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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How often do you buy toys/books for your dcs?

21 replies

FranMay · 14/02/2008 20:56

Maybe the wrong section for this question but am interested to know how often everyone gets toys etc. for their little ones? I seem to get something for my ds1 (3.8) almost every week. It's not anything big, more extras to go with what he's got already - maybe a ball or some plasticine or a book. It's not that I want to spoil him, more because spending time with him/watching him play, I'm always thinking of other toys/books that would enhance what he's doing!! But is this spoiling him? Do others wait for birthdays/Christmas etc. I am not particularly wealthy btw!!!

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laura032004 · 14/02/2008 21:01

I'm just the same as you. The presents aren't necc expensive, and are often 2nd hand one way or another, but they love them just the same

WallOfSilence · 14/02/2008 21:03

Birthdays & Christmas.

It's the only time I ever get gifts, why should they be any different!

ja9 · 14/02/2008 21:07

i'm like you franmay - often buy ds things. not because he asks for them but because i think he would love it... not expensive things either - from sec hand shop or cheapo things (book people at work etc)

remember vividly my mum branding children as 'spoilt' and occasionally wonder if ds would fall into that category for her

tassisssss · 14/02/2008 21:10

as well as christmas and birthdays we do holidays which we like to spread nicely through the year!

otherwise very rarely...do feel he has heaps. i wouldn't feel guilty if there was something i felt either of them could do with and it was ages to a birthday.

Thomcat · 14/02/2008 21:12

Just whenever really.

Will buy a book when i hear of one I like the sound of or am bored with our bedtime reading material or have time to kill and am in local town as it has a fab children's book shop.

Toy - when the fancy takes me, when I sewe something they will like etc

saometimes they y
get a new something 3 times a week, sometimes nothing for 3 weeks etc.

DiscoDizzy · 14/02/2008 21:12

I buy DD2 a comic when I go shopping, every couple of weeks or so. DD1 (nearly 5) gets £1.00 per week and DD2 (nearly 3) gets 50p per week. Every so often we go to the shop and they buy something within their budget. TBH I went through a phase of buying them something every week however little but it started to get a little out of hand and I realised I wasn't necessarily buying it for DD's benefits but more for my own self gratification. I get just as much gratification now but they save to buy their own toys etc.

abigaillockhart · 14/02/2008 21:12

I used to worry about this as I do the same. Now I sometimes make a point of letting DS (3.5) look at the toys in the supermarket but then tell him that he can't have anything today.

I also try to get him to choose presents for his friend's birthdays. He always asks for something but accepts when he doesn't get.

He's so excited and grateful when I do give him special pressies - no matter how small!

PotPourri · 14/02/2008 21:14

I buy them lots of crafts stuff. And during summer we go to a car boot every week so they end up with something. If it is anything good (we get tonnes of fab stuff - wooden toys and real quality bits) then I get them to buy it with their own money. Otherwise I buy it, they play with it a few days and I put it in to charity. Only spending less than a pound normally.

But the crafts stuff I think is different, and books. They are educational. My kids LOVE books and making things, and I really think the access to good stuff is the reason for that.

I do try and put away bigger things that I come across for birthdays and xmas.

nancy75 · 14/02/2008 21:14

same a you franmay, if i see something i think dd will love i get it for her, and i dont think you can ever have too many books.

mollymawk · 14/02/2008 21:16

I am a mean mummy and try not to buy anything except at Bday and Xmas. I figure books I don't need to buy anyway as we can get them from the library! We get magazines/comics though.

Psychomum5 · 14/02/2008 21:17

well........

big toys are xmas or birthday only, but I do treat them to small things when ut occasionally and I am feeling soft indulgent.

only normally something like marbles or a pot of bubbles.....or even sticker books and packs of stickers.

I treat myself to a mag or two at least once a month, if not weekly if feeling rich, so rather than buy then rip-off comics, I will buy them a small toy.......much better value for money IMO.

HOWEVER........new books and clothes are a neccessity (sp?) at least monthly (well, I say that, but it isn't each and every child that is monthly........normally a child per month seeing as I have the 5).

VanillaPumpkin · 14/02/2008 21:18

Toys are generally birthdays and Christmasses only. Books usually saved for birthdays, but sometimes given for being wonderful . Crafty stuff is bought when we run out or for Easter/ Christmas etc as it keeps me sane doing something together. I would never let them be without a colouring book and crayons for my own sanity.

mollymawk · 14/02/2008 21:19

Have seen PotPourri's post now and have remembered crafty stuff - coloured paper etc. We buy that whenever we run out. So hurrah, I am not that mean after all.
Mind you, DS1's favourite things to make stuff from are old cereal boxes and empty yoghurt pots etc. Maybe he has a Blue Peter gene.

PotPourri · 14/02/2008 21:19

We use the library too, as well as having millions of good books at home (I put any that aren't fab into charity). The kids get as excited about library books as ones they can keep - but I think that is because of the variety. They really do have alot of books, and read them all.

VanillaPumpkin · 14/02/2008 21:20

Oh and if we have a holiday outing like to the zoo or sea life centre etc they are allowed to choose something cheap from the souvenir shop.

janeite · 14/02/2008 21:22

WE buy craft stuff as needed and books when we see something one of them would really like. I don't see either of these as "presents" in particular - craft stuff runs out and needs replacing and books are as necessary as food in this household (although we do use the library a lot too).

I think that so long as a child isn't getting plastic tat all the time, regardless of occasion/behaviour/whaetever, he/she is not being spoiled; just loved!

janeite · 14/02/2008 21:31

Sorry for aggressive looking capitals - was an accident!

Clary · 14/02/2008 21:47

I usually only buy at b/day and christmas. We are lucky that b/days are spread out. If I see sthg they will like in August it's a Chrissie pressie

That said, I have been giving DD the Rainbow Magic books I have/she wants on a fairly regular basis for not sucking thumb.

And DS1 and 2 get Match Attax about twice a week. Does that count? Don't buy toys really - maybe a book as a treat for summer holiday or similar.

We have lots and lots and lots of books.

Dropdeadfred · 14/02/2008 21:53

My DP buys dd a Thomas the tank engine train every week. I buy her stuff whenever I feel like it or see something that she would like...

Original poster

FranMay · 14/02/2008 22:33

Thanks - that is all very interesting and reassuring. We do get a lot of stuff from Oxfam and Oxfam books and various charity toy sales. And avoid plastic tat!! The library is also brilliant, we go to 3 different ones and a toy library! Actually, I guess I should appreciate that ds at 3 is not cynical about anything yet, everything he gets pleases him no end. Think I'm addicted to his reaction really! (Hmm, just remembered that last week we bought him a bike, do feel a bit guilty about that one. But the justification there was that he needs to learn how to pedal and we had loads of argos vouchers, so it cost me £3.51!!)

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Acinonyx · 14/02/2008 23:02

Very similar here - small things (comic, craft stuff) weekly, larger toys/books probably every month. I get a lot secondhand too. I saved a lot of stuff up for last Xmas and think that was a mistake - I'd rather Xmas was smaller and other things spreadout. I don't want Xmas and bdays to be a monster present extravaganza. Also means you can keep up with their interests which really change fast.

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