Too Expensive for a Christmas present?

[DanceTeacherMom]

My 8 year old daughter is really into art, and has asked for a large set of markers for Christmas. The makers she has asked for are high end and she will not settle for cheaper ones. They are 300 pounds and I know she will use them a lot but I have 4 main concerns.

1. I wouldn't know what to get for my 6 year old to make up for that as I don't want to get her gymnastics mat etc as id rather that be a joint present, but with her being 6 she doesn't have any main interests except cheaper toys and dance equiptment (most of which she has as I own a studio).

2. She is well aware of the price and I'm concerned she will become spoilt if I buy her something that expensive. And I couldn't bring myself to not getting her other presents aswell.

3. The set she wants has 72 markers and she won't settle for a smaller pack as there is 'not enough colours'.

Should I get them?

Sorry my phone only loaded the first page. I'm sorry I hadn't realised that is what you had decided. It's just that I know fromy husband that some of the expensive ones are really not that much better. Apologies if I sounded short, I didn't mean to.

If it were an xbox she asked for or a computer, id say no straight away, but art is a talent and hobby that can last for life, and in this day and age, its reassuring to know she likes art, and doesn't spend her time glued to the screen!

There will be dozens of MN children (aged younger than 8) who will be getting iPads for Christmas. Or PS4s. Or xBoxes. All of which costs hundreds.
So go you and your dd!!!! And hope she has years of enjoyment with her art!

Just btw if the pens are the Copic ones mentioned above then you could look at ordering them directly from Japan. From Rakuten or similar?

My DD has both sets of 72 Copic Ciao markers but she’s 17 and doing art and a graphics A-levels. Have you looked at pro-markers? She loved those before moving onto Copic.

Sorry my phone only loaded the first page. I'm sorry I hadn't realised that is what you had decided. It's just that I know fromy husband that some of the expensive ones are really not that much better. Apologies if I sounded short, I didn't mean to.
No worries!

Bless her, she sounds adorable.
One of my dds when 6 wanted a real office! I got things like proper date stamps and an old fashioned calculator with a paper roll in it..... she still remembers that more than the plastic gubbins.

LovingLola
Thank you! I don't want my children to live their childhood with there heads in computer screens all day! The kids are aloud to use my tablet for car journeys, or maybe a couple of hours on the weekend, but not at the dinner table, when friends and family are over etc. And all my 8yo does on the tablet is search art tutorials anyway!

My son is 14 and has been into art since he could hold a pencil!

If you like drawing, it’s really difficult to draw details and blend etc without the correct equipment and quite frustrating too! Personally I would encourage her as much as possible

Have you looked at pro-markers? She loved those before moving onto Copic.
My sister recommended these but Im still thinking about it :)

My daughter is 9 and has Copic markers. She loves art and spends hours drawing.

If they were in budget I would get them for her if that's what she wants. Obviously if you don't spend that much then tell her that it's too much and let her have a smaller set. We bought cheaper ones before we bought Copic markers but they didn't blend and she doesnt bother using them so they were just a waste of money.

*My son is 14 and has been into art since he could hold a pencil!

If you like drawing, it’s really difficult to draw details and blend etc without the correct equipment and quite frustrating too! Personally I would encourage her as much as possible*

My sister is open to letting her use her equipment and gives her proper little lessons! I enjoy watching her have fun and concentrate on something other than dance! I'm trying this year to really make time for it because she isn't as invested in becoming a dancer as her sister and I'm afraid if I don't leave time for her art, she will be left with no hobbies or interests!

My daughter is 9 and has Copic markers. She loves art and spends hours drawing.

Does she look after them? One of my main concerns is they could get lost, although my Daughter is very mature and responsible for her age and she would know spend hours organising them and counting etc.

If they are within budget and her passion why not? My dns all are trampoline competitors between gym and competition fees over the year it costs a fortune - my dd request for Christmas for at 8 for really good markers, acrylics and sewing stuff is a fraction of the cost over a year although it seems a lot in one go. It is her thing - I'd rather spend it on that than something not quite what she wanted where the result is not as good. If it is out of budget fair enough - but what we spent at 3 which paid for piles of toys (tbf around £100) doesn't equate to where they want one thing which will be used everyday year round. If dns parents applied the same logic to her competition leotards and entry - she wouldn't get through the starting gate.

You can get sets of 24 copic for £99

I think ill see how it goes until later in the year and I might buy her a pack of 24 instead of the larger pack. Thinking about it I think she will use them more than anything, and I love to see her passion grow!

If they are within budget and her passion why not? My dns all are trampoline competitors between gym and competition fees over the year it costs a fortune

My daughters both dance, thank god they dance at my studio or id pay fortunes for training! However I still pay for their costumes, competition fees etc. aswell as group costumes etc. and I make sure they understand regularly that many children don't get as much as they do a year! Id love a trampolinist though! However the thought of broken bones scares me!

My 10yr old DD wanted fancy markers last Xmas. She spends most of her time drawing. I knew we couldn't afford cooic markers and explained this to her. What we did was buy her a set of 72 touchfive markers, they are a cheaper copy of copic. We bought her fancy skin tone markers, I think Windsor newton.

Now she saved and whenever we are near an art ship like Hobbycraft she can go in and pick a couple of the copic pens to replace the cheaper ones. She also asked for a few for birthdays and special treats.

Don't be ridiculous. You can get her a really, really nice set of 72 marker pens for a LOT less than £300. If you buy her £300 marker pens (!!!) at 8, what will she be demanding at 14?

Wait until she's 18 with a place at Art School, then tell her you might reconsider.

I'd rather pay £300 for something she loves than £50 for something that would be thrown in a cupboard and forgotten about. As for your 6yr old, I don't think matching prices is important so long as she loves what she gets too.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/24-36-72-Dual-Headed-Artist-Sketch-Copic-Markers-Pen-For-Graphic-Animation-Set-/401550713308

Are these any good OP?

Are these any good OP?
Yes thank you ill keep them in mind for the future! For now ill give her one or two for birthdays Christmas and rewards!

Does she look after them? One of my main concerns is they could get lost, although my Daughter is very mature and responsible for her age and she would know spend hours organising them and counting etc.

She sounds very like my daughter. 😀 Yes, they are her most prized possession so she looks after them. Since she was about 7, she always put lids on normal felts though. I did stress the importance of her looking after them, but like your daughter, she is really mature and responsible so doesn't need reminding. She always watched art tutorials on YouTube and researched the markers and cost herself before asking us for them. We had never heard of them. She was ready with the all the reasons that she would like them with links on Amazon and hobbycraft ! She also said she would understand if they were too expensive ! We bought a couple of smaller packs and then often buy her more as she gets so much use out of them. We'll probably get her more for Xmas as art is her thing.

It definitely reduces the amount of time she spends on iPad, although she often draws alongside a tutorial on YouTube.

*Don't be ridiculous. You can get her a really, really nice set of 72 marker pens for a LOT less than £300. If you buy her £300 marker pens (!!!) at 8, what will she be demanding at 14?

Wait until she's 18 with a place at Art School, then tell her you might reconsider.*

Explained in my updates

It definitely reduces the amount of time she spends on iPad, although she often draws alongside a tutorial on YouTube.

Im fine with her watching tutorials and I've also bought her a book that has step by step etc. :)

We also buy a different paper for her as the markets tend to come through ordinary paper.

Markers not markets !