To buy my 3 year old what she wants for Christmas?

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Dd3 absolutely loves playing with tat. Anything small, fiddly, plastic and pink, DD loves. She’s asked for LOL surprise dolls, Mini Little Live Pets, Barbie tat etc for Christmas.

AIBU to buy DD these kinds of gifts (which is what she enjoys and has asked for), over ‘better’ and more educational toys? Or should I be trying to steer her towards these better toys as she is only 3?

Honestly buy her the bloody Barbie’s etc, they are only little for so long - my DD loves the FP little people Barbie’s/barbie house/car/camper van, played with them nearly everyday for the last 2 years and they’ve held up, after she’s finished with them they’ll be donated to our local playgroup.

Buy her what she likes. Mumsnet thinks everything is plastic tat though.

Bit of both.

I've had to steer my son away from some presents that he "really wanted" in the past. Normally because it is things that are way too old for him, or stuff that he just wouldn't play with or use.

In this case it seems easy enough to do both. Get her a bit of what she wants, and get her something that you think is educational or useful. She is only 3, it won't be an issue.

My then 3 year old would have asked for these things from seeing them in Tesco- she would not have known the brand names, but certainly would have asked for the hamster toy (mini live pet) or the mermaid doll (barbie) or whatever - I don't think this is particularly unusual?

Edited to say - I'd suggest a mix of both, some higher quality items she might grow into and enjoy for longer, but some small things she wants, for her excitement on the day.

I have a 3 yr old and am amazed yours knows what these things are mine wouldn't have heard of them...but the heart wants what the heart wants!!!

I'd be pushing Sylvanian Families al(so many pointless yet charming accessories) and polly pocket in the run up to Xmas hoping for a change in ask but ultimately I'd be buying her what she asks santa for (id prob do a mix so the list and also put some orchard toys matching cards / games in too)

I love Polly Pocket, but it is probably too small for a child that age

Get her what she wants

All of those are great for imaginative play, which leads to learning anyway. A lot of the so called 'educational' toys are too guided.

Mine knew from shops, stop trying to be superior and judgemental.

Barbie in particular is great for a whole range of imaginative play, which frankly is something missing for a lot of primary children these days. No idea why that would be considered tat. Tat to me is stuff made for one use, like for stocking fillers, whereas I still have some Barbies from my own childhood.

All the other mums must look at you and admire what a great parent you are because your kids are playing with wood and not plastic. And you must be so proud when your kids go to school and gloat about their satsuma and wooden top! What a sense of satisfaction you must get!

Get her what she wants OP. She will really enjoy it and Santa fades out after only a short while. They have their whole lives for educational things, introduce them gradually into birthdays and Christmas gifts. Santa is magical for kids and Christmas is so much fun for them.
I can't believe it's time to think about Christmas already!

My parents would buy me the “better” stuff as a kid. I remember trying to be grateful but wishing I had the stuff I asked for. As an adult I realise that the stuff they bought me was actually more expensive and better quality but a child’s mind doesn’t work like that! Contrary to what a pp has said, I’d have Santa bring the educational stuff and have you give the stuff she wants. I read somewhere that you shouldn’t reserve the best presents for Santa to bring - why should he get all the credit after all!

Definitely get them!
My two girls never really took any interest in educational or toddler toys and have always loved Barbie, lol, shopkins! They’ve been played with every day for nearly ten years, they’ve been loved so so much! I’ll be very sad when they are outgrown as we have lovely collections now.

Oh how I miss the days of getting my kid plastic tat for Christmas! Milk it for as long as you can, you’ve years ahead for the expensive stuff she will eventually want.

what a weird reply

not very Christmassy of you

How unspeakably smug

I do know what PPs mean. Fair enough my DS is a simple creature at 3, but even with older siblings his concept of Christmas is very much still developing, he certainly wouldn’t be listing a bunch of branded toys he wanted, and I’d find it slightly jarring if he did.

I also have never once seen Barbies/LOLs at playgroups or any nursery over the 10 years mine have attended. I’m not a toy snob, my dd had a short but v enjoyable barbie phase and her fair share of plastic tat, but LOLs at 3?

Personally I’d try and find some Vinted bargains for the plastic tat, there must be so much Barbie stuff on there already in existence, then maybe get her to choose one or two favourite things a bit closer to Christmas if she really wants to choose, or if it’s something that can’t be found second hand.

I would buy it but try and get it second hand or free second hand and give it a good clean. Plastic tat is so bad for the environment.

At 3 my DC were Lego masters! My DH spent hours and hours with them building Lego/Duplo. They loved helping and following instructions to get to the finished piece.

As adults they are still into Lego. Millennium Falcon is the project for Christmas 2025.

Very expensive plastic Lego sets now!

I hate Lego 😂

I swear there are more people who were disappointed not to get Mr Frosty (me included) than those who did. And those who did were disappointed that he was a just a heap of plastic crap that didn't really work.
Mr Frosty pleased nobody, and his legacy of disillusionment lives on in all 40-somethings.

We must live in quite different worlds as my nearly six year old DD has never heard of these things and she’s been in FT nursery since 6 months old so ole ty of other kids to mingle with day in day out!

also it’s September and there has been no conversation about Christmas at all.

FWIW last year she got a plastic tat Ukulele, a screaming singing scorpion that has batteries which won’t ever die, a humongous laughing dinosaur also with batteries that won’t ever die and a giant Iggle Piggle she sleeps with.

For many types of toys, the idea that they are educational is just marketing, not reality. Play is educational, and this can be done with a lot of different toys.
However, I would aim for some variety because if she changes her style of play she may not have things to play with. At 3 I think you’d be wanting to give at least one toy with good longevity potentially.

Surprised you've not seen Barbie at a nursery. Im not sure what about them makes them tat though? Is that just for anything plastic? Most people that actually work in education know that open ended imaginative play, like Barbies or dress up, is far better for development that games and toys labelling themselves 'educational'.

There really are some sanctimonious pricks in the world.

She’s 3 - buy her the fun stuff.

My daughter loved those things when she was younger and is a well-adjusted, bright lovely thing despite “being exposed” to lol dolls and Barbies 😱😱

If she’s playing then she’s learning, regardless of the perceived educational quality of the toys. Imaginary play develops her creative skills and lets her practice language; manipulating tiny objects supports fine motor development; spending ages engaged with toys develops concentration and attention etc. Plus it brings joy to her life and finding joy in simple things is a skill well learnt.