To HATE getting my kids getting given plastic tat for presents?

[Oops41]

Of course, for birthdays and Christmas people give presents (which is so lovely and kind and thoughtful of course) but I HATE it when they unwrap it and it's a piece of cheap plastic tat from Amazon. Inevitably they are poorly made, last one play, end up in the bin this creating more landfill. I thought I would avoid plastic crap this year with the children not having parties but some friends and family members have still been really kind and given presents despite this lovely kindness, I'm always really pissed off when they open it and its some cheap nasty plastic toy. I dont mean that I want them to spend more on them, they needed get presents at all, but in honesty a handmade card, a book, some sweets would be so much better. The children are always excited to receive presents and generally tear then open, get the toy out and it never lasts. They're not massively interested or it breaks very soon. Gaaaaaaah!
Does anyone else get really pissed off with this or am I a miserable old bag? Its seen rude to request certain gifts but honestly it would reduce so much wastage and landfill!

Not sure what Amazon has to do with it, you can find most brands on them and private sellers from anywhere, so there's no more "tat" on there than anywhere else

Well, YANBU not to enjoy the waste but there's not much you can do about it unless people ask you for your wish list.

You are over-reacting a bit though. You could buy chocolate or a book to someone and that would end up in the bin too, packaging included, so it's not worth stressing about it.

Just think it makes your kids happy

That should say they need not get presents at all

I find it very annoying when someone (in laws) buy a bag full of plastic tat for the kids that break after one play. It would be better if they bought one very good not rubbish gift as opposed to lots of bits of shit.

And when I say lots of bits of shit, it’s one of those huge Xmas gift bags you get from Clinton’s, almost the size of me full of absolute rubbish. For both children. So two huge bags of shit.

They like quantity over quality.

The amount spent on plastic tat is terrible.

Yanbu for caring about the environment/waste etc

Yabu for being so over the top

I mean, it sucks but you can just quietly chuck it. Some people just really love buying tat and will take offence if you tell them to stop. They'll accuse you of being a 'snob' or a 'bore' if you ask for books. Believe me, we have tat-lovers in the family who think books are 'boring' and you get nothing but a lecture if you give ideas.

How am I being over the top? 🤣

If it's your In-laws, why don't your partner tell their own parents! It's easy to say that your kids are desperate for xyz - something cheap and sensible and put a limit on the waste that way.

You deal with your parents, partner deals with theirs, and everybody should be happy.

If it's more random people, you can't really do much.

YANBU

I hate the waste

It’s not a good lesson for children either

I agree with a book being far better than any bit of tat

@TheSilentStars

I find it annoying when grabby parents slag off the presents that someone has bothered to get their children. Hopefully the apple has fallen a long way from the tree and your children are kinder and less unpleasant than you.

Yep

I find it annoying when grabby parents slag off the presents

as much as the OP is over-the-top, It's hardly grabby to prefer a £5 decent book or toy than £25 wasted on tat going for the bin! Even a magazine is better than £ shop toys.

Surely plastic is ideal for toys to be made from? It's bright and so engages interest which is important developmentally, it's durable, easy to clean ... I've always given any that my kids have grown out of to charity shops, and also bought loads from there. I wouldn't fancy a second hand soft toy but second hand plastic toys are great. Not sure my kids would choose a handmade card over a nerf gun but each to their own. Mine like bright, shiny, noisy things. I agree it's not exactly aesthetically pleasing but then few things to do with kids are.

Yep.. yabu..

I discovered lots of different interests my ds had from gifts off others..

I am grateful but = not greatful

Just because somethings isn’t plastic doesn’t mean it has to be boring or bland and not brightly coloured

@Duanphen that's the whole point, I dont want to be chucking a load of plastic crap. That's the part that annoys me.

I don't think decent Ikea toys, Fisher Price, Lego, Duplo, playmobil constitute "plastic tat".

Kinder surprise that end up in the bin on the day on the other hand...

Oh, and YABU anyway to be cross about people giving gifts to your children, presumably with money they've gone out to work and earned and have chosen to use it on buying items that they hope will make your children happy.

No child wants a beautiful handmade card

I hate it too although I’d never say anything. Thankfully my family are mindful of this and generally buy decent presents. My Grandad and Great-Aunt are fond of wooden toys and books which is fantastic and right up our street. Mum tends to buy useful things like clothes, electric toothbrushes and always books too.

My IL’s, on the other hand, are all for the plastic tat. The tackier the better with MIL in particular. She usually turns up on Christmas morning dressed as Mrs Claus with big sacks full of presents and they almost always miss the Mark. She buys all of it from the charity shop and some of it is actually broken and dirty. It’s like the just buys the first things she sees sometimes in all honesty. I’d rather she bought nothing at all.

My kids have PLENTY of plastic toys but the way. Most plastic toys are durable, they last being played with, provide plenty of learning opportunities and when out grown can be passed on to other children. I'm talking about cheap plastic toys that are NOT durable, will not last and break easily and therefore create landfill

How am I being over the top?🤣

Why start a thread asking if you're being unreasonable, if you're just going to laugh at anyone who suggests that you are? Maybe your distaste at these presents is purely based on environmental concerns, but I somehow doubt it. Sounds more like preciousness and snobbery tbh.

I’m with you op

Honestly if you’d posted this on a Monday during a north westerly breeze you would have very different responses..Mn can be a head fuck

@OkPedro

I’m with you op

Honestly if you’d posted this on a Monday during a north westerly breeze you would have very different responses..Mn can be a head fuck

This is so true