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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy this Christmas present?

51 replies

OnTrain · 17/12/2018 22:49

My sil has asked for me to buy her 4yr old hama beads.

I’m not keen as they’re not the most environmentally friendly, lots of bits if plastic bound to be mostly hoovered up.

But my dd has been bought them in the past and they’re just shit and take a lot of adult input. I have explained this to her, plus her 4yr old is not one to sit still and do a craft.

Anyway, this thread’s kind of me asking for recomendations of young child friendly hama bead sets disguised in an aibu to not want to buy what she’s asked for.

OP posts:
elQuintoConyo · 17/12/2018 23:28

Just buy the fuckers.

Or a Grimm's rainbow if you're feeling superior.

PutDownThatLaptop · 17/12/2018 23:31

OP, Hama Maxi beads do say for age 3 and above and they are pretty chunky. I would get one of the small starter sets ('Activity Set') and add another thing that you think he might also like.

Original poster
OnTrain · 17/12/2018 23:31

I’m not a fan of grimms elquinto but nit wanting to buy plastic crap has nothing to do with feeling superior Hmm

OP posts:
KurriKurri · 17/12/2018 23:33

Was just going to say they come in mini midi and maxi - but see you;ve already found that out Smile
My kids both enjoyed the mini ones from about 6/7yrs - but I reckon my DS might have been able to cope at 4 - he was quite dextrous, DD maybe not - just depends on the child.

Original poster
OnTrain · 17/12/2018 23:36

Yeah my dn certainly isn’t

OP posts:
PutDownThatLaptop · 17/12/2018 23:36

OP, also take a look at Aquabeads to avoid the adult ironing task.

DeaflySilence · 17/12/2018 23:38

Buy different kinds of natural beads, buy/make little trays to put them in, make your own bead/craft kit suitable for a 4 year old. Give the child that.

I still have a string of rolled paper, hand coloured beads, made many years ago.

fieryginger · 17/12/2018 23:39

Just buy what she's asked for. Let her figure it out herself.

SirVixofVixHall · 17/12/2018 23:42

I didn’t buy them for my dds for the same reason, although they did get given them. Tiny bits of plastic that as you say, get hoovered up, thrown out, and end up in landfil to degrade and polute the seas.
There are far nicer creative gifts for a four year old.

tildaMa · 17/12/2018 23:47

Aquabeads are rubbish, they don't stay together properly.

FuckingYuleLog · 18/12/2018 00:00

I think you should concentrate on your own environmental footprint rather than trying to control other people’s. Do you drive? Do you travel by plane on holiday?
Buying your nephew something that isn’t wanted and will end up at the tip in a few days isn’t going to be any better than the Hama beads.

Happysaurus · 18/12/2018 08:51

I’ve got tons for my 4yo. She loves to sit and concentrate so they’re ideal! I went for usual size midi, but they do maxi too which are fairly big!

steppemum · 18/12/2018 10:44

sorry, I think I assumed meice because you mentioned your dd, so I was thinking on those tracks.

I do think they ar egood actully once they are able to do it.

As to creations ending up in drawers, my kids bluetack them to their wardrobe doors. They look good, and when there are too many they have to remove old ones to make room. Thye also make great coasters as presents for other people!

Big helpful hint - iron, remove from board, iron again harder. Then flip over and iron the back. Then they don't break

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 18/12/2018 10:55

Either buy him the thing he wants or don't bother asking again and pick something yourself. Really not that hard!

Ethel36 · 18/12/2018 11:12

Buy the bigger beads, think they're called maxi hama beads. My children love playing with their hama bead set.

SirVixofVixHall · 18/12/2018 11:29

We all have a responsibility to try and use less plastic tat. We have microplastics in our bodies, in the air, our homes are full of dust that contains plastic fragments. Every time we wash something synthetic plastic particles wash into the waterways.

Original poster
OnTrain · 18/12/2018 18:58

Gosh snobby I think you need time away fro mumsnet

OP posts:
bookmum08 · 18/12/2018 19:09

My girl prefered to thread them on string for necklaces than the whole ironing thing. Or sit for ages sorting them into different colour piles.
Absolute evil if you kneel on one but as something that keeps kids quiet and gets them to concentrate they aren't to bad.

Fresta · 18/12/2018 19:19

If the environment is your main concern for not buying them, then I wouldn't.

Instead, buy an alternative eco-friendly craft kit.

ChristmasTwatteryDoesMyHeadIn · 18/12/2018 19:20

If you want ideas, ask. If you don’t, don’t ask.

I’m not sure why that’s hard?

Fresta · 18/12/2018 19:20

if you explain to your SIL why they are not such a good idea she may want to think again- after all- think of the animals!

Fresta · 18/12/2018 19:21

I don't see the problem in asking for ideas. You don't have to get exactly what they suggest, you can still decide for yourself if you don''t want to buy that.

kitkatsky · 18/12/2018 19:37

I loved Melissa and Doug beads for DD- made of wood and so pretty! Different to Hama beads but environmentally more sustainable and long lasting. Also less likely to be hoovered up

Kko1986 · 19/12/2018 12:01

When I was at the hospital the other week there was a little boy who had swallowed a hama head but it was suspected to have gone in his lung so had to be kept in he was coughing a lot not safe at all if estimate him at 6 x

babypossum · 19/12/2018 12:14

You can get bigger ones for younger children. My son has had them for several years and still gets them out every now and then. Made xmas coasters etc that come out year after year. He's now 9.