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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Getting twitchy about DS1's present

27 replies

Tailtwister · 21/12/2013 16:20

DS1 (5) is a LEGO obsessive and loves the Star Wars collection in particular. Ever since he discovered it's existence, he has asked for the Death Star for Christmas. Fine, until you realise it's £275!

DH rejected the idea immediately, saying it was far too expensive. It's not that DS couldn't build it (he's done big LEGO models before), but the fact it's so expensive. He's bought one of the smaller ship models (around £75) for DS for Christmas and says if DS really wants the Death Star he should save for it.

I was fine with this, but now I'm getting twitchy about it. DS doesn't stop going on about it, has written it on his Christmas list etc. I'm feeling a bit mean as he's not getting loads of stuff (his relatives give money due to distance), a couple of LEGO things and a stocking. It's not like we can't afford it, but DH thinks it's too extravagant and the same cost as a really nice bike etc.

Help me keep my resolve!

OP posts:

BeaWheesht · 21/12/2013 16:27

I wouldn't buy it either tbh but I'd have prepared him for fact it was too expensive, I wouldn't have let him believe its likely hell get it.

Also if I could easily afford it I'd buy it.

not helpful

SavoyCabbage · 21/12/2013 16:29

£270! That is pricey! I don't know what I would do although I can't imagine spending that on lego.

I think if he was older you could say 'yes you can have that, but not a single other present' but would a five year old go for that?

It's almost worse that he is getting a different lego as if he was t getting any at all, he might not notice.

Coconutty · 21/12/2013 16:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

curlew · 21/12/2013 16:35

The Death Star is really, really difficult- my friend's Lego fiend couldn't do It when he was 9. You really need to make sure he knows he isn't going to get it, though.

smable · 21/12/2013 16:39

I really think a 5 year old would find the Death Star too hard even if he can usually do hard sets. Wait until he is old enough to really enjoy it

wonderingsoul · 21/12/2013 16:41

personally at that age i wouldnt buy it.. i think he is to young to fully appricate the cost and qualty of it, but that just me.

its not the cost that really puts me off rarther value for money.

justgirl · 21/12/2013 16:43

I always felt guilty an despite price would have ensured that if desperately wanted it then he would have it....if I could afford it without question, I'd buy without question....probably sounds terrible but if it was because the other half had said no I would buy it anyway and feign some kind of sale price

Mrswellyboot · 21/12/2013 16:46

Could you start a little savings jar with him and he could put the relatives money gift in? I am all for buying but I think it is shockingly expensive.

ChestnutsroastingintheFireligh · 21/12/2013 16:46

My almost 10 year old is a whizz at lego. He too asked for the Death Star but we said it is too expensive. Some of the older lego is extremely difficult to make up- dh & I struggle. Death Star when he is about 12 maybe.

CloserLook · 21/12/2013 16:48

It is very pricey for a lego set but if that's what he definitely wants (as opposed to an expensive bike or a games console that might cost as much) and I could afford it I might get it. But the trouble with that is he will expect to get whatever expensive (and maybe unsuitable) item he asks for the next year.

If it was an issue of the age guide on the item and it maybe being too hard for him that would be different. But then I would have have been making it absolutely clear that he wasn't getting it just yet and why.

Bluebell99 · 21/12/2013 16:50

I think you need to prepare your son for the fact that he isn't going to get it. Say something like Father Christmas has to bring presents for all the children so he wouldn't be able to buy such a big thing for one child, and maybe he will bring another one. Or say that one is for older children as it is for 14 years plus.

ChestnutsroastingintheFireligh · 21/12/2013 16:51

Death Star is meant as a collectors piece.

Ds has the Malevolance. Despite him being brilliant at Lego I had to massively help him & now it sits on top of the Tv as an ornament

CMOTDibbler · 21/12/2013 16:52

Thats just silly money tbh, and especially for something that will get made up and then not touched again. An Isla bike is £25 more, would give him years of exercise, and then would sell on for a good £150 for instance

CloserLook · 21/12/2013 16:55

Just looked it up on Amazon and it's not the price that would put me off.

It's got nearly 4000 pieces and I think it's more meant for display than as a toy (although I could be wrong). However advanced he is at lego I think he'd probably get more enjoyment out of a smaller set that he could make over and over again.

I would prepare him though to save disappointment.

talkingnonsense · 21/12/2013 17:01

The Death Star is hard to do because so much of it is grey! Definitely prepare him.

iwouldgoouttonight · 21/12/2013 17:02

My DS loves Lego and always asks for the most enormous expensive sets, we just can't afford it so we've always told him straight off that it's too expensive to ask Santa for and we've showed him other Lego in our price range for him to chose from.

In our experience when he's got bigger sets he's been excitedto start with but then they never get played with (he's 7 now), but he always plays with the little mini figures and makes himself things from normal Lego blocks that aren't part of sets.

iwouldgoouttonight · 21/12/2013 17:05

Maybe tell him that you know of someone who had the death star and they said it wasn't very good and you've heard the one you've bought him is fantastic and loads of kids will be asking for that. Just to get him used to the idea!

givemeaclue · 21/12/2013 17:05

Don't think a five year old could build it.

oadcb · 21/12/2013 17:11

Tell him he's too young for it. Age range is higher I know.

ToomuchIsBackOnBootcamp · 21/12/2013 17:15

Def far too advanced for a 5 year old, total frustration and giving up lies ahead! Get him something much more manageable for his age and he will get a lot more real pleasure from it.

iwould my 7 year old is the same, loves the little figures and doing his own thing than big, organised sets!

Marne · 21/12/2013 17:44

I would say to him that its age 9+ and santa wont bring presents that are not suitable for a 5 year old. I have always told mine that santa never brings anything that costs more than £100 as he has all the other children to provide for.

My dd1 (age 9, still believes) has asked santa for 5 different DS games, I have explained to her that she will probably not get them all as they are £30 each and santa wont want her glued to her DS for the next 6 months , she said she will be happy with one and really pleased if she gets 2.

Original poster

Tailtwister · 21/12/2013 17:45

Thanks for all the replies.

We've already told him he's not getting it from us, but as he believes in Santa I think he's holding out hope. I've said it's too big a gift for Santa to give to one child as he has so many presents to deliver, but he still seems to think it's a possibility.

I would say he's too young for it too. He made my VW camper van kit (don't ask!) over the course of a week with little bother so he thinks he can make anything now! The Death Star is a much bigger kit though (about 3x the number of pieces) and like talkkingnonsense says it's mostly one colour which makes it harder.

CMOTDibbler we were going to get him a bigger Islabike, but we decided on that for his birthday in a few months instead as we wanted to see if he grows a bit for as he's on the cusp for skipping a size.

Right, my mind is made up (with your help!) that we've done the right thing now. He IS getting some Star Wars Lego, so isn't missing out completely but he's too young for the Death Star.

OP posts:

Marne · 21/12/2013 17:55

I'm sure he will love the set you have got him. I'm very about the campervan (I would love the camper van), my dd2 loves building lego, she's 7 and can build quite a few of the bigger sets yet her older sister (almost 10) cant even do the small sets. I have got dd2 a few smaller sets for Christmas and I feel a bit sad that she doesn't need my help.

Ferguson · 21/12/2013 23:06

I just had a look and it says 12+ on the box, and 3800 pieces. But some sites give prices over £300. We have an independent shop near us that sometimes has Lego at very reduced prices, usually ones that don't sell well though.

Original poster

Tailtwister · 22/12/2013 09:03

It's a lovely kit Marne and makes up beautifully. Considering the detail, it's one of the best value Lego models I've seen. DH gave it to me for Christmas years ago and I've never been into Lego so it sat in the attic for ages. DS saw it and badgered me for weeks to give it to him. I did, thinking he'd never do it, but was amazed he managed. It took him a while, but he sat diligently each day after school and built it.

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