren't at all usually. My boys love the blue kitchen in the home corner and the girls play with the lego as much as anyone else. Boys dominate the craft area making belts and wrist cuffs!
It is interesting for me to see what they play with at home and how they share but on the whole I'd rather plan something constructive for them to do. Maybe a choosing 'hour' if I have reached my limit!

justfoundout2014 · 15/12/2014 22:40

I hate them too. It's hard to select something that will have 'value' to others, but that you/the child won't mind being broken or lost, or that isn't too fiddly etc etc. Figures are often not much good on their own and you don't want to be taking in sets. I imagine complex figures like power rangers would be good, but ds doesn't like anything like that. Dd finds it easier - she has plenty of dolls she likes to show to her friends.

We love board games, but many have bits to them I wouldn't want getting lost.

Ds's body illusions was a success once, but he only took one small element of it.

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 15/12/2014 22:44

Has he got minecraft figures.

foreverton · 15/12/2014 22:48

Books are a good idea, it's best to take something, when ds was at primary, up until this July, toys were more for the younger dc, books/puzzles etc were the norm in y5/6 and invariably, they will all play/look at each others stuff as its more interesting:)

Original poster

TimelyNameChangey · 15/12/2014 22:49

Piper I don't have a boy.

OP posts:

steppeupunderthemisletoe · 15/12/2014 22:58

dd2 (aged 7) often takes in a colouring/sticker book or an annual with dot to dot etc games in, and a pencil case of pens. She uses them at playtime, and would sit and chat/colour/share them for hours.

Original poster

TimelyNameChangey · 15/12/2014 23:46

Yes I think I'll suggest that with DD2....she can take stickers, pens...stencils etc in. They're robust enough to share too.

OP posts:

BOFster · 15/12/2014 23:56

How often do these days happen? Once or twice a year, I'm guessing, given the demands of the National Curriculum, but I'll confess I don't know. Surely the point is to take something in which can be played with other children and encourages fun interaction? In which case, it's worth buying a cheap version of Connect 4 or Twister (about a fiver each, iirc), so that even if it turns out your child spends all day playing Cluedo with someone else, it doesn't really matter, and if it gets used, well, they've had fun doing something new. Or someone else uses it. Everyone's a winner.

Original poster

TimelyNameChangey · 16/12/2014 00:20

I did think that BOF but thought it might be a bit sad...buying something specially.

And right before Christmas too!

OP posts:

ladymariner · 16/12/2014 00:25

Shouldn't worry about it....they all end up playing with each others stuff anyway.

BOFster · 16/12/2014 00:30

You might find that it's worth a relatively small outlay if they have a good time on the day and perhaps want to play it again at home? I know you don't like boardgames yourself, but it's almost The Rules that they will then become objects of fascination to your children .

Original poster

TimelyNameChangey · 16/12/2014 00:32

I will go to...I dunno. Somewhere tomorrow to see what I can find. I suppose it might be ...fun...or something to play with them before Christmas.

Might even like it.

Or something.

OP posts:

BOFster · 16/12/2014 00:37

Ok, slightly more expensive than I remember, (and it's £7-something at Argos to buy tomorrow), but I was talking about the glory days of Woolworths .

Original poster

TimelyNameChangey · 16/12/2014 00:40

I loved that as a kid. But imagine the counters all over the floor at school Bof! And the terrible CRASH when they all come out at the end. What about Jenga?

OP posts:

BOFster · 16/12/2014 00:44

Jenga would be great. That was also a fiver in Woolies .

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