Its official, my dc's are spoilt brats!!!

[ginnedupmummykissingsantaclaus]

They got loads of toys for Christmas which are all piled up against the wall in the dining room (ds1 had a birthday just before Christmas so he's got those presents too). I can't even get into their bedroom for toys they've already got.
And guess what they keep saying to me .....

"We're bored!!!"

Aaaaagh

Yesterday me and DH did some food shopping and took Ds (3.5)

DS ran straight up the toy asile (even though we'd said 'no present this time' and'what happened on Monday') bearing in mind there are things he hasn't touched yet. But he grabs a lego Bionical, declares it's his 'best friend' puts 3 wooden trains in the trolley. DH and I carefully secrete the trains back to the shelves and think 's'only a bionicle' but 15 mins later he asks for 'cwusty bwead' and chucks a tantum fit from hell at the offered baton as he wanted the 'big cwusty bwead' baguette next to it.

Finish shopping, leave the Lego, pay and get out quick!

Spoilt brat or what?

we have toys unopened and still in tescos today they were asking for a 'treat' for being 'good'!!!

I'm afraid DD is the same - nipped out for some milk today and she said mummy could you bring me back a surprise!!!

Made this mistake many christmases before. Toys piled up the wall, things they were never going to play with.
Didnt do it this year. Got them what they wanted(not much) and they were more than happy. No toys piling up the wall unplayed with and no debt Try it next year!

well, my lot did get what they wanted this year (the pile was a little smaller as I refused to pay good money for a heap of junk that didnt get played with).

Boxing Day afternoon, DD announced "I'm bored" in her most annoying whingy voice

to which I very sharply replied "Don't you even go there! I do not want to hear that word in this house for at least 3 months!!!!"

Its not me that buys it all though charliecat. Its grandparents, aunties and uncles, friends, etc.
Also their dad (my ex) went way over the top to ease his guilt at being a shit dad the rest of the year!!

same here charliecat

don't spend half as much next year ginnedup mummy

do an amazon wishlist for aunties and friends etc

then at least they get tons of books and story tapes

(thats what we did this year and it has been brill, loads of new books, tapes and pc games, almost no unplayable with plastic shite )

I don't think any of these kids described here are spoilt - they'd be spoilt if any of you had said 'OK, lets go & get you more stuff'
All kids say 'I'm bored' when they mean 'I can't think what to do next'. What used to work with mine was giving them a problem to solve - eg 'how many different things can you make with 10 pieces of lego'

Next year suggest money or gift vouchers, or days out or contributions towards swimming lessons or anything but the plastic tat that gets shoved under the bed never to be seen again!
Or crafty stuff that can be done, enjoyed and given as thank you gifts or recycled!