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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Lego is a good Christmas present?

56 replies

MarioandLuigi · 17/12/2009 13:27

MIL phoned yesterday and asked what DS would like for Christmas, I said I would think about it, I asked DS and he showed me some more Lego he would like (He is a Lego Nut and I dont have a problem with it)

MIL rings back this morning and I tell her what DS has asked for, her exact words were 'Oh Lego, its not very educational is it, maybe I will get him some books instead'

I then replied back that DS would like them and would now kind of be expecting them, to which she replied that I should buy them if I wanted to buy presents like that.

She said it in such a sneery tone, anyne would think I was asking for crack.

I know lego isnt as educational as a book, but I do think it helps certain skills, like following instructions and imagination etc.

AIBU?

OP posts:
ShepherdsWashedTheirLocks · 17/12/2009 14:22

Tis marvellous stuff...until you stand on it with no shoes on.

My 2 are getting some from Santa, and I'm getting some firm soled slippers.

NotAnotherNewNappy · 17/12/2009 14:24

MILIBU

ShepherdsWashedTheirLocks · 17/12/2009 14:24

think a stupendous box of leg sounds most excellent, Acinonyx.

Can I have some long slim ones, please?

Heqet · 17/12/2009 14:25

Oh god yes! My kids have learned a few words that way!

And go-gos - have you ever stood on one of those shitty little crappy plastic bastards?

(I hate go-gos)

MumNWLondon · 17/12/2009 14:26

What a ridicolous thing to say - ie that Lego is not educational! If you already have a lot of books, some lego would probably be more educational that yet another book.

If she had such strong opinions she shouldn't have asked, just bought the books anyway.

Leave it now, but perhaps yet your DH to speak to her to say that its not fair to ask a child what they want unless you are happy to buy whatever it is educational or not... and if she has such strong opinions she shouldn't ask.

Original poster
MarioandLuigi · 17/12/2009 14:29

Thanks everyone.

Go-go's are little bastards if you stand on them, I agree - but nothing is bad as standing on a Die-cast Thomas engine in the dark barefoot - the funnel punctured my foot and there was blood everywhere.

OP posts:
MrsSantaChemist · 17/12/2009 14:35

For my 20th birthday, I asked my parents for lego hogwarts castle

They couldn't get it in the end, so I got the lego hogwarts tower instead. Still awesome.

I don't think I'll ever grow out of playing with lego.

Tinuviel · 17/12/2009 14:35

DCs (aged 12, 9 and 8) are all getting Lego for Christmas. I am looking forward to playing with it myself. It helps DS1 massively with fine motor skills.

They will also get loads of books - I bought a new bookcase in preparation although it's quite full already!

hormonalmum · 17/12/2009 14:38

How silly is that comment! Not educational. Your mil, sounds similar to my mil.

Your bedding comment made me laugh too as a few years ago we asked for money towards dd's room (we were moving in the April, so didn't want to store it and were unsure of theme etc at that stage) and instead of giving money and a token gift as I expected, dd got an expensive teddy bear bedding set; and we could not afford to buy anything else out of that range!! It went back to the shop.

My mil asks what we want (in particular me and dd) and then gets something else. Wouldnt do that to dh and ds, but thats another matter!
Having read your post I may continue to do as I have done this year and go with her to buy them and at least I know my children will get something they may at least enjoy.

Is going with her an option? Alternatively, continue to ask for lego - birthdays etc and
get dh to tell her ds was little disappointed.

hollyroger · 17/12/2009 14:38

my ds's are 12 ad 9. All they ever want for birthdays and xmas is lego. Sigh. I am hoping they can build me a nice extension soon, to house all the bloody stuff.

Hulababy · 17/12/2009 14:49

lol at not educational!

We have lots of lego, as well as other constructiion stuff, in our Y1 classroom. The children love it and it is used in so many ways, and fits into the curriculum in many areas.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 17/12/2009 14:52

YANBU

We are drowning in a sea of Lego, but I think it's great. My all time favourite toy. Best of all it's virtually indestructible.

It's good for co-ordination, imagination, patience. Some of the things my ds's build blow me away, they are so imaginative and creative.

The ds's are 7 and 5 and they read the lego catalogue like it's a book. DS2 has the Lego Star Wars Dictionary which he takes to bed every night

StrictlyKatty · 17/12/2009 14:52

My DH loves Lego (still) and has become an engineer in the army... He says it taught him to follow plans from a young age so I would massively disagree if your MIL is saying it's not educational

GrimmaTheNome · 17/12/2009 14:58

Lego is way more educational for an 8 year old than Each Peach Pear Plum! And more educational than many age-appropriate fiction books too.

If she won't get the lego, would she see the educational point of some of the K'nex kits - DD really enjoyed them at that age (and beyond) - quite serious bridge building, and then we got the big set with motors and wheels which seems designed to be used in schools.

Mandy1966 · 17/12/2009 17:42

Im 43 and like to sit with my sons 11 & 8 and play with the Lego

Minshu · 17/12/2009 18:00

DP's brother and SIL have 2 DSs (7 & 10), and are both teachers. Guess what their house is full of?

They have the lego advent calendar - looking forward to seeing the finished article next week

They must have hard-soled slippers...

Tortington · 17/12/2009 18:04

its a bastard to stand on when you get up in the morning before your first brew

Jamieandhismagictorch · 17/12/2009 18:46

MILIBU (again)

Lego is the best toy EVER

Jamieandhismagictorch · 17/12/2009 18:47

Custy - too true - it hurts like a bastard when you step on it

Oblomov · 17/12/2009 19:15

Lego is a ripoff. All of a sudden, all the exciting sets, ds1(5) informs me that these consist of star wars sets or indiana jones sets are like £70 or £75. I mean, I'm sorry, but that is just too much.
What is going on ?

Oblomov · 17/12/2009 19:16

Op, MIL is a numpty.lego is very very educational. more so than just about any other toy I can think of for a 5-8 yr old - assuming your ds is.

monkeyfeathers · 17/12/2009 19:25

The star wars and Indiana jones sets are extremely expensive, but you're mostly paying for the name (and so are Lego). The sets without a film tie in are much cheaper. They're not exactly cheap, but you can get a big power miners or bionicle (etc) set for £40. A big star wars set could set you back £300!!

We have more Lego than you can imagine in this house. DS1 is getting a mid-sized power miners thing for his Christmas and he will be taking it with him to the PILs to keep him (and FIL) busy on Christmas day.

mybabywakesupsinging · 17/12/2009 22:06

ds1 and 2 (4+2) have their dad's lego from when he were a lad...they love it and spend hours building things, usually fully furnished hotels (?why) from ds1, and "roundyrounds" (no idea) from ds2.
FIL got it out their loft a few months ago and i spent most of a night washing and sorting it, now it is fine although 30 years old.
I got it out for dc as soon as ds2 could be trusted not to eat it, it is fantastic.
Looked at lego in the shops but there seems to be lots of special pieces and the dc aren't old enough to follow instructions yet to build a pre-specified design, best leaving them to get on with it, I think.

Mishy1234 · 17/12/2009 22:09

YANBU.

Lego is brilliant and imo very educational.

I love lego and think you can never have enough of it. Until I step on it with bare feet of course!

blithedance · 17/12/2009 22:11

YANBU, Lego is great.

But honestly, if you are picking a fight with your MIL at this stage what hope is there for the rest of the holiday? Getting weirdly inappropriate presents from Granny will probably be a fond memory of your DC's childhood!