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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be disturbed by the experience of running the kids tombola?

19 replies

Smithagain · 08/12/2007 21:06

At the school Christmas fair (today) my job was running the children's tombola. It was my first Christmas fair and tbh I was a bit vague about what a tombola actually consisted of!

Now that I'm in the know, I found the whole thing a bit disturbing. Some very little kids spending heaps of cash gambling for assorted dodgy unwanted toys. And coming back and back and back for more when they didn't win. And then looking completely gutted when the won the "wrong" toy. And a couple of adults who spent several pounds trying to get a particular prize that they could have got in a charity shop for a couple of quid. And honestly didn't look as if they could afford to be chucking money away.

I know it's all in a good cause and all that, but I could see the gleam of "next time I'll win" in their eyes. And the odds of winning were rubbish. And they would have been SOOOO much better spending the money on one of the stalls that was actually selling stuff worth having.

Is it a good idea to teach our children to gamble before they even leave primary school?

I was a big softy and quietly gave one lad a prize after he had had about 20 goes without winning anything. Maybe I shouldn't have, so that he learned that gambling doesn't pay But I decided to teach him that there are nice people in the world, instead

OP posts:

ChEscapeRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 08/12/2007 21:11

you are describing me aged about 7.
I have not acquired bad adult gambling habits as a result of my school fair tombola fetish

CodRestYeMerryGentelmen · 08/12/2007 21:12

yes ds1 learned a GOOD lesson abotu gambling at ours

pinetreedog · 08/12/2007 21:16

I still love a tombola. That's as far as my gambling has ever gone

Doodledootoo · 08/12/2007 21:18

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Smithagain · 08/12/2007 21:23

THAT is a very good idead, Doodldootoo. And I'm going to suggest it.

And now I really am going to log off.

OP posts:

Original poster

Smithagain · 08/12/2007 21:23

"idea" Gah!

OP posts:

Nightynight · 08/12/2007 21:25

hmm have to admit I too was a compulsive gambler as a child.
Gambling is a very effective form of fundraising.

pigleto · 08/12/2007 21:37

I prefer a hook a duck when it comes to gambling as I feel there is a certain amount of skill to picking the right one.

It is an important lesson for children to learn that gambling is for mugs.

WendyWeber · 08/12/2007 21:41

2 of my kids were obsessive tombola gamblers. I felt that

a) it stopped them spending the money on sweets and pop instead

b) it taught them a valuable lesson about life, luck etc.

(Mind you they weren't bothered what they won - anything was OK - it was the winning that mattered. Not sure if that's good news or not )

PortAndLemonaid · 08/12/2007 21:45

I won a small pot of honey in a tombola when I was five. I was sooooooooooooo happy.

MrsWeasleysmagicmincepies · 08/12/2007 21:46

I did the tombola at ours last year and it was manic, I did a game this year and no-one left my stall a loser Tis the season......

Desiderata · 08/12/2007 21:49

Oh, don't be so precious. It's called fun, honestly

Kids grow up and learn their lessons soon enough. The sheer majesty of winning a prize on the Tombola far outways the disappointment.

WestCountryLass · 08/12/2007 21:50

Maybe you could suggest that the tombolo is for food items, toiletries and wine etc and that the toys and books are sold off as toy sale items on a seperate stall at affordable prices?

MrsWeasleysmagicmincepies · 08/12/2007 21:57

we always do a childrens and a seperate adults tombola.

We used to use raffle tickets but now do it with 2 packs of playing cards, this is great for softies like me as we can swap prizes around if someone is trying for something specific. Tis the season.......

Doodledootoo · 08/12/2007 22:07

Message withdrawn

EricScrooge · 08/12/2007 22:11

It's not really an introduction to the seedy underbelly of big gambling business is it?

it's just a bit of fun to raise money.

I think you need to get out a little more.

JoyeuxNoelBiggy · 08/12/2007 22:13

We have the children's tombola as a prize everytime, while the other (prizes mainly groceries and bric-a-brac), well most get a prize if they're buying 5 for a £1.

nooka · 08/12/2007 22:24

My two find the gambling type stalls irresistable. ds will go on and on and on until his money is all gone, but not get too upset. dd will set her heart on soemthing and get very upset when she doesn't get it. I don't really mind, I guess. I always tell them that they won't win, but it makes for less stuff to carry home! Luckily it seems to be a primary only thing, so I recon by the time they have money of their own to waste they will have lost the bug (I hope!)

Original poster

Smithagain · 09/12/2007 13:39

OK, I admit it. 'Tis more or less harmless fun, they all grow out of it, and I need to get out more.

It has only just occured to me that I was never allowed to try the tombola at fairs when I was a kid. Maybe I have inherited an aversion to gambling from my mother!

Will keep my head down and volunteer for the cake stall next time. At least everyone goes away happy.

OP posts:

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