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Christmas

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

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Original poster

Don't want to buy anything off DS's wish list

48 replies

mockorangey · 02/12/2018 22:39

DS (4) has a Christmas wish list that he has been collating since his birthday in the summer. The problem is I don't want to get anything from it as I'm not confident he'll actually play with anything. The biggest problem is that he wants the Paw Patrol sea patroller and associated pups in their sea vehicles. However, he doesn't seem that interested in Paw Patrol anymore as far as I can tell (doesn't play with his other PP stuff and rarely watches the show).

What do you do in this situation? Spend the money knowing that it will in all likelihood only get played with fleetingly, or go off-list but risk them being upset on Christmas morning?

OP posts:

coffeekittens · 06/12/2018 09:43

Have a look at getting it second hand if he’s still insistent that he wants it. DD always wanted faddy presents that are character associated, like a mug I bought them and sold them a few months later as played with once or twice for pennies.

littlemisscomper · 06/12/2018 12:25

The trouble with character stuff is it's played with as long as they're into that character, generally not more than 6 months or a year! I love Playmobil as they can use it from 3 until they stop playing altogether at 10 or so - you really get value for money! If I were you I'd steer him to the Playmobil section of the toy shop (or pick up a catalog and look at it together at home) and if anything catches his eye in there persuade him to write to Father Christmas and ask for that instead. You'll probably end up spending more money but it'll get many years more use.

madmum5811 · 06/12/2018 12:29

echo that with playmobil. Yesterday had grandson I had bought the playmobile hospital, he played with that, then out came the train track, then the garage, then fireman sam buildings, he used them all in some sort of interactive imaginitive game. Playmobil is like Lego you can mix and match everything so the children can play whatever game takes their fancy.

It is much cheaper in Spain my friend used to buy it there for her children.

Clarksmummy · 06/12/2018 12:38

I would have a look at pre loved toysites eBay or something of it's type spend less money on it if it's not really going to be used , 😊 a lot if the things sold are genuinely of fantastic quality x

madmum5811 · 06/12/2018 12:54

Have just been on E bay, I have some lego from youngest sons days, so looked on Lego for wheels, doors, windows. Hah, no longer on their website. Found a treasure trove of used lego. So just bought a kg of used lego, windows, doors, etc. also red roof tiles, and some wheels. Lego kits have their place, build a castle, house, whatever, but to create something from scratch takes it to another level imo. You can then dismantle it and start again creating something else. Whereas a kit is always what it is.

Roomba · 06/12/2018 13:00

It's funny, my DS has asked for the Paw Patrol jungle rescue big vehicle thingy. I thought he'd almost gone off Paw Patrol recently and it's very expensive, so I was umming and ahhing over it. But I've decided to get it for him - it will make Christmas magic if he gets exactly what he asked for, plus he plays with all his vehicles a lot so it'll get used even if he's not that into the program any more.

bonbonours · 06/12/2018 14:57

I usually try to guide them to ask for things I have already bought or that I am planning to buy. My kids tend to be pretty receptive to 'oh what about....?' I have rarely had them say they don't want it.

Fireballfriends · 06/12/2018 21:29

My DD asked for playdough one year. She hates making things, hates textures and slimy stuff/baking/cookie dough and never showed any interest prior so I was convinced it was just a random request she'd put on her pre-school letter to Santa. But she was adamant she wanted it. Easy for me because playdough is £2 not £40 so I bought some but wow, it made her bloody day. She played with it all year, I honestly couldn't believe it. And she really believed in the magic then.

Nicpem1982 · 07/12/2018 09:06

My dd (4)has asked for a poopsie unicorn ive told her a flat no as its alot of money and i dont think shell play with it past boxing day and shes accepted this

In our house santa brings a stocking of surprises and she is able to name 3 presents that shed really love from us and they get delivered xmas eve along with some surprises, none of which are a poopsie unicorn may i add

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 07/12/2018 12:03

I used to take DD to a toy shop and just watch what she naturally went for. I didn't tell her we were looking at Christmas things, just watched to see what she was actually interested in. Most of the time, it wasn't any of the things she'd talked about!

seastargirl · 07/12/2018 12:07

The good thing is that paw patrol stuff sells on easily. I'd buy second hand and then sell on when it goes out of favour

Pebblesandfriends · 07/12/2018 12:08

Something going on the list doesn't mean they'll get it. It's just ideas and they know Santa doesn't have to get them anything off it and if he does they may only get one of the things but it's to give mummy and daddy ideas too. I would buy what you think he will play with.

SeaToSki · 07/12/2018 12:17

My kids know that Santa has a budget, he has a lot of kids to buy for. Also he has to cope with how much the factories can make (the elves subcontract out to toy makers who are much more efficient as they have big factories) So if something is on everyone's lists one year then every child can't get one. But Santa does look at the whole list and tries to make sure every child has something from the list and then chooses other things that they might like. Santa knows you better than anyone else as he has been checking in on how you have been behaving all year. (Also Santa doesn't like giving tech gifts as they use up his budget too quickly!!)

Sunisshining5346 · 07/12/2018 12:27

I made the mistake last year of getting DS1 toys that he didn't was for that I thought he would like..I was sick of just cars, paw patrol, superwings etc and wanted to try and get him interested in other things. Big mistake! He hadnt shown any interest in the toys I thought he would like..
So this year I'm getting him everything he has asked for, and not what I think he would like!

MinecraftHolmes · 07/12/2018 12:47

I'd look into getting it second hand. A quick look at my local Facebook marketplace has a Sea Patroller for £30 - if he loses interest you could probably sell it on for the same again, or only make a fiver or so loss on it.

Confusedbeetle · 07/12/2018 12:56

He is 4!!!!!!!

celticprincess · 07/12/2018 13:25

Last year my DD8 wanted a Nintendo DS. Aprt from the fact that a new on is out of my budget for presents I know she’s not much of a gamer - she has a tablet and generally just watches videos. Her best friend has one and this is why it came up. I ended up getting one from the electronic second hand chain shop for a very reasonable price. She has barely touched it all year. She had played with it but not loads. And she won’t let her sister touch it so sister has their dad’s old one we realised we still have. I have bought a few games from said second had shop this year in a hope to push playing with this console one last time - games that were about £3 ish.

I’ve also recently sold a few rarely played with main presents from previous years - baby wow dolls, Dora dolls, dolls house.

If you buy it new and keep the receipt then you can take it back if it remains unopened. If it’s played with but grown out of then you’d can sell it on for a decent price. All out ELC happyland toyd sold on eventually after both children played with them and funded one year’s new toys.

bluebellsparklypants · 08/12/2018 08:28

My DC played endlessly with trains for months then went off it, brought him a new train piece which iginted his passion for it again. You could get it but alway sell it on in few months if he really doesn’t play with it or is there another toy on the list he’d be happy with

Pammie70 · 08/12/2018 09:12

As Santa’s Elf in our preschool grotto for 3 hours yesterday evening I can tell you tool sets and Shimmer & Shine was popular. But the majority had no idea and were happy to agree with Santa to get lots of surprises

marmaladecats · 08/12/2018 09:26

I had a look at in online. It looks a good toy that could be used in lots of different scenarios (eg doesn’t just have to be used with the paw patrol characters that come with?). I’d get it second hand if possible, you can always sell it on. My 4 year old boy is not in to any character toys (he doesn’t know they exist) so he can be quite hard to buy for!

claraschu · 08/12/2018 09:37

I think that you have to listen to what they tell you with their behaviour not with their words, and this applies to people of all ages not just preschoolers. He is showing you that he doesn't want this toy. I would get it if I could find it cheaply second hand.

I don't really like the whole idea of letters to Santa for this reason.

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 08/12/2018 09:41

depends on cost TBH, and whether there's anything else they've asked for. I think when they're small, part of the joy of Christmas IS getting something you've asked for. I remember DC1 asking for a baby buggy when we thought she'd long outgrown dolls, but it was cheap enough that we could buy something else that we thought had better play value/longevity. Turns out she bloody loved that buggy and it reignited her enthusiasm for dolls.

booellesmum · 08/12/2018 09:48

When mine were little they were only allowed to ask Santa for 3 things.
They were told that as Santa and the elves can't always make enough of a particular toy for every child that asks they were allowed to put a little list as a P.S for Santa that he could bring if their first choices weren't possible.
I tried to get their 3 choices but close to Xmas certain things sell out so the reserve list was always helpful.
The fact that they only asked for 3 things also then meant that the other presents I could get them surprises that I knew they'd like.

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