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Christmas

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Original poster

Help me sift through dds wishes

33 replies

Yellowcanary22 · 13/10/2022 06:06

It’s early and I know Christmas wishes can change but trying to snap early bargains if I see them.
DD also has a Christmas birthday so tends to get a lot at this time of year and I try to get stuff that will cover the full year.
DD has a mountain of toys and lots of relatives who like to buy for her.
I’m really trying to keep it down this year and have booked for us to go away for actual Christmas thinking it would limit gifts. She’s also having a birthday party instead of presents this year (her friends will all bring gifts and the party wasn’t cheap)

DD already keeps mentioning all the things she likes, inspired by stuff her friends have or things we see in the supermarket/adverts. I always tell her that she can put it on a wish list instead of buying in the moment, and that Santa will look at the list for ideas at Christmas.

meanwhile, there are things we would like to get her but she’s not asked for - educational toys basically

Shes definitely not getting everything. Financial and space reasons. If you have a 5 year old dd, which of these actually got used/played with and which were fads?

Dd wish:
Kids tablet
Barbie camper van
Various Barbies (colour reveal, camping Barbie, etc.)
A Polly pocket bag with Polly pockets inside
A wooden dolls house with dolls
Spirit playmobil house
Crayola Washimals
Bath slime
A telescope (useless as we live in city center there are no stars)
Lol dolls (I draw the line here, she’s had one and it was cast aside after the opening excitement wore off)

Our ideas:
An interactive globe
A microscope
Books
Art supplies
Tonies figures

Stocking fillers I’ve already picked up:

  • [ ] Chef hat for dress up box
  • [ ] Glitter shaker
  • [ ] Bath bombs & bath wand
  • [ ] Insect catcher magnifying glass
  • [ ] Street chalk (massive size)
  • [ ] Shower gel shaped like Lol doll
  • [ ] Toy money for her shop

thanks for your tips!

OP posts:
melchim · 13/10/2022 06:14

It is quite hard to say what will get played with. My DD goes hot and cold on all her toys but she has probably played least with the wooden doll house. Since that takes up so much space maybe its not worth it.

Bath slime and the Crayola washimals seem like easy wins.

I'd get one or two Barbies from that list but not the campervan because of space.

Do you want her to have a tablet? That would be a big hit I'm sure.

Michellebops · 13/10/2022 06:19

My daughter just turned 7 and would like most of these. She has the barbie camper van and loves it.

One thing I might suggest avoid bath slime unless you've used before and know what to expect. We had that Jellybaff and omg I didn't think I was getting my daughter out safely. Our shower is separate so I couldn't rinse off her and had to use towels to lift her out whilst she was sliding around, nearly banged her head on the taps. NEVER AGAIN

Tumilnaughts · 13/10/2022 06:20

My DD loves Barbie but now has about 20. 🙈 So we bought her the airplane. It's huge and takes up space but it does get played with a lot. She also plays with her Lols. She's asked for a polly pocket this year as her mates have them and she likes playing with them on play dates too, so we're hoping that will be a hit. Those are smallish too so don't have to worry about space!

Singleandproud · 13/10/2022 06:23

Is there a good reason for her to have a tablet, ie she tags along to older siblings activities and has to wait around alot? If so I'd be tempted to get a kindle which is cheap enough and some education game content downloaded on to it.

Don't bother with the microscope - leave that until she's 8+. Possibly similar for the globe.

All those tat like toys, if she wants them can you direct family to buy them?

Marmite27 · 13/10/2022 06:25

Washimals are annoying, I have a 4 and 7 year old and they can’t be played with without direct supervision unless I want water everywhere.

AmIThatMam · 13/10/2022 06:27

Colour reveal Barbies are the worst of the Barbies. They are so cheap looking and the hair is crap. Avoid!

urbanbuddha · 13/10/2022 06:30

The camper van and Polly Pocket are the ones that leap out at me. The camper van especially has had a lot of use. Art supplies as well.

Moro93 · 13/10/2022 06:31

It's hard to say because it's very dependent on the individual child.

My daughter doesn't have the Barbie campervan, I'm considering it this year but she has the ambulance, cars, bakery etc and none of it gets played with much.

She does play with her Lols, but the most exciting part is opening them. I didn't want to buy more this year because to me they're not worth the money and contain lots of small pieces that get lost but she loves them.

I'd say the tablet would definitely get plenty of use and you'd have to restrict the time more than worry about it not being played with.

Crayola stuff is always good, the Playmobil and Polly Pocket is usually played with here as well and I think most kids that age enjoy those kinds of toys. Wooden dolls house was also used a lot and she now has a larger one but they can use a lot of space.

I want to buy a telescope this year (she also hasn't asked for it) but maybe if you live in a city and don't have space, go for the microscope instead. I always buy books and art supplies, they don't always get the best reaction upon opening but they always get use and have longevity.

Toomanysquishmallows · 13/10/2022 06:51

Hi , both my girls loved polly pockets at that age .As others have said , maybe wait until she’s a bit older for the globe?

Original poster
Yellowcanary22 · 13/10/2022 06:57

A relative has offered to get her a tablet but agree we will have to be strict about usage. She always nags me for my phone to play games so it would solve that issue, and we have a long flight for our holiday so it would keep her entertained.

Thank you for the advice about the bath slime. I have a bad back so definitely don’t want to be lifting a slippery 5 year old out the bath! Santa won’t have that in stock this year.

And agree the wooden doll house can get axed as it takes up the most space - she already has the baby Annabelle house, a tent, a playmobil house, a wooden kitchen, a dressing up table. There just isn’t space.

Im thinking of caving on the camper van as it could roll under her dressing table but it makes me cringe to spend so much on plastic. I’ve had a look on market place but people are asking for 30+ second hand in my area and then I might as well look for a discount code for new without stickers ripped off/bits missing.

Love crayola and never begrudge spending money on their stuff as it gets used

OP posts:
bluechameleon · 13/10/2022 07:01

We have a Polly Pocket that gets played with every so often- not a huge hit, but useful for restaurants/journeys. I'd definitely go for the dolls' house, you can get years out of that, especially if you have a younger child as well. Ours is sometimes a hospital, dinosaur world, police station etc. Playmobil is eternally popular here but not so much the buildings, more the figures and accessories.
I'm having a similar issue with DS2 who will be almost 5 at Christmas and is asking for lots of Paw Patrol and Gu Jitzu stuff - I'm worried he is on the verge of growing out of it so it will be a waste.

Original poster
Yellowcanary22 · 13/10/2022 08:10

With the Polly pockets - do you find the little bits get flung around the house and lost or does your dd tend to take good care of them because they have a little case?

OP posts:
Moro93 · 13/10/2022 10:40

Yellowcanary22 · 13/10/2022 08:10

With the Polly pockets - do you find the little bits get flung around the house and lost or does your dd tend to take good care of them because they have a little case?

My 6 year old daughter takes good care of hers after we remind her but the little bits inevitably go missing sometimes.

Dinoteeth · 13/10/2022 10:45

Tablet is fine, I'd go with an Apple or Andriod depending on your own phone. Google family link gives you good controls if Android.
School are likely to have Apps Sumdog / Hit the Button they use for homework.

Avoid Vtech / Leapfrog if that's what you were thinking.

mam0918 · 13/10/2022 10:52

Tablet would get used the most but you'll also shoot yourself in the foot as she likely wont like toys much more after that.

Every kid I know once they got tablets instantly became mini teens who no longer wanted actual toys to play with.

The rest is hard to say, by that age I wasnt into dolls much but I did like anything 'tiny' so polly pockets still interested me, I did have a globe night light but all kids are different.

I think telescopes are alway they least used gift, I dont know a kid that ever really used them (I tried as a kid but got frustraited because I couldnt see anything and then it got religated to the 'crap' pile) after getting them and yet it seems everyone got one at some point... I think my oldest has 3 (all gifts from other people, still in box lol).

mam0918 · 13/10/2022 10:54

bluechameleon · 13/10/2022 07:01

We have a Polly Pocket that gets played with every so often- not a huge hit, but useful for restaurants/journeys. I'd definitely go for the dolls' house, you can get years out of that, especially if you have a younger child as well. Ours is sometimes a hospital, dinosaur world, police station etc. Playmobil is eternally popular here but not so much the buildings, more the figures and accessories.
I'm having a similar issue with DS2 who will be almost 5 at Christmas and is asking for lots of Paw Patrol and Gu Jitzu stuff - I'm worried he is on the verge of growing out of it so it will be a waste.

I tend to find kids usually switch off from that stuff around approx. 8 year old so you might still get a few years out of it.

snugglyblanket · 13/10/2022 11:21

Polly Pockets were a huge hit in our house around that age, and I remember mine fondly too from the 80s lol DD's were well looked after as they were stored in a box together and played with together. They are now in the loft as she couldn't part with them, apart from a couple that she keeps on display in her room.

A tablet would probably go down well and you can compromise by putting educational games on there. I like the parental controls on the Fire, ours are set to limited use each day and go off a set time before bed.

Instead of a telescope, how about a projector? DS has a star projector nightlight that he got about the same age and still uses it every night several years later.

And for the wooden dolls house, perhaps one of the little ones that folds up with a carry handle? I think we got one from Asda years ago. Still hits the brief but doesn't take up too much room. Though our proper wooden dolls house is one of our most played with toys. DD outgrew it years ago but DS has used it for Imaginex superhero figures, DN uses it whenever she comes round and visiting kids tend to make a beeline for that or the wooden kitchen.

Ladymama12 · 13/10/2022 13:15

mam0918 · 13/10/2022 10:52

Tablet would get used the most but you'll also shoot yourself in the foot as she likely wont like toys much more after that.

Every kid I know once they got tablets instantly became mini teens who no longer wanted actual toys to play with.

The rest is hard to say, by that age I wasnt into dolls much but I did like anything 'tiny' so polly pockets still interested me, I did have a globe night light but all kids are different.

I think telescopes are alway they least used gift, I dont know a kid that ever really used them (I tried as a kid but got frustraited because I couldnt see anything and then it got religated to the 'crap' pile) after getting them and yet it seems everyone got one at some point... I think my oldest has 3 (all gifts from other people, still in box lol).

Sadly i agree with this regarding the tablets. Its very true, and from my experience will eventually feel like a constant battle to get them to do much else.
My dd didn't have anything like that till she was ten and gradually it happened... Instant teenager as mentioned above . Im so glad i held off. I know you said you would monitor it op which is difficult but well worth the effort.

Pixiedust1234 · 13/10/2022 13:46

I'll be honest its been a few years since I had a 5yr old but mine (and their multiple friends) LOVED these

Barbie camper van
Various Barbies (colour reveal, camping Barbie, etc.) - see if you can buy a load of barbie clothes off ebay etc, you don't really need more than five barbies - oh, you do need a horse though 😉
A Polly pocket bag with Polly pockets inside

A wooden dolls house with dolls - this had previously been my toy when I was a child and it got handed down. Its now stored in attic awaiting grandchildren.

And NO NO NO NO!!!!!!
Bath slime

mam0918 · 13/10/2022 14:00

Pixiedust1234 · 13/10/2022 13:46

I'll be honest its been a few years since I had a 5yr old but mine (and their multiple friends) LOVED these

Barbie camper van
Various Barbies (colour reveal, camping Barbie, etc.) - see if you can buy a load of barbie clothes off ebay etc, you don't really need more than five barbies - oh, you do need a horse though 😉
A Polly pocket bag with Polly pockets inside

A wooden dolls house with dolls - this had previously been my toy when I was a child and it got handed down. Its now stored in attic awaiting grandchildren.

And NO NO NO NO!!!!!!
Bath slime

why no to bath slime? my kids get it nearly every year in their stocking, its great for sensory play.

Hophop26 · 13/10/2022 14:20

Dds here too, I would avoid:

  • colour reveal barbie - absolutely naff and not nice dolls to play with after the initial surprise bit
  • lols with maybe the exception of the ones that come in a box that makes a play set
  • microscope and telescope - save until she is older

I would go for...

barbie camper (huge hit here and still played with years later) - I got for £40 on Amazon in Black Friday week deals
washimals - also played with a lot and not had a problem with needing to overly supervise
books
art supplies

EndlessMagpies · 13/10/2022 14:24

O. M. G. They do Spirit toys? If only my dd wasn't 23, she'd love them!! Spirit was one of her absolute favourite cartoon characters when she was younger.

Pixiedust1234 · 13/10/2022 15:04

@mam0918 its never ended well. Nothing slimy does (in this household).

KitchenSupper · 13/10/2022 15:12

We got my four year old a microscope last year and she comes back to it every now and again, as does her younger brother. We have also used it ourselves several times to work out whether they had nits or not.

AnneShirleysNewDress · 13/10/2022 18:19

My DD is 5 and has my old tablet but still prefers her toys. Lalaloopsy's (the little ones) are a hit here as is Polly Pocket.