Raised eyebrow at niece’s Christmas list

[Princessmushroom]

Mostly posting for traffic. For context we are an early 30s childfree couple.

We received our niece’s Christmas wish list, (well husband’s niece), she’s just turned 13 and I have to admit that I raised an eye brow that 95% of her wishlist were some plastic horse toys of some sort. Popped on to Amazon to buy some and the recommended age was 4-10 years old IIRC. The upper suggested age was definitely 10.

It made me think about toys when I was 13 years old. I didn’t really have any apart from my favourite stuffed animals. I was all about make up, music, posters, books and magazines. I don’t have any siblings to compare to (20 year age gap) and my friends didn’t really have toys at 13 either.

So my question is if you or your children still had lots of toys or got new toys like this (plastic horses, Barbies etc) aged 13?

(We obviously did buy something from her wishlist, just to clarify).

Beefy, didn't quite understand a word of that!

Like other poster’s have mentioned, I would think these are Breyer horses? My daughter collected them until she was 13. They are quite beautiful really, she had a ‘Breyer’ shelf that she kept them on, they were more of an ornament than a toy 🤗

YABVU

My mum got me a sylvanian families canal boat 2years ago for christmas becuase i always wanted one as a kid and mum couldnt afford one back then!

People like toys as collectables too!

I was a very mature and well adjusted 15 year old but I still played with polly pockets and sylvanian families. I think my parents did worry but I turned out just fine.

I had those horses as a kid- I loved them. I think people collect them as adults like they do barbies.

The age range on toys is an approximate guide, doesn’t mean that the day you turn 10 you have to throw away your plastic ponies! Lots of adults remain into ‘children’s toys’ eg dolls, doll houses, and as for the adult male fans of My Little Pony....,

I still had a few toys and like bratz dolls and things until I was about 15-16 I actually kept a few favourite things and still have them now age 30 in a sentimental box with photos and things I made as a kid. Not every teenage girl likes make up and clothes etc. I didn’t own a single peice of make up until 2 years ago as I just wasn’t bothered before I was totally happy being myself. Now I like to have something pretty on my eyes when I go out but I’m not exactly make up mad. All kids are different. Didn’t stop me being interested in boys and kissing and hanging out in town etc at a teenager I just wasn’t interested in make up.

I’m just looking for a lego advent calendar for me & DH.

There have been some nasty responses to your very reasonable query OP. I just came on to say that I still find it fascinating that young people can be grown up one minute and children the next. It is often similar in the books they choose to read, going back to old favourites from years ago.

My 11 and 13 years old still have stuffed toys on their bed ( which they hide when friends come over) I hate this rush to grow up. I remember when I stopped receiving toys from my relatives and being a bit jealous of my younger sister. So YABU. Not weird, sweet.

I hope my daughter still wants to play with toys at 13. Should be allowed to be children for as long as possible, especially in today's society. Embrace it, next Christmas wish list may raise eyebrows it a different way and be more expensive!

I was horse mad at this age and it took me til about 30 to start on makeup, i would deffo have picked horse models first probably still would

Zazie, try the online Lego shop. Bought from them last year. Kids loved it.

I had a tiny tears when I was about 11-12.

And my DD and her best friend who are even older than 13 still have days when they get out their Sylvanian Families.

DH who is very very old has a train set in the loft ...

Thanks Nearly.

My absolute best birthday present for my 40th was the Lego Saturn V. It has precisely 1969 pieces.

My husband’s first ever father’s day present was the Lego Ghostbuster car. He adores it. DS1 is a Lego nut and now all DH’s gifts from him are Lego.

Lego is for everyone. I know lots of people from a wide range of backgrounds who love and collect Lego.

I stopped playing with toys aged 11 after I went to a Pokemon card swap event and a stranger who was there with her son told me I was too old for Pokemon. I was the oldest there, but I didn't care or even really notice until she said that to me.

As a teenager I would have been very scathing about anyone my age who admitted to still playing with toys - but I'd have been wrong to be. People like what they like, and if she likes toy horses why shouldn't she have them?

I think you are getting a hard time from replies so I agree with you . All 13 year olds I know wouldn’t want plastic horses or Barbie stuff . However saying that it’s a hard age as they are in betweenies

Is she pony mad? Buy her what she asks for and be the greatest Aunt ever and get her some riding lessons too.

I collected Julip horse figures until I was about 14.
I know adults who collect toys.
She'll look after them and probably not 'play' with them like a toddler would but who cares !

We received our niece’s Christmas wish list, (well husband’s niece)

That makes her your niece too. Some of my favourite aunts/uncles growing up weren't blood relatives but they acted like they were.

Julip horses were the thing to collect up to when I was about 12 or 13. But a lot of kids grow up more quickly these days of course - it’s nice that your DN is still enjoying them.

People moan kids grow up to quickly....yet when they enjoy the simple things like plastic horses you mock them.

I had this same discussion with Dr last year about dvd aged 12 who wanted monster high dolls. Dr thought it was too childish for her to still be wanting them and I disagreed I believe that children should mature at their own pace. each are different.
Dvd now 13.5 and it's makeup and shopping vouchers for clothes so a lot changes in a short time, but it happened at her pace.
I don't think op was judging just asking for some advice as she says no children of her own.

My husband collects model cars, well he is finding models for every car he has ever owned list is endless lol he displays these on a shelf in the garage thankfully. I think its lovely your niece is still being allowed to be herself basically. Our nephew six has quite a newish iPhone and Ipad. What happened to Action Man