HELP present crisis 10 year old girl, wants something different than we thought..WYD

[Aweektilltheseason]

Last year she was desperate for nintendo sun and moon thing and a ninentendo console.

She fixed on this too late so she got something else, perfect to get her that this year but she says she has gone off tech and is fixed on a real pet. there is no way this year we are going to get her a pet....

MAYBE next year or for her bday but will need lots more time and thought.

So...what about the hideously expensive ( but still cheaper than the Nintendo and games) Fur Real Tiger! It does look good, interactive etc however I know she will eventually get more use out of the nintendo esp on car journeys etc...

That she wants a pet rj!! She cannot think of anything else, she isn't into tech and she wants a pet!!

Yes cake perhaps!!

Why can’t she have a hamster or a gerbil?

And if you keep just saying a pet with no other sensible suggestions then it will be a guess and actually you might end up with something that's a bit crap or not what you really wanted
^^ this.
Give her a week (or whatever) to have a good think, maybe tell her the options are a fur-real tiger, Nintendo or something else and she can either choose what she wants or you/Santa will choose and she may not end up with her second best choice.

Do you think she still believes in Santa?

I would tell her that “a pet” isn’t a good enough answer. She needs to research specific pets and figure out the pros and cons, and then you can think about it, with the view to getting something at some point. You need to stop being wishy-washy about it. You are the adult! I also think it’s incredibly unfair that you are basing your older daughter’s Christmas present on what your younger daughter would like to play with! Presumably she will get her own present ?

Bloody hell, I’ve just seen it’s £100! That is a ridiculous amount for something she doesn’t even want. You could easily get a really nice aquarium setup or a guinea pig and all the kit for that sort of money. You seem determined to buy the damn tiger though, so I’m not really sure why you posted 🤷‍♀️.

The tiger looks awful. Over priced, too.

But she has said she doesn’t want a Nintendo?

I really wouldn't bother with the FurReal tiger, OP.

My DN was heavily into them between about 7 and 9, I'd say. We've been "gifted" them all once she got bored (12 now). They really don't do an awful lot, and are not a substitute pet in any way.

I'd go for loads of animal-themed things, an "experience" based around animals (Crufts?), a Tamagotchi is a great idea, or the Little Live Pets stuff for a much lower price point than the tiger, or possibly some of those robotic hamster type things that whizz about in fake balls if you wanted a toy.

At 10 presumably she knows Father Christmas is not real, so it's just testing your limits.

Or you could go for the very low maintenance Aqua Dragons/Sea Monkeys - a "pet" but a really self-contained no-upkeep sort?

Division we were literally about to see the big man, I said have a think what you want to ask him for ie rather than sit there saying nothing and she said she didn't know because all she wanted was the pet
I said but what about the Nintendo you really wanted last year.
To be a honest she said. I am not really into tech at the moment. And this is true. She went through a phase of being on laptop and her tablet and recently she has got more into writing and reading she is crazy about those warrior cat books. She carries her toy tiger everywhere.

I'm stuck literally stuck on the horns of a dilemma
I really understand that saying now
I have too much to think about right now to start looking into pets
Her dsis is prone towards breathing issues sometimes I need time and proper research into pets. I'm not basing the toy on her sister at all. That's a ridiculous conclusion. It's a back up idea if one daughter has shunned the toy, perhaps the other will get use from it!! Ergo it may not be a total waste of time money. My heart says tiger, my head says Nintendo. But then she has a life time of screens ahead, she has a tablet
.. She said she ain't into tech so is it wise at this precious moment to give her some.

Anyway thanks for responses. Am going to have one last think tomowow then cast the die

No squirrels I looked at little live pet dog and it had awful reviews for it breaking down and it doesn't walk either.

How about actually taking her out shopping and having a look around?
An animal experience day?

We also have a few long car journeys ahead next year so another reason I thought Nintendo would he good idea for the car however, she did try a bit of knitting last year and liked it so maybe that may be better car amusement.

We did that fur her bday, it was soft toys all the way, my dh reckoned she picked up some interaction toy but put it back as it was out of budget.

We got 10 yr old DD a hamster last Christmas.... she Is the most spoilt hamster I know of! She lives very happily in DDs room.

Young can it be let out cage ie in room free, would it pee on hands and I have heard they only wake up at night and can be noisy? But I would consider that later in year. I am also considering a cat
But I really do need time to properly consider it as we are away a bit more than usual next year and it's finding someone to look after them

Don't get her a pet for Christmas. It needs research and preparation.
Hamsters are awake at night and generally sleep in the day. No. Don't let them loose. They are fast and Escape artists.
A cat can live over 20 years. It's a huge commitment.
She's 10. She needs to choose what she wants. Or pick a few small things. But keep a pet out of the equation.
She's hoping you will cave. Don't.

My Dd - nearly 9, is teddy/animal mad. I’ve got her the tiger, I understand people saying they are limited, but she plays with non interactive animals so much that I’ve gone for it

She doesn’t want a Nintendo. She told you that.

She wants a pet. You’ve told her that can’t happen (good!)

But she needs to hear that you’ve heard her. Get her “pet-related” things. The Little Live Pet doesn’t need to be the dog - get one of the smaller ones - the birds, hamsters etc. An experience related to animals.

Honestly, I think you’d massively regret £100 on an animatronic tiger. She’s 10 - as you say, this moment is fleeting. Indulge her in pet stuff, but not for £100 when it can never actually be the thing she wants.

An animatronic tiger cannot resemble a real pet. Neither can a Little Live hamster. But one is £100 and the other is less than £20. Both probably have the same shelf life to a 10 year old.

I speak as a former 9 year old who begged for a dog - begged and begged. No amount of “fake” dogs mattered in the end... but I appreciated that everyone understood my desire/passion.

As your DD isn’t passionate about a tiger, or a cat, or a dog, just “a pet” you need to listen really carefully- what is she craving from an animal (any sort of animal)? How can you fulfill that in a responsible way?

Do have another look at sea monkeys.

Don’t buy the Nintendo - she said no.

No squirrel that's a really really good breakdown there thanks.

My girl did a feed the Lemur experience at the Zoo. Learned what they ate, got to make it and cut it all up and then went into the enclosure to feed them with them jumping all over her. It was brilliant fun and not very expensive

Get her them water dragons you can feed them they grow etc..you say maybe you will get her a pet for her birthday so you are still thinking of getting a pet as a present!

We have rat issues I and I had a cat growing up I am thinking about a cat but as said this wont be for a good few months maybe years even.

Cats that have access to the outdoors are really not that much trouble. They need fed and petted (when they choose) and a warm place to sleep but otherwise are pretty much self sufficient (in my experience). Also just think how much fun a cat would have at christmas: climbing up the tree, hiding in boxes, chasing balls of wrapping paper 😀

Did you see the consumer programme lat night, they put a load toys out for kids to play with, the tiger didn't do very well as the kids got bored with it quite quickly