To spend some of the kids' Christmas money on a meal out?

[Happythistime]

Can't decide whether this sits right with me or not.

We are thinking of taking the kids to the Rainforest Cafe at the weekend. It is super expensive due to its central London location and themed interior. I want us to go and not wince at the prices and I know the kids will love it so am toying with using a little bit of their Christmas money that they've received from relatives to go towards the bill.

I think that if Christmas money I had given to a child went towards a nice day out, be it a meal or a show or something similar I'd be happy with that. Usually we just put their gift money straight into savings as they have more toys than they need. A bit of me worries though that people would see it as me and DH profiting from their xmas presents. We would obviously pay the bulk of it and only put a bit of their money towards enabling us to go and enjoy it without feeling resentful at the prices. AIBU?

But surely Rainforest Cafe has everything that makes chain restaurants crap? Overpriced, tasteless food, crap service, loud noise, queues, plasticky rubbish everywhere, full of tourists

I never said chain restaurants are crap - I really like Wahaca.
We went to RFC for dinner this weekend and the service was fantastic and there were no queues. It's true that the food is not great and is overpriced. But the main point you are missing is that most kids love noise and plasticky crap.

My little boy is good with food - I take him to lots of good restaurants and he will try pretty much anything but it's just food to him. For most 3yos a jungle with moving, noisy gorillas is always going to beat a nice Japanese meal.

Good restaurants are fun for parents. RFC is fun for kids.

i have no problem with money given as a gift being used on a treat, tho paying £16 for a kids meal at RFC seems insane

far better to go and see a musical/panto/show etc

i prfer giving cash for children so that they can save up for something nice rather then have lots of crap/tat for £10

Right thanks everyone . We are going for it. Thanks to everyone who offered alternative suggestions but, whilst there are thousands of better places to eat in London in terms of quality and price, I just can't find any that offer the experience for little ones that (I hope) the RFC will. I know it might seem a bit worn and tacky to a grown up eye but I really think the DC will LOVE it.

We are not cramming it all into one day. First day will be Natural History Musuem and then RFC for dinner. Second day Hamleys marathon.

We are taking £15 each of their Christmas money but not sure yet if we'll tell them the meal is a gift from aunties or to let them use it somewhere else over the weekend.

I'm glad you're going ahead with it.
I'm secretly a bit when parents squirrel other people's money away as their savings for the DC, as I feel if you want savings for them, you save the money yourself!
But I give money to family on behalf of younger children as I want them to spend it on fun things. If I wanted to buy a toy I would have bought one. I'm a big fan of doing things rather than adding to yet another Lego set or build a bear clothes, although not saying I haven't bought these as gifts.
I know so many people who, before Christmas, do mammoth clear outs and charity shop runs with boxes of old clothes making room for the new ones.
Yes, kids generally do enjoy toys, but I see absolutely not a jot of harm in what you're planning. It's a family weekend of fun, at the end of the day, you're doing if for them.

boxes of old clothes AND TOYS

I love the rainforest cafe, and really enjoyed the food (have been three times). You're not really paying for the food, more the experience. Make sure your children are alright with loud noises, it's quite exciting down there!

Have a great time!

I'd do it, maybe let them buy a little souvenir in the shop too.

Personally, I think that children should be able to choose how to spend their own money. if they are given more than would be sensible for them to spend, then I think that parents ought to put it into children's savings accounts.

This! As for the person pouring scorn on a 3 year old's ability to decide what to do with his money, many 3 year olds are well able to do that - and if they choose to spend their own money on tat, so what?

I'm really glad you're going ahead with it, OP. The unkindness being shown on this thread was making me feel quite sad. Have a brilliant weekend.

Happy - glad you decided to go for it. Yes, loads of better places for a naice meal but not ones that suddenly erupt into thunder and lightening! Think it's easy to forget sometimes what it's like to be a kid. Enjoy watching their little faces light up when the animals start kicking off and watch out for Cha Cha the tree frog who does the rounds - my DS loved him.

Glad you are going for it. I said earlier I took a 4 year old but I realise now he was only 3 - he absolutely loved it and still talks about it more than 2 years later. Many children today have so much 'stuff' - giving them experiences is so important and a great way to spend money in my opinion. Until I read this thread I had no idea that anyone would consider an experience not an appropriate way of spending gift money and I think it's bizarre.

Have fun!

YANBU spending it on a tray but you are BVU going to RFC, the food is utterly shit and half the kids are screaming through terror in the thunderstorms!

On a meal, not a tray FGS!

Glad you are going for it. Have a fabulous time. Xx

Great - enjoy/endure!

Slebmum - we've been 3 times and I've never seen any kids screaming in terror at the thunderstorms!

YY Julius. My kids have lost and forgotten about many toys over the years but they've never forgotten a trip to the zoo or an ice cream sundae!

Was just about to post to say 'yes do it' when I see that you already are. Much better than putting it all in savings. Will be a lovely experience and memory, hope you all in enjoy it!

I think it's pretty obvious that there's a difference between a restaurant that's opened two extra branches and a huge nationwide chain.

Does it have to be 'huge' and 'nationwide' to be a chain? When does 'new branches' become 'chain restaurant'?

There are four Dishooms, not three, if that makes any difference.

No sorry I don't think this is ok. They are too young to consent to you spending their money. It's stealing imo. Just take them somewhere you can afford, they'll have just as nice a time, there's a lot of free stuff to do in london anyway.

Stealing!!! Really??

OP I think it's a really good idea, I hope you all have a lovely time.

We ended up at the rainforest cafe at the end of a day out in London. We hadn't planned to go there but we'd walked miles and this was all that was available. Like others have said it is over priced but my 2 children who were 8 and 6 absolutely loved it and still talk about it.

Enjoy!

Great idea. YANBU at all. Hope you have a great time. Xx

Have a great time OP. Food aside the RFC isn't half bad. But please, please, please, remember to book ahead so you get a table in the main part of the restaurant. You could even download a seating plan before you book and ensure you get a table close to the action so to speak.

Yes, it is stealing. This is their money, not their parents'.