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Original poster

What do you do if your child asks for something that is basically expensive plastic crap?

38 replies

SerialMom · 02/10/2010 10:09

You know what I mean - they only like it cos it looks pretty or exciting or cos their friends like it. But in reality it's overpriced crap with very little play value and you know it will be destined to end up at the bottom of the toy box for the next few years. You're loath to spend your money on it. But they really want it.

Do you buy it knowing they will be happy? Or do you buy them something that you think they'll actually play with, but risk them being a bit disappointed on Christmas day?

OP posts:
Bucharest · 02/10/2010 10:11

Hmm, difficult- if it's total tat then I tell her it's total tat. If I think she'll play with it, but it's expensive plastic shite, I look for it on ebay.

(one of her most played with toys was a pink plastic castle thing I got for 99p 2 Christmases ago, whereas I still have sealed in their plastic other things that she had last year from friends and rellies.

TheChewyToffeeMum · 02/10/2010 10:13

I wouldn't buy it. But, I say this as someone who has not yet been faced with this situation.

My Mum always refused to buy crap toys. Any Christmas morning disappointment was very quickly forgotten once I played with whatever I had been given.

kormachameleon · 02/10/2010 10:16

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HappyMummyOfOne · 02/10/2010 10:24

Theres a thread going re adults looking back at their childhood and what there parents did - not buying the overpriced Mr Frosty is a bug bear with many Smile

I agree with Korma, they are only little once and a little indulgence never hurt. Even adults treat themselves to items that fail to live upto expectations.

maryz · 02/10/2010 10:45

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Tippychoocks · 02/10/2010 10:50

Agreed, don't buy the cheaper version, it's doubly wasting money.

My DD wants that bloody awful Toffee pony, the one that looks deranged and sly. I am hoping she'll forget by then, you could spend the next few months trying to divert their affections?

BuzzingNoise · 02/10/2010 10:57

Buy it. It's for Christmas afterall!

scrappydappydoo · 02/10/2010 12:25

Well - my plan of attack with dd (4) this year is to limit comercial tv as she does the 'I want that' to everything advertised Hmm. Then occasionally bring up what she wants for christmas and if one thing consistently appears on her list then I will consider it but only if I can get a good deal.
So far this has worked she's gone off those awful choo choo dolls or whatever they're called being advertised on milkshake but has always said she wants an angelina ballerina doll so she'll get that.
Failing that I'll suggest it to relatives and leave it to them to decide :)

mumintroll · 02/10/2010 15:11

Been there, done that too many times.

Only thing I can add is this: if your child is old enough/mature enough, buying it and then having the child realise themselves it's not that great after all can be an opportunity to teach a lesson about advertising (my oldest (8) now understands that a lot of stuff is not as fabulous as the TV ads make it out to be).

zapostrophe · 02/10/2010 15:20

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girlywhirly · 02/10/2010 15:23

Shop around for a good price on the expensive toy, if you end up paying full price, cut back on the other stuff, stocking fillers etc.

I always remember my mum got me a Sindy doll one Christmas, and it must have been a 'second' because one of its legs was slightly a different shape than the other! I suspect she got it in a market somewhere.

amidaiwish · 02/10/2010 15:31

i would get it. what is plastic tat to you maybe the most loved for present ever.

my mum wouldn't buy me a mr frosty either SadGrin

fruitful · 02/10/2010 16:37

I let the kids tell my mum what they want Grin. She likes spending large amounts of money on plastic crap.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 02/10/2010 16:57

I suddeny feel quite special as i had a Mr Frosty!

Does this mean I HAVE to buy my kids their hearts desires as i had mine?? hmm, Mr frosty may well be my downfall after all.

Grin
veritythebrave · 02/10/2010 17:07

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kimbles1984 · 02/10/2010 17:10

I was just going to post saying buy it, as i remember still not getting Mr Frosty, but i see i have been beaten to it Grin

BelleDameSansMerci · 02/10/2010 17:14

scrappydappydoo thank you, thank you, thank you... My DD(3) does that too and I thought it was just her.

To answer the question, I'd buy it. I spent a lot of money on lovely wooden toys for DD. She doesn't really play with any of them. She plays with the plastic crap much more often. I don't even bother with the nice stuff now.

She has so many toys, though, that it's a wonder she can narrow down the options

bigchris · 02/10/2010 17:35

My mate at uni always wanted a mr frosty so her dp bought her one for her 18th Grin

Ripeberry · 02/10/2010 17:37

If any adverts come on TV, especially that HORRID sparkle babie, then I tell them that only RUBBISH toys are advertised as they are trying to persuade people to buy them Hmm

Tippychoocks · 02/10/2010 18:29

Ripeberry, my dd (4 this week) also parrots that adverts are people trying to sell you what you don't want. I wonder am I brainwashing her Grin?

rookiemater · 02/10/2010 18:32

Oh gosh I didn't realise that there were children other than me who never got Mr Frosty, not that I'm still bitter about it.

I tried to buy one for a friends DC one christmas but they had run out - must still be popular.

Yes I think buy it, DS used all his birthday money on a £17.99 Ben 10 watch that basically does bugger all, think he thought he would change into an alien and now he is a bit more circumspect about his choices.

HitGirlGrownUp · 02/10/2010 18:40

I had a Mr Frosty and I got my ds one as well. Actually started a thread about this about two years ago because I paid quite a lot for it on EBay and when it arrived it had a £2 price ticket on it from a Car Boot or something. Was fuming......

Still boxed up now actually, wondering about re-selling it myself as they don't actually make them anymore.

Caz10 · 02/10/2010 18:40

Slighty off topic but I got the Mr Frosty and he was utter crap Grin. Even at 8 or whatever I recognised I had been duped and was very bitter about it!

I agree with the tell other people strategy - MIL adores buying dd the freakiest most expensive dollies she can find - DD happy, MIL happy, I buy something cheaper nicer and everyone is happy!

fluffles · 02/10/2010 18:44

but surely mr frosty made proper slushies, just like from the shops? no? Hmm

IUsedToBeFab · 02/10/2010 18:48

One Christmas dd wanted the dressing table and stool from ELC and it wasn't something I wanted to buy for her but I figured it was her choice and it isn't often she actually asks for anything so I bought it. It is currently in her room, covered in stickers and she still likes it. This year she wants something at £150!