6yo asking for things too young for her

[CoffeeChocolateWine]

My DD is 6 and has been mentioning lots of things she'd like for Christmas. But I have a dilemma knowing that many of the things she'd like are too young or too small for her, and wanting to get her what she'd like for Christmas.

Just to mention these things aren't Santa presents...he only brings stockings in our house, so she knows she is asking us for these things.

For instance, a couple of years ago we got one of those colour-in cardboard ice cream vans from Hobbycraft. Even as a 4yo she was too big for it really as she's big for her age and it took up a lot of space, but she had fun with it before it fell apart. Now she wants another one. She wants to play inside it, not colour it in. She's too big for it! I'm not worried about the money...it's not expensive but she'll be disappointed! And I don't want it taking up so much space again!

She also wants a toy shopping trolley. But all the ones I can find seem to be designed for toddlers, not a tall 6yo. It doesn't seem like something she'll play with much either so I'm not sure where she's got the idea from.

WWYD? Would you get the things she's asked for or would you overrule and get some other surprises you know she'd love? Originally she was asking for musical instruments which I would very happily buy for her. I wish she'd stuck with that idea!

I know your DD hasn't asked for a doll's pram but there's a company called Play Like Mum and they do doll's prams for older children. Perhaps you could gently suggest this as a kind of compromise?

Never mind just saw that she's not into dolls silly me.

As the mother of a 17yo who was like this, I say get her what she wants. I often refused to buy things I didn't think my child would get much play out of because they were too young. With some things it worked out fine. For example, when her toy cooker broke when she was 8/9 she wanted a new one. I taught her to cook instead and she now loves cooking and can turn her hand to most family meals.

Others, she's still asking for. She still wants magnatiles and asked for them for her birthday. She only relented when I pointed out she would have to choose between them, a new Adidas Campus and a new phone. She still wants them though.

To clarify, my main concern is the size of the items relative to my child...I know I said 'too young for her' in the title but what I meant was she wants the same item she had before and I know for a fact she is too big for it because it was designed for younger children in mind.

I have no issue at all with her playing with it...my concern is that she will be disappointed on Christmas when she realises that she is in fact too physically big for it.

Likewise for the trolley, my searches only brought up toys aimed at younger children (2 & 3) and because she is a tall 6.5yo I'm concerned it will be too small for her. I have no problem with her playing shops (why would I??!) She has a play shop. It doesn't get played with loads any more hence my surprise that she's asking for a trolley. However, the PP who posted the link to the ones they have in supermarkets, thank you. I think that's exactly what she's after and what I couldn't find.

And to the PP who asked whether I would have a problem with my older children playing with my younger DC's toys...obviously not. They do and I don't!

The Hobbycraft thing is nice and fun and would be a fab thing over a holiday period. Also, a six yr old can colour in much better than a four yr old, so win win

What?! You can buy a real one for a quid!!

My DD just turned 7, she is also tall for her age (usually size 9-10 clothing). I got her the Hobbycraft ice cream van for her birthday. She can just about squish inside it through the door to serve treats out the window, and likes to 'drive' it round with her head popping out the hole in the top and the roof balancing on her shoulders, she loves it. She also still plays with the trolley and toy kitchen she has had since 2, she just sits in the floor rather than bending down to them. Don't see a problem with these toy requests for your DDs age.

One of my DDs is like this, she's a little older than yours. Now she frames it as "collecting", although I know she likes to play with them too. Her life is very full of activities and adulting, so it's not immaturity. I have to admit I occasionally join in.
As a child I generally bought her what she wanted for Christmas, but would often buy a little something extra that I knew was "in" with her year group, so she wasn't out of step with her peers.

Thanks all. I'm all sorted.