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?

Theschoolonthehill- no I was not referring to you, I was talking about parents in rl. But if the chip on my shoulder is a mcdonalds chip, I'm eating it. Yummy 😋

McDonald’s rarely happens in this household so I’d say it’s a rare ‘treat’, if you wanna call it that.

Sweets are definitely a treat, not something I’d even dream of giving them every day.

A magazine and book- meh, I buy them books a lot.

Softplay is just Hell, I don’t think anyone considers that a treat .

Swimming is a fairly normal activity.

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

If it makes you feel better we don't know if they go to other restaurants like KFC, Pizza Express or the chip shop.

My DD wouldn't see McD's as a treat. She hates it.

Swimming isn't a treat it's a life skill.
A new book would be a treat, getting a book from the library-not a treat.
Soft play- a treat
Sweets and magazine a treat.

When I was a child I liked MacDonald's (and it was a rare treat) precisely because the food was unhealthy and full of all kinds of crap!

If it's all low-salt nuggests and carrot sticks, of course it's not a treat!

I don't understand people who see junk food as a 'treat' rather than what it is - junk. To me it's no different than eating the contents of a bin. Ew.

cavabiensepasser

Junk food is hardly the contents of a bin. It's not nutritionally the best food in the world, no, but really?

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

Or vegetarian DC who doesn't like 'Veggie Dippers'?

This thread is MN batshittery at its absolute best, its really very amusing

Batshit indeed judgey parenting. Do what you do and leave others alone.

Contents of a bin

I always buy my dc books when they want them.

A magazine might be a weekly/fortnightly treat.

I'm easy going with regards to sweets.

Swimming is a standard activity as is soft play.

McDonalds would be maybe a fortnightly treat or when I'm ill or we've had an extremely busy day.

I'd say all those things in one weekend would be potentially a little too much.

Of course it's snobbery about McDonalds.

If the OP had instead said a cafe lunch, sandwiches and crisps from M&S, milkshakes or even chicken katsu curry at a naice Japanese independent, all of which could be equally unhealthy, do you really think so many people would have been falling over themselves to say that they would only have a treaty lunch of food that they enjoy, which presumably the OPs DS does, but contains more fat, salt or sugar than is healthy, if it was the last food on earth or compare it to eating the contents of a bin?

I think not.

Of course it's snobbery about McDonalds

No, it's not. Saying 'McDonalds tastes crap' isn't being a snob. I loathe the stuff. I'm not a snob.

Why so quick to judge?

I don't like McDonalds food either, my teenagers do, although they prefer Nando's - also crap. But I also won't buy triple cooked chips which lots of posher places serve. Incredibly unhealthy.

I think swimming and new books should be part of everyday life, not a treat. But obviously, they're not something that most of us could afford every day or week.

And McDonald's... never. Revolting place.

I'd say the magazine a treat rest normal regular things x

Swimming is a treat if it’s not a lesson. The rest of the stuff on the list is a treat in my household.

I'm amazed, what child doesn't like McDonald's?!!!!

Bloody hell those who buy a child a book whenever they want one must have loads of space and money. I have one DC who is a book worm. We have loads of books. But she would happily get me to buy a book every day, and would read them too. Instead we use the library and buy books sometimes.

Bloody hell those who buy a child a book whenever they want one must have loads of space and money

Or a child who isn't a bookworm?

Yes true Easy to buy them a book whenever they want if they ask for one twice a year. But there was an implication in some comments that you are a terrible parent if you don't buy a book for a child whenever they ask for one.

Bloody hell those who buy a child a book whenever they want one must have loads of space and money

I don't have loads of money! I often look on ebay for books my dc have asked me for and get them second hand in good condition.

My DS is still a baby but I’ll try to answer from my POV for when he’s a bit older!

1. McDonald's : month or so as a weekend treat
2. Soft play: same as Mc Donalds
3. Swimming: depends, but every fortnight is good I think. It’s exercise plus good practice.
4. A new book : every month
5. A small bag of jelly sweets: daily
6. A magazine : weekly

If you can afford it, I don't see the issue in all of that at a weekend, maybe not every weekend.

Personally we didn't have much spare cash when DC were young so tended to go to soft play occasionally during the week with friends, but we prioritised weekly swimming lessons. Books from the library, magazines very rarely, sweets yes. Meal out very occasionally or a takeaway if we could afford it.