To think dd should have been "guided" as to how to spend her bookfayre money.

[muminthemiddle]

This morning gave dd £5 because she wanted to choose a book at the school book fayre. She said that the teacher had said she would definately get a book for under £5.

Agreed to this and actually expected her to come home with a book and some change.

However she came home with one small canvas floppy bag, which tbh I thought must have been a free gift, a tiny notepad and a huge poster.
When I asked her where her purse was she gave it to me and said "I still have 50p left". I said what on earth have you spent your money on and she told me the above.

I know it is a small grip but I would have expected the school to sell only books at a book fayre. If I had known she would buy what she did I wouldn't have given her the money! Honestly the bag is too small and ugly to be practical and I have no idea where to fit the huge poster lol

I just feel a bit robbed tbh.

Well teachers can't possibly know what every parent in the school would consider a sensible choice.
Nor can they know that your child is not used to handling money: lots of children of that age have their own pocket money (mine did from Yr 1) so are used to adding up money and working out if something is a bargain. My dcs certainly had a good idea of what things cost at that age. But they got that from being allowed to make their own mistakes. Didn't take them long to work out that you can buy much better quality books for the same price at Waterstones.

YAB a bit U, I think. Neither the child nor the teachers were aware of your expectations.

YABU chill out and let it go. I remember my parents giving me money for trips and bringing back absolute rubbish. Nextime dont give her any money for the bookfayre, of if you do expect it to be spent on tat, thats what kids do. I have still got my book from the booyfayre some 27 years later, a book full of jokes which will definitely be passed down to dd.

Wow loads of responses.

I did pick dd up from school but her class had already been taken to the book fayre and she had already handed over her cash. Tbh I did consider taking her back but thought I would let it go.
I don't think teachers should specifically ask children what type of book they like and stand there all day sorting through, BUT I seriously thought a book fayre and something that is marketed at children/parents as a BOOK fayre would be selling just that. Probably naive of me I know but when dd has asked for money to buy reflective bagdes for school that is exactly what she has come home with.
I will take the advice from wise mumsnetters and avoid the next one at all costs!

next time give her £5 out of her pocket money box ( if you have one , you know what I mean), let her spend her own money on what she wants , whether it is tat or good stuff. Its the only way that children will learn the value of money. Then when they complain that they have no momey to buy something they really want you can take the moral high ground and say ' well you did buy so an so which was a waste of money ' ..