Buying age inappropriate presents because older siblings want them ....?

[Tillyscoutsmum]

DD is 4.5. DSD is 8. DSD is spending Christmas with us this year and has been writing "lists" for about 3 months !

DD adores her older sister and basically wants to be copy her. DSD is, I think, quite "old" in some ways. Her list includes lots of things which I would have thought a bit too grown up for an 8 year but then perhaps I'm a bit clueless about 8 year olds ?? Anyway, that's a different thread I suppose.

My issue is that DD has basically asked for the same things as DSD. I know that she won't use/play with most of it because it is too old but if I don't get it, she'll end up following DSD around pleading with her to borrow it and that will just cause loads of bickering etc.

So, I suppose my question is, to what extent do you buy things for younger siblings just because older ones have them ??

You don't. You just say no. Or say nothing at all

Can you think of age appropriate equivalents for the stuff dsd has asked for - so instead of a ds you could get her a leapster etc

dd age 4 loves things dd aged 6 has so i buy them similar but then they both play the same - i wouldnt buy it for the sake of calm on xas day but have no issues buying older age toys that would get played with

yes do what cat64 said.

[resentful eldest child]

Hmmmmm - I suspect I need to man up a bit

My 3 yr old has an older sis of 12 to look up to! She also wants everything big sister has but has to understand she won't get it! She has lipbalm and an empty powder puff rather than make up like big sis but there are some things (such as a REAL mobile phone) that she is simply told NO.

It's not fair to the older sibling to not have the privelege of age either.

Dd 8 has siblings that are teens and above so we use the you get that when you are 11, that happens when you are 14 etc etc.I also say no when I have to and her siblings allow her a little go on their stuff every now and again. There is so much stuff that's lovely that is age appropriate it seems a shame to rush them through and to have them miss out really.

Why not buy them twin teddies. Your DD will be delighted that her big sister has one exactly the same.