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).

dd not Dr lol

My daughter is 12 and still loves her littlest pet shop collection. Her Christmas list is mostly Disney or Harry Potter stuff. I think your niece’s list sounds great. They don’t need to rush to grow up.

And dgd not dvd bloody predictive text

I’d be delighted if my 13 year old daughter still wanted toys for Christmas tbh! It’s refreshingly innocent and charming.

I didn’t play with toys at that age but definitely still had a large soft toy collection and had just started wearing make up but I bought it myself with pocket money, I wouldn’t have asked for it as a present.

I think there is a huge age variation between kids aged between 10 and 15. Some take a little longer than others in playing and having that kind of fun, and that's totally fine. It sounds like she's a lovely and headstrong young woman to be true to herself and like what she likes.

Something from your niece's list will be gladly received and she has plenty of time to get into make up, music, perfume and clothes later. Though not all girls do.

Playing with dolls and toys or even going back to them when they are well into their teens doesn't mean the child is not mature.

What’s your age and childless got to do with anything???

At 13, my DD still loved playing with her My Little Pony & Littlest Pet Shop sets. In fact, I’m sure she asked for LPS that Christmas, & now at 17, she regularly brings them out to play with her younger (11yrs) DD. They also play with their Barbie dolls. Last few years they asked for Lego & their brother is @14 asking for Nerf guns. He also likes Gundam figures. They also love soft toys (& have their eyes on the Squishmallows that are available from Costco).

Having said all that, the younger 2 would love their own phone/ iPad, which oldest DD has (phone for safety & IPad Pro for studies at Uni). Younger DD would like makeup & jewellery, but they’ve not made it onto her Christmas list.

My younger brother (in his 40s) collects Lego & has a whole room dedicated to this collection, although it’s overflowed into the dining room.

I still have plastic horse toys (I’m 30)
I no longer play with them as I have the real thing now but most definitely would’ve still played with them at 13 although I think it would probably be due to having younger sisters?
Although most of the time I had free was spent working at the local riding school

Count yourself lucky anyway my DD wants superhero powers for Christmas (she’ll be 8 at Xmas)
Someone’s going to be disappointed

Why the raised eyebrows?remove your judgemental views and see this for what it is,your niece enjoying her childhood.

I’m 38, I got a polly pocket for my birthday... I also collect My Little Pony... but I also like expensive slap too... and shoes.

Is this a reverse? I was expecting the raised eyebrows to be unreasonably about make up and grown up presents. Why would you ever judge a child for choosing presents that you deem to be children's toys?

If she can keep her imagination alive so long then that is wonderful. I asked for a swan princess sindy for my 13th birthday. It was the last year i could still enjoy playing with my dolls - i remember mourning that loss when i realised i was no longer able to make the dolls play properly.

My own kids haven't ever been really into toys. But i still.wanted to buy them, for my own joy. The girl next door just turned 16 and still loves toys. She is very young for her age. I think it's great she woupd rsther hang out with my kids than date or hang out at the mall.

I’ve got twin girls, coming up 13 in December... Both very different characters..but nope no interest in toys or dolls for the past few years! I wish they did!!

I’m 37 and I have Lego on my list.

My dd’s are 12 and 14, both have some toys on their list. Neither like makeup or clothes.

What the fuck would it matter if other people would or would not have asked for the same?

You obviously started this thread in the hope that people would agree with you that she is some sort of freak

The point is that this is what your niece wants (and I noticed the subtle distancing by you.....your ‘husbands niece’....I’m sure she is thrilled to have you as part of her family too).

Do the girl two favours - buy her something she wants and then stop fucking judging her!

What I find strange is that someone in their 30’s, child-free, is posting on Mumsnet about their nieces gift list? Go to the pub!

What’s the problem? If that’s what she wants, then why not? There’s
Plenty years ahead of her to get into make up

This is lovely to hear! Kids grow up too fast. I hope my kids have Xmas lists like this at that age.

I spent £350 on a lego set for myself recently.

Toys are fab at any age.

I've got DD onto Sylvanians because I always wanted them as a child and never had them so I can indulge her instead.

Definitely think this is refreshing in this day and age, at least she's not asking for plastic surgery!

Let them be kids, mostly they are forced to grow up too quick.

Also, if she’s your husbands Neice, surely she’s yours too?

I bet they are my little ponies, my sister is 19 and still collects them. It's a hobby. She goes to "bronie" meetups too and they all seem to have their own pony character and cutie mark design.

I thought your post was going to be how expensive the things were she was asking for. Plastic horse toys, I don't understand why you are making a post about. Obviously she likes these.

My DD was into toys and teddies way beyond the expected age for them, she was a real innocent. Her dear auntie, my sister, thought we were depriving her of her right to be a teenager and gave her as presents :- make up, nail varnish and other adolescent tat. My daughter was always bemused and disappointed and asked why her auntie hadn’t bought the book she suggested when asked.

Some children are just not into the modern liberal agenda. They are just kids.