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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:
DollyMcDolly · 06/04/2018 08:48

Nothing wrong with it for a 7 year old. You can learn loads of stuff using it. I think it's fantastic for kids

BitOutOfPractice · 06/04/2018 09:05

I don't see what's "isolating" about it at all!

Prancingonthevalentine · 06/04/2018 09:06

I'd love a google home for my ds's bedroom (don't know if Alexa does the same but I'd guess) as then I could broadcast to him from downstairs - tea's ready, etc!

sunbunnydownunder · 06/04/2018 09:12

My 8 and 11 year olds have google minis in their rooms and they love them. They use them mainly for music.

BlueSapp · 06/04/2018 09:18

I don't think there is anything wrong with having one but to be fair its quite an expensive gift for your nephew, I would say he'd probably get much more enjoyment out of some Lego I know mine would.

Boysnme · 06/04/2018 09:19

My 6 & 8 year olds have Alexa in their room. Used mainly for music, the timer and alarm but my 6 year old also loves the jokes and will ask Alexa random facts. I see no harm in it and if it’s within your price range and what he wants I’d get it.

Crusoe · 06/04/2018 09:25

My 10 year old has one. He uses it for listening to audio books and music. He asks it for quizzes and facts as well as how to spell things and as a timer.
It’s good fun. I can’t see the harm and I say that as someone who is pretty strict with screen and tech time.

DannyLaRuesBestFrock · 06/04/2018 09:28

If he is just using it to chat to or fact find then he can have an encyclopedia and a set of walkie talkies

Yes, because that is exactly the same 😂

Springtrolls · 06/04/2018 09:31

I don’t see the problem with it.
When my youngest was that age he didn’t like Lego so wouldn’t have been happy.

Windmyonlyfriend · 06/04/2018 09:44

I can understand that it isn’t a gift you’d choose yourself but you’ve asked what he’d like and you’ve been told. Presumably his mum is happy for him to have it.

My MIL does this all the time. Asks what the kids might like for birthdays etc, I give her an answer and she never seems pleased with the suggestion and gets something else. It’s annoying. Don’t ask if you don’t want to get what’s suggested!

At the very least, if you decide not to buy your DN the dot then please tell his mum so she can ask for it from someone else. My DC have missed out on things they really want as I’ve thought someone (MIL!) was buying it but they haven’t in the end.

AlbusPercival · 06/04/2018 09:45

My 18 month old has one in his room

It is mostly for me though!

KC225 · 06/04/2018 09:46

Megatron - love the flashing lights on and off in three rooms. Worth a purchase alone. Far from putting me off, I think I may fancy one myself.

Elementtree · 06/04/2018 09:49

Nothing wrong with a dot. Especially if you have the kind of kids that love to spot quiz you on facts you should remember but don't...how many km to the sun? Is a banana actually a berry? How many people live in the UK? Alexa is pulling her weight on the Easter holidays.

Rachie1973 · 06/04/2018 09:50

I'm not sure how it would be isolating. It's not like an xbox or something.

If it's in your budget and that's what he wants I don't see why not.

We use ours a lot, alarms, reminders, music and endless nursery rhymes when my granddaughters are here

implantsandaDyson · 06/04/2018 09:51

One of my kids has a list as long as your arm of books she wants - friends and family buy from it and birthdays and Christmas - the list is the love of her life. She prefers to read in her room, there's no social interaction with the reading, her friends don't read the same stuff, it's not hands on play. Would you not buy books for your nephew if asked? If you don't want to buy or offer money towards a present that your nephew wants that's up to you but don't dress it up as caring about his isolation and social interaction. His parents have made a judgement that they are ok with him having it.

IWouldLikeToKnow · 06/04/2018 09:52

I love how every time gifts for children are mentioned here then the OP is told that they will like Lego!!!

In this instance, the OP has been told what he wants but she doesn't agree with it. In that case don't buy it, but like a PP suggested, tell his mum so she knows not to expect it.

Original poster
Margot88 · 06/04/2018 10:00

Thanks for all the responses, I think the thing that really got to me was that in the past they've given us enough of a steer to know what theme he was into at the time, but still allowed us to define our own budget, and also let us put a bit of thought into his gift so there's still some surprise. It felt a bit cheeky of them to change the goalposts this year and go for something so specific (which, incidentally is double what we'd normally spend).

But I guess it's my bad for asking the question in the first place.

And yes, we've already said that we're not going with the Dot, so no nasty surprises on the day :)

OP posts:
branstonbaby · 06/04/2018 10:02

If it is above your price range, why not give him an amazon voucher so that he can save for one? We have one and the kids love it!

CoperCabana · 06/04/2018 10:08

I think they are fab but if you don't want to buy one, a good story would be that you have looked into it, and if they want to play music, the Dots are a bit rubbish and the next size up is much better but you can't afford it.

BlueSapp · 06/04/2018 10:16

Lego is my go to thing because all the little boys and girls I know are mega fans of it I mean boxes of the stuff! and they never get tired of it at all, they even go to Lego club after school too..imagination is a brilliant thing.

Mightymucks · 06/04/2018 10:21

Have you SEEN the advert? ‘Read me a bed time story Alexa’.

No, how about your parents come and read you a bedtime story from an actual book so you can learn to read and shit?

BlueSapp · 06/04/2018 10:22

^^ very true

Cantspell2 · 06/04/2018 10:28

I have two sons both grown now but oldest loved Lego but only certain sets.
Younger son hated Lego and never touched it. But loves any thing tech and would have loved a Dot.
I wish people wouldn’t assume every child would like yet another box of Lego.
You asked so you don’t get to make a judgement call as to whether you think it is suitable but you can refuse to buy it if it is more than you are willing to spend.

Aridane · 06/04/2018 10:32

Let your SIL know you're not buying the Amazon Echo so someone else can get it for DN's birthday

Mightymucks · 06/04/2018 10:38

Buy him a book and tell his parents to read it to him. And an encyclopaedia. Then if he wants to ask questions then he wants to ask questions he can look it up with his folks. His folks could even google it for him instead of Alexa doing it if they’re feeling really wild!

One of my friends has Alexa and a lot of it is just an excuse for damn lazy parenting. Every time her kid tries to talk to her or interact with her he gets sent to bloody Alexa. She doesn’t read to him or put on music with him or feed his curiosity because it’s all outsourced to bloody Alexa.

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