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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To refuse to buy Amazon Echo for nephew 7 birthday?

93 replies

Margot88 · 05/04/2018 23:25

So I (foolishly!) asked SIL what to buy for nephew 7th birthday. Her response was to buy him an Amazon Echo Dot for his bedroom because apparently he likes talking to Alexa. I know that by asking I've created much of this situation myself, but normally the response would be to say what he's in to right now and leave it up to us to choose the exact gift - say, Star Wars theme or Spiderman as examples in previous years. My head says to just buy what his mum has asked for, but I can't quite bring myself to buy something that will encourage him to be isolated in his room and I would rather get him something that encourages hands-on play and interaction with his peers.

OP posts:

Cheekyandfreaky · 05/04/2018 23:27

Could you say you need to budget and that’s out of your range? Then say you just wanted an idea of what characters he’s into.

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 05/04/2018 23:28

Those things are creepy and in my opinion pointless.

I wouldn’t buy one for anyone.

bridgetreilly · 05/04/2018 23:28

No way. You don't have to get what she suggested and I agree that's an inappropriate present.

NapQueen · 05/04/2018 23:29

Dont you have to have at least a smartphone/google account etc to get any sort of benefit out if it?
If he is just using it to chat to or fact find then he can have an encyclopedia and a set of walkie talkies.

NannyR · 05/04/2018 23:32

Not the best gift for a seven year old!!! Buy him some lego instead. Do you live close enough to him to take him out for a little birthday treat, maybe some lunch, cinema then choose his own small gift at a toystore. My niece's and nephew loved doing that around that age.

Lulubellee · 05/04/2018 23:32

If that is in the budget range you'd normally spend then I don't think your personal opinions matter given its not your DC. She presumably knows him better and if youve asked what he would like it seems odd to say no I'd rather by xyz.

My SIL does this every year she will ask for ideas and ill give her a few of things that will be used (colouring supplies/crafts/specific toys they have mentioned but every year she then buys something else that then doesn't get used.

SecretBum · 05/04/2018 23:35

My dc have one in their room, similar age.

It's used for music mainly. Not any different to when I used to have a CD player in my room. And the alarm is set every morning on it and the timer is used for their 10 minute room tidy before bed - because they both want to be certain they don't spend one second more than the compulsory ten minutes!

HoneyDragon · 05/04/2018 23:35

Well it’s your choice if you feel uncomfortable with it. I’m not sure buying one just to talk to Alexa is worth it though

Dd (8) wanted one for her birthday but she uses it for audiobooks and music and to switch on/dim her light if she wakes up in the night.

OliviaStabler · 05/04/2018 23:37

You asked and received an truthful answer. I'd buy him one. They are very useful.

I'm sorry but I used to find it awful that you would be asked what you wanted for your birthday, but then be bought what an adult 'thought you should have'. Not what you really wanted. Lego versus an Echo dot? Dot wins every time.

Yvest · 05/04/2018 23:37

My DS has one, he uses it for music and to listen to audio books. It really doesn’t isolate him in any way at all

Yvest · 05/04/2018 23:37

Oh and he likes to ask Alexa joke of the day and fact of the day

IncyWincyGrownUp · 05/04/2018 23:42

They’re awesome little buggers if you let them be. We’ve got four. They’re timers, alarms, Spotify streamers, bad gag providers, fact repositories, weather services. Nobody spends hours addicted to using them, although my youngest goes to sleep every night listening to his. Spotify’s ‘quiet piano’ channel gets a severe battering every night.

I think you need to suck this one up, if it’s within the budget you’d normally spend.

NoobThebrave · 05/04/2018 23:43

If in your budget then you did ask!! My DC loves it for all sorts of things but I have to say her spontaneous questions/comments has made her a kitchen item!!!

NeedsAsockamnesty · 05/04/2018 23:45

My kids like them and are not isolated in rooms they use them for music and asking silly jokes

Noqonterf · 05/04/2018 23:48

My kids age 8 and 10 have got Google home. Its brilliant for music, games, finding out information etc. I got it because both kids are dyslexic and it makes information more accessible to them. I think it's great for kids personally.

nordicflamingo · 05/04/2018 23:51

Her kid, her choice.

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 05/04/2018 23:54

incy and how is that any different to what a phone already does?

IncyWincyGrownUp · 06/04/2018 00:47

I’m happy to let my six year old talk to the echo, he’s not allowed near my phone! :o

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 06/04/2018 01:04

Yeah but how is it different to him just having a smartphone.

They just seem like a total waste of money. We got one through my husband's job and we're both totally baffled as to what the point of it is.

PistFump · 06/04/2018 01:14

My inlaws do this every birthday and xmas, ask what ds would like then get him something completely different that he's either got already or doesn't get used. (He now has 3 scooters, 2 bought by them)....

KC225 · 06/04/2018 08:32

My SIL did this twice with Christmas presents. Asked what my children wanted, so I didn't mention it MIL or my mum - and then she bought them something different. She asked last year - I told her to surprise them. Her children are the same age as mine.

My kids (11 next month) have kindles with Alexa on. I didn't even know about it as I scored some cheapies on black Friday. My kids aren't allowed kindles in their room, but they like joke of the day and asking for jokes about farting, polar bears, snow. All very juvenile. I can't say I have seen them use it for anything else.

GloGirl · 06/04/2018 08:37

It's totally different to a smart phone, it's not a screen so stops the sitting and staring (and whatever effect that tv has on development)

It is effectively a voice activated speaker. My kids really enjoy asking it to play music. If you ask it to tell you a joke or a poem, it takes about 15 seconds. You can't get absorbed in it.

My daughter likes asking Alexa how many days until X date, which is the date of her birthday. It's quite cute really.

If you don't want to get it just tell your sister you were hoping more for a toy and maybe you will get X instead. Don't let her be expecting it and it not come, he might be disappointed.

Megatron · 06/04/2018 08:39

Someone bought DH onr and we never use it. SIL has one and had set it so that the lights came on at certain times when they were out - neighbour called her to say that her lights were flashing on and off in three rooms of the house.

Doesn't anyone do anything manually anymore? I can put music on myself and I can set an alarm clock. I don't want to be told a shit joke every day.

Sirzy · 06/04/2018 08:42

Ds got one for Christmas and it’s great.

I have the app on my phone so can easily keep track of what he has been asking

BluebellCockleshell123 · 06/04/2018 08:47

My kids love theirs and certainly aren't isolated by them. They use it for playing music, alarms, jokes, facts and often have a laugh with their friends when they are round asking it things. I discovered the other night that they were using it as a timer so they brushed their teeth for long enough!

If you're not going to buy it then tell the mum. It's annoying when people ask for present ideas and you give them all the good ones and then they buy something else and the child doesn't get what they really want.

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