How much of these things do you consider a treat?

[LajesticVantrashell]

Person A has done/given/bought her DC the following this weekend. Person B thinks this is excessive and that they're all treats which should be given rarely and sporadically.

1. McDonald's
2. Soft play
3. Swimming
4. A new book
5. A small bag of jelly sweets
6. A magazine

This is in between an afternoon in the park, a walk up a hill and some down time playing at home.

How often do your DCs do/have the above?

This angst about McDonald's is middle class snobbery.

@derxa yes my kids only eat chips if they are served at a Michelin star restaurant and are triple cooked - which massively increases their fat content, but its posh so all okay.

derxa
Mate, not everyone likes it. Not everyone eats meat. One of my 3 loves it and it’s a nice thing she does with her dad. The other 2 won’t eat it (one worships at the altar of pizza, the other’s a noodles fan)

Inverted snobbery to have a go at families that don’t want to go to McDonalds.

1. McDonald's. A very rare treat... maybe x2 per year
2. Soft play. Is normally a treat as tends to be a birthday party for a friend etc.
3. Swimming. Depends whether you mean lessons, or for fun. Lessons are not a treat they are part of learning. Going for a splash and paying top rates at a weekend is a treat
4. A new book. Is considered a treat so as to be exciting and special, but is a common occurrence
5. A small bag of jelly sweets. Yes a common treat for a small bit of good behaviour.
6. A magazine. Yes a treat because in our country the children's magazines are rubbish, so getting a good one implies a visitor bringing it from England!

All treats except swimming. New book is a treat rather than a library one.

That's not to say they shouldn't have them all per se. Just that they would be considered treats

Everything is a treat unless the swimming is lessons.
I do buy myself a magazine every week or so though.

Inverted snobbery to have a go at families that don’t want to go to McDonalds. Everyone can go where they like but McDonald's food is just food. I guess people on here associate McDonald's with the destruction of the rainforests in Brazil. Their burgers are made with British beef. Not that I particularly like McDonald's food.

The kids menu at mcdonalds is currently :

Veggie Dippers
Hamburger
Fish Fingers
Chicken McNuggets
Cheeseburger
Crispy Chicken Wrap
Grilled Chicken Wrap

Then you can add fries, fruit, carrot sticks or salad.

People who's kids don't like mcdonalds must have pretty fussy kids if there's nothing there they'll eat.

I wouldn’t say every weekend is like that for me, but I also wouldn’t balk at all of those things in one weekend. None of them are huge or vastly expensive, they are little treats and I wouldn’t be too concerned about “rationing” them.

I guess it also depends on how many children you have whether it is considered a treat. For my one child all of those things would come to less than £25, whereas if you are a two parent family with 2+ children then it could cost £50 - £100 so would then become a treat.

DD also doesn't get pocket money, so for families that give pocket money their child could buy the book/magazine from that.

None of them seem very treatlike to me.

Especially McDonalds. Not sure how unpleasant-smelling 'food' hastily thrown together and presented in a cardboard box could be considered a treat.

Now, a complex, carefully prepared and beautifully presented meal is a different story.

This angst about McDonald's is middle class snobbery

What is 'this angst'? Pointing out that McDonalds tastes crap isn't 'angst.'

If someone said 'liking McDonalds is working-class stupidity,' there'd rightly be outrage.

Because, let's face it, judging people based on food choices - in either direction - is a bit bloody dim.

@crustycrab do not actually home made then, merely constructed. In that case yes, it does make sense but McDonald’s would never be healthier than a normal home cool meal.

People who's kids don't like mcdonalds must have pretty fussy kids if there's nothing there they'll eat.

to be fair, not every child is raised on a diet of chicken nuggets and fish fingers. Hard to believe when you see the "children" menus in so many pubs and restaurants, but I do know a few kids who only like the toy and hardy ever touch the actual food.

So what, I also know a couple who don't eat chocolate.

This angst about McDonald's is middle class snobbery

It's not snobbery, DS enjoys bits of other takeaways, but MC Ds is pretty rank, not sure how it's middle class that a child doesn't enjoy the taste of the salt fest.

I’m not seeing much (if any) ‘angst’.

More rejection.

We are lucky in that we’ve lots of better options. I’d never chose to go there.

not sure how it's middle class that a child doesn't enjoy the taste of the salt fest. Superior taste buds that only middle class children possess?

People who's kids don't like mcdonalds must have pretty fussy kids if there's nothing there they'll eat.
nope, they just don’t like mushy food.
both fish fingers and chicken nuggets are processed, shredded meat on the inside, with a my shy texture. the burger buns are mushy as well, which leaves you with the wraps. they would eat thd wraps, but wouldn’t enjoy them.
give mine breaded chicken breast or fish fillet and wedges, and they are fine. they just like texture in their food, and macdonalds has none

Oysterbabe

Veggie dippers are revolting; not everyone eats meat. Yes, lots of kids like McDonalds but there are plenty who don't. I don't give a shit if people want to buy McDonalds, why would anyone care that mine like bagel joint better (got to love living in an area with a large Jewish population - plenty of bagel places!)

If you have access to it and like it better, wtf is wrong with choosing fast food other than McDonalds for your kids?

Confession - I remember my brother laughing at me when my 2.5 year old asked what the big yellow sign was, but pointed to Oddbins and said "That's Oddbins, my mummy loves them!" Peak bourgeois parenting by me. (he's a beer-drinking rural carnivore, I'm a wine drinking urban veggie so our kids knew VERY different stuff as toddlers)

1, 2, 5 and 6 in this house would be considered a treat.

Swimming I consider a life skill and even if it's a waterpark place still not a treat - but the sweets/meal/snack after might be depending on when and where I buy it.
A new book is a gift usually not a treat.

the parents who proudly boast their kids have never had McDonald's get on my nerves.

derxa Can you explain how you've managed to surmise that the posters who don't like McDonalds are automatically 'middle class'? So just the 'working classes' enjoy a McD then? Ffs

You're attributing liking or loathing a chicken nugget to some half-arsed class construct. Brilliant.

the parents who proudly boast their kids have never had McDonald's get on my nerves.

I’m one of the posters who said my children have never had it. I didn’t announce it proudly or boastfully It was stated as part of my reply to the OP who specifically asked about McDonalds as part of her question.

I think those who are annoyed by the reply need to take that chip (pardon the pun) off your shoulders.

1. Last ate McD in 2004. I would have to be really in extremis to eat another one.
2. Soft play did not exist when my children were small. I do not fancy the idea of sharing germs etc. in that way.
3. Swimming I go 3 to 5 times a week. I would love to have my own pool.
4. A new book - I am a bookworm, often buy 2 or 3 a week. Love the Kindle app, especially for holidays, no ore carting around 20 odd paperbacks in my suitcase.
5. A small bag of jelly sweets never held any thrall.
6. A magazine, I used to like them, but they are all really downmarket these days and (badly) written like soundbites. Nothing thought-provoking any more.