What NOT to buy

[feelingfairlyfestive]

We have had lots of very useful threads suggesting some lovely presents for our loved ones. After stumbling across this, I was inspired to start a "What NOT to buy" thread to share the crap not so lovely present ideas.

Baby Annabel grew up and developed an eating disorder

ooo ds loves moonsand.
it's only thing that he engages with for very long periods of time.
we have the construction set which he plays with his diggers and dumper trucks.

Oh, DD loves moonsand - it's me that thinks it would be quicker and easier just to hoover it straight out of the packet.

I loathe lego. It takes an eternity to build, then a nanosecond to break, then guess who has to put it together again....?

I'll also second go-go hamsters. I fell into that trap last year as well....

And transformers!!! Who on earth can build them without them breaking into little plastic pieces in your hand? (ponders why in a moment of temporary insanity I have bought them yet more transformers for a present this year).

Tooth fairy game; utter crap in a huge box with really naff contents.

We DS (7) loves Lego so he keeps getting more.

Playdoh/ plasticine is a real bugger to get out of carpets (although not as bad as moonsand I'm told).

My DH actually seriously fell out with his brother over a crap toy - do not buy FUNKY FELT (fuzzy felt byal means but not it's cheap imitation) - It can seriously damage the health of your relationships!!!!!!
2 years on and they still no longer speak !!!

I'll agree with the moonsand veto- fell prey to the hype a few years ago and within minutes the living room was like the gobi desert.

Also don't buy hair-washing barbie- pile of pants (as I knew it would be!)

Oh God, I am so glad I have just read this, I never realised moonsand was such a nightmare and was planning on getting the toy story set for DS. How much mess are we talking here? I can cope with arty mess usually, don't mind cleaning it up if DS enjoys it, but if we're talking coloured sand appearing for weeks on end then it's a no-no!

Hmmm... What NOT to buy?

I am actually in agreement with you, TaperJeansGirl, I don't like the wii. We got rid of ours and this year I have (well, I think I have, still waiting for delivery!) just got the Kinect (no controller! Whooo!) for a shared present for me, OH and DS. Something we all can use! OH and me found the wii to be a bit basic gaming wise, I never did stick at the wii fit as there was so much room for improvement, I was too busy thinking "what would make this better is..." to be concentrating on breathing through yoga exercises.

I hate plastic tat... with a passion.

Can't believe all these food making things are back in this year. I had them as a child and they were so bad then! If kids are into baking, (my DS loves cooking and baking, make things properly with them!?! No?

GoGo Hamsters (or ZhuZhu Pets) - Day 2 - eaten by dog.

Barbie Girls World - Week 2 - nested in by escaped hamsters.

Barbie Hair Salon - Week 1 - Pink dye all over Nana's beige carpet.

Polly Pocket Shopping Mall Rollercoaster thing - Day 1 - Water all over the carpet and random but important plastic tat eaten by dog.

Pop Up Pirate - Day 2 - Tantrum over inability to push the bloody swords in so toy put in bin (by me

MoonSand - Week 1 - all colours merged to a dirty grey, what's left ground into carpet. Week 2 - outdoor toy only.

This year she's getting coal

Any game that involves removing teeth are crap.

Crocodile, fish whatever. You will lose teeth, it will seize bitter arguments about cheating will ensue.

All plastic games in fact.

Oh and "junior" versions suck too.

Go out by normal Monopoly and have a proper all round family fall out instead - thats Christmas

Elefun the elephant. Rubbish.

Ooh yeah I hate all the plastic shite games. Like 'shhh don't wake dad' etc. Utter crap. The longer we can stick to orchard toys games here, the better IMO :o

I'll go against the MN grain here but I don't rate Playmobil for my (any?) pre-schoolers. DS was given some for his 4th birthday and the pieces are fecking tiny. He will lose them or 2yo DD will eat them.

It's been packed off to mums house for a couple of years. Great for older kids but not sure about the suitable from 4yrs on the box . Unless you have a minimalist house with no younger children.

taperjeangirl I really cannot agree with you on Lego/Wii/Playmobil, all toys of top choice in this house and many others I know.

I wonder if some of you Lego-haters have too-young DC? IMO it is seriously under-aged on the box, DS1 only really got into it at about 8yo.

Cupcake maker looks like bobbins tho, why not just get some basic ingredients and a few icing bags?

Amen to Moon Sand.

I know it's a real favourite on MN, but I loathe Playmobil. The tiny, teeny, weeny little stupid fucking parts that get lost. The five yr old crying '...but ut mummy, the little stupid -fucking playmobil ice cream van man NEEDS his miniscule little stupid fucking-- cone or I can't PLAY THIS GAME properly'. ARGH!!!!

Yes Meglet Playmobil also only took off here when the DC were 5-6yo.

Tho DS2 played with it at 2yo...but then he has two older siblings!

Meglet, just read the thread properly - yes! yes! EXACTLY!

Second Chocolate coin maker - load of shite
And those sea monkeys

The fecking playmobil hospital (or school which seems to be the same basic structure) unless you want to spend Xmas Eve in an increasing frustrated drunken state trying to assemble the thing, only for dc to take everything out of it the next day and put all the meticulously assembled life saving equipment in a box. Oh then the building itself just fell apart within a week. Bits of roof fell off, the lift broke. Superglue should be your friend.....

I hate playmobil too and the DS have no interest but people keep giving it to them for birthdays...

Anyone who wants to loan out there lego sets - I love building it

Junior Monopoly has to get the vote for crappiest Junior version of a good game.

lol!@Chipping.

Junior Monopoly IS fairly weak, yes, although have to say my 5 yr old really likes it.

I also love lego building...

Really Yule? It just seems like you go around getting tokens and spending them with no mission? Were we doing something wrong?

Moonsand is the work of the devil. It is the only toy I have happily chucked in the bin. We tried to make it an outdoor toy but it kept creeping back inside.
I also find Hot Wheels tracks really disappointing. The adverts make them look really exciting but the gadgets rarely work smoothly and the tracks are very brittle, cheap plastic.
The ELC game where you hit Martians with hammers is also a real let down. My son wanted it desperately and I eventually picked it up in the sale. I think we played with it once and it has not been out of the box since. It is also one of those toys that just won't quite fit back in the box.

Oh, I love lego. I've loved the christmas' we have spent putting massive lego models together. Neither ds wants lego this year

Hot wheels sets are utter crap. None of them are worth the money.

I love Playmobil and am delighted when I get a set to construct for my DC's. Mine play with it for hours. We are currently snowed in and it has kept them occupied since Wednesday.
My brother hates it with a vengeance though and hides all the kits his DD is given.
It must be like Marmite - a love it or hate it thing!
I also love Lego for exactly the same reasons.