Are dd8 and dd10 too old for Sylvanian Families?

[twolittledarlings]

I have spent loads for both my dd (about £400+ not includ. laptop). They have over 25 presents each and another 9 to share from dh and me. Also including a laptop. They will also get around another 9 presents from our adult friends and no doubt money from family abroad and my mum too.

Their birthdays are also at Christmas.

However, my godson's sister will be getting the Sylvanian Families Regency Hotel and I have got her the Berry Grove School for Xmas. She will be 9 at Xmas too.

Should I get my daughters that too? Are they too old for it. We have lots of space so that is no problem. However, we do have a wooden dolls house which I am in the process of getting rid of. They have played with it but not a lot. It's just that looking at the SF Hotel, it does look lovely and I can just imagine them both playing with this.

I can use my leftover £190 Tesco vouchers which when converted into rewards will get me double the amount i.e £380 so only need £45 voucher to get the hotel and may spend some on the furniture.

My dh said it does look nice but did not say lets get it as we are chucking our wooden one away he mentioned.

What should I do? Will need to get it by the end of Nov or asap as stock may go?

If you get it you might want to return some stuff or they will likely get present fatigue (assuming the 30 presents each are not mostly things like socks- presume not as cost over £400). The years my DC have received too much stuff have been disappointing really, it just becomes overwhelming. Therefore I've advised the relatives who've asked to get them clothes or itunes vouchers this year. Do they usually get this much stuff each year? Where do you pit it all?
Btw, the hotel won't sell out as it was available last Christmas so it's not a 'new' piece. It often goes in the sale too.

I think from the tone of your post you know the answer really! You have to accept that the dc can't have everything, which is hard when there are so many lovely things on offer. Or should I say they can have everything but then they end up spoilt, the house ends up full of stuff and they dont really play with anything properly (hmm wonder how I discovered that - been there)!

No they are not too old for SF, I loved mine when I was 10/11 years old.

But tbh with 25+ presents, they won't even notice sylvanian families.

i'd say that it's a main present, and one to be treasured tbh (given the exhorbitant prices), and it does sound like they have plenty of other stuff.

i also hereby say to any MNer with a houseful of SF that we are entering this phase and i will gladly buy any of it second-hand.

the little animals are incredibly cute but I find most of the houses/windmills etc too plasticy and far too expensive to bother buying.

my children will be getting 5 presents each from us plus the ones from relatives and tbh I thought that was ample!!!! perhaps we are stingy unfortunately we are also skint so nought we can do to change it. However back to the actual question, I think they are not too old for it but have they shown an interest in sylvanian families in the past. I would only tend to add it in if they have a strong existing interest in these kinds of toys.

Thank you everyone for your reply. I most probably give it a miss this time round. Have asked my older daughter today if she's interested in this and she said she wasn't. It's only another dolls house and will be boring she says. She is very good at saving my money. Last Xmas, she said she did not want a birthday party but wants the same amount of money spent on her sister's birthday to be put in her bank. Which is what she got. Also a birthday cake and a family meal out.

I don't want to ask the younger one as she always said " ok then ". She is the opposite of the older one. She likes to buy things but if I say no, she won't ask again.

The only bigger present I have got for them is the Harry Potter Castle and Knightbus as well as the laptop all to share.

The other 25+ each presents are mainly what they asked for or what I thought would be good or useful for them i.e.

DD10 asked for
Friendship bracelets kit (got 3 diff. sets)
Card making kit
Pinboard (Memo board)
Taylor Swift CDs
Taylor Swift Calendar
Latest Daisy Meadows fairy books
Winter coat and boots (have got as not considered a present but essential)
Wall Clock ( have put up already as not considered a present)
and a computer

I have also added
Mystyle Charm Bracelet kit
Mystyle Clay Beads kit
Harry Potter Lego book
Mr Gum Books collection
Cuddly talking Poppet (moshi monsters just got into)
ATM Money box
Mesh pen pot desk organiser
Mystyle Girly cards kit
Electronic Bookmark by IF
Hello Kitty Water dispenser for room (useful)
Sweets dispenser
Alarm Ipod Clock
Moshi Monster trading card folder and box of 36 packs to share
Moshi tin
Kimmidoll bag
3 picture frames
Moshi annual
socks and slippers
nightgown
sledge

DD8 asked for
CD storage box
Pinboard
mirror
winter coat and boots (have got)

that's all

have also got her
2 boxes friendship bracelet kit
french knitter
mystlye girly card kit
mystyle clay beads kit
mystyle deluxe bracelet kit
card making caddy
mesh pen pot desk organiser
atm money box
3 Klutz thumb things books
Moshi Cuddly Luvli talking toy
electronic bookmark by IF
Lego building book
alarm ipod clock
moshi calendar
moshi trading card folder and tin
Naughty sister collection books
Worst witches collection books
Kimmi doll bag
3 picture frames
socks and slippers
Hello Kitty Water dispenser
Sweets dispenser
sledge

They both will share the computer and harry potter stuff.
also, Word search game, Articulate for Kids and Pass the bomb game. Plus got them both an early present of Moshi membership.

Sounds a lot but mainly small things.

I asked the younger one whether she wanted a party as b/d on 19th Dec or half a computer and she said no party, just half a computer so I have saved on 2 parties.

So feel the need to make up on pressies.

I do this every year. They don't ask for much but I do over give every year and they are both good and not spoilt.

They look after their toys/books and after use, I usually get rid of them at the NCT sale or #Ebay depending on what they are.

gosh you must have a spreadsheet to remember all of those gifts!

I feel dizzy at the thought of wrapping them all.

Yes belgo, I love making lists and have an xmas notebook that i update every year. As I have to get another 14 pressies for my friends children, I have to make lists. That even includes stocking fillers and adult gifts.

Its so easy as I normally shop around and get all the 3 for 2 deals on early in Sept onwards so easy to get pressies all in one go.

I wouldn't say that 8 and 10 are necessarily too old for Sylvanian families (ds has a 10 year old friend who still loves them), but it depends on the child. Sounds like your two will be getting a lot for Christmas, so I would say unless the Sylvanians are things they really, really want, then I wouldn't buy them.

TBH I could probably do with being that organised. I found presents in the cupboard the other day that were supposed to have been for last Christmas.

Are you buying it because one of your other relatives is buying it for their dc? Sorry to say OP that is the way to spoil your children, it's total keeping up with the Joneses.

Actually,it's nothing to do with keeping up with the Joneses. I think I like it more than them and just trying to find a reason to get it. I know that the younger one will love it when she sees it and am sure that both will play with it as they love playing together all the time.

It will be a bargain if using the vouchers and when finished, can always be ebayed so will get at least half back or leave to grandchildren as it can be a collectors item.

The more I see this hotel close up, the more I think its really cute and sweet and has more little delicate things than the wooden dolls house. My godson's parents actually offered to get this for my children as my children are their god children but I said no.

They have not asked for this but I know it is very popular for all ages, can keep their value and really cute.

Your poor kids, you are spoiling them and worse still setting the bar very high for their expectations when they are older. They would/should be happy with about 20% of that stuff

You like it more than them? Then you apparently have more money than sense.

Hang on have you spent £400 each or £200 each?

DD is getting the SF hotel. But not much else!

I have spent 400+ in all, not each (not including the computer)

Don't forget its also their birthdays so its not really that much and also note, they are both not having any birthday parties.

If they had their birthdays any other time other than Xmas and also had 2 parties to throw, I am sure it would be more than what I have spent.

fuckityfuckfuckfuck - before you have a go at me, note I have not bought this yet. I am only here to ask a question / advice.

My kids are actually quite down to earth and definately not at all spoilt. I know when to say yes or no and so do they. They work hard and are well rewarded. They don't just get stuff if they want it. They know it and so do I.