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?

I think it does depend to an extent to whether she will love it, or if she just thinks she will. I don't think xmas is the time for an i-told-you-so lesson, and there has been some shite i have refused to buy because it would be disappointing and a total waste.

But generally, I would buy what is asked for, if it will be used.

Yeah same in my house. I remember when Tarquin was three days old he took my teat out of his mouth and said "Mummy, I simply must insist you purchase a complete set of encyclopedia Britannica for my first Christmas. Of course he's seven now and wants a Jacob Rees-Mogg action figure. They grow up so quickly.

Buy her what she wants, otherwise you’ll have spent a big chunk of money on stuff that just won’t get used. Ignore the worthies whose children have never seen plastic. They’ll learn.

My child is 4 and has told me he wants a squishmallow for Christmas. I don't really like them but I'm a bit relieved that he's moved on from making up toys in his head that don't exist, and then insisting that they do exist because 'Santa can make everything' like he did when he was 3. I assume he's heard about them from his friends at nursery.

I am another parent who says 'let's put that on your Christmas list' whenever DS asks for something, so we've been talking about Christmas for months already. I might start actually writing down some of the things at this point.

My mum apologised for never buying me the Tiny Tears I begged for, then asked if I would like one now. I declined. I was 37 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

When DD wants something in a shop, we usually do the whole ‘take a photo to send to Santa to remind him what she would like’ thing. Which has then turned into “mummy can we tell Santa that I would like one of these for Christmas?” at the adverts on Milkshake in the morning or from things she’s seen on YouTube.

Yes, DD does have about an hour of screen time per day and often chooses to watch YouTube. I’m a SAHM and don’t think I’d get much done without it!

But her what she'd like. Whilst you call it tat it can be educational too. Buttons for money, play shops with the things she likes, imaginative games- toys dont need to be marked as "educational" for her to get something from it.

From TV adverts, YouTube, toy aisles and friend’s houses.

Barbies are great. My 9 year old still loves hers and has just had one for her birthday. We have loads of them!

kids don’t need loads of stuff for Christmas - just buy her a few things that she will like and then get her some books/pjs/chocolate etc

I would say DD is quite mature for her age. I’m a SAHM and she has less interaction with other children her age than most. We do a couple of toddler groups per week but we also see a lot of children that are 5/6 and DD much prefers to play with older children.

It’s clear from your post you are planning to buy her all that tat. You don’t need anyone’s permission.

Yes, exactly this! DD would also love the things you’ve mentioned.

How is it clear that I plan to buy it?!

As someone with young adult children I would say that there will only be one Christmas with your daughter at age 3. So buy her all the glittery pink plastic tat you can afford and you all have a bloody great Christmas.

My niece has asked for two things for Christmas. Labubus and the same skincare I use.

you can bet she’ll be getting it. Life is too short to not do it

Be careful, your pearl necklace might get tangled in your judgy pants.
One child's tat, is another child's treasure.

I agree with some of you here - stuff she’ll play with an appreciate is far better than the loveliest Montessori toy she won’t look twice at, but at 3 she won’t know the difference beteeen brand new plastic tat from the supermarket and a pile of cute things from charity shop/vinted. Now mine are 7 and 5 and we talk all the time about how much damage is caused by plastic and they’re happy to source things they really want second hand - those core memories and learning are what will impact her the most long term

This is exactly how DD plays with her ‘tat’.

She’s great at imagining scenarios and acting them out with all of her mini dolls, Barbie’s and toy animals. She has no interest in puzzles past 5 minutes, but will spend hours with her dolls house and assortment of tiny random items that she’s acquired!

Could you drop the Amazon link to your perfect parenting book in please? We can all buy it then.

Get some tat from the charity shop. That way you won't feel bad if she looses interest by Easter

It’s clear both from the way that you have framed the question and the fact that she is familiar with all the stuff at the age. It also appears from the post that she already has that kind of stuff because you say she loves playing with it. I think you already know what you plan to do. And that’s fine.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Seems like most think the ‘tat’ is fine! And I do agree that Barbie’s aren’t tat, they just seem less educational for a 3 YO than say puzzles, board games etc. but I guess they aren’t when you consider the role play they do with them.

A few posters have pointed out that their children of a similar age would have no idea what Barbie/Gabby’s Dollhouse etc is… and that’s fine. My DD would unfortunately have no interest in Montessori type toys that some other kids her ahe prefer and just gravitates towards all of this stuff instead when she sees it.

DD will be waking up to lots of pink plastic on Christmas Day with no guilt from me then!

I hand whittle my children’s toys from sustainably sourced driftwood. I would never expose them to the horrors of plastic tat. Unless you want your child to fail in life, YABU to even contemplate it.

Oh dear @coravantexelthere’s always one 🙄 if only you knew better and grew your own organic driftwood like I do then your children would be as amazing as mine

Why not get her a doll house so she can do imaginative play with all the 'tat' toys? It all becomes educational in that context. Makes all the little things come together and gives you somewhere to put all the little bits of plastic clutter!