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Presents for a 5yo girl - is it me?!

25 replies

Moomin · 16/09/2006 17:23

Now I don't want to sound ungrateful and I'm overwhelmed at the generousity of people who have sent birthday gifts to dd1, but I can't get over the state of some of the things people think are suitable for a 5 year old.

She had 3 make-up kits which are the sort you'd buy an adolescent girl (as in not play make-up)and a rock-star Barbie amongst other things (I hate barbie at the best of times but wouldn't have minded fairy or mermaid barbie quite so much maybe) and a Barbie make-up face. It all seems a bit old before her time, tbh. I want her to stay a little girl for as long as possible but the odds are stacked against me it seems. Some of these gifts were bought by quite close friends as well, who obviously don't see any problem at all with stuff like this. Am I being a bit precious? I'm seriously considering hiding a number of things to see of she misses them (most are still sealed) and then swapping them if i can. or would this be out of order?

OP posts:
belgo · 16/09/2006 17:26

PUt them away until you consider her old enough. You know your daughter best.

PanicPants · 16/09/2006 17:27

How about putting some aside for when she's older?

And if she has 3 make up sets, then you could be justified in returning at least 2 of them! Or you could use them!

Gobbledigook · 16/09/2006 17:29

For a party next week - 5 yr old girls - I've bought a Disney Princess activity set (got stickers, pages to colour, glittery crayons) and a Disney Princess stationery set (pencil, ruler, rubber etc).

Is that OK?! I don't have girls so just checking!

Agree re make up etc - I wouldn't have bought any of those things.

Gobbledigook · 16/09/2006 17:29

I'd put them away Moomin - there's no way I'd be letting my 5 yr old put make up on.

LIZS · 16/09/2006 17:31

Think we should count ourselves lucky that dd got such little girly pressies then !

Moomin · 16/09/2006 17:32

Gobbledigook - sounds lovely. that's the kind of thing i'd expect - stickers, stationery, books, princesses, fairies, etc.

thinking about it - at least 3 of the gifts were bought by friends that just have boys - maybe they've just gauged it wrong

OP posts:
Moomin · 16/09/2006 17:34

i've actually let her put make-up on once or twice - some of my old stuff just for dressing up at home (she ended up looking like Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane!) but these kits are more 'teenage'.

OP posts:
LIZS · 16/09/2006 17:35

Sounds a likely explanation.

misdee · 16/09/2006 17:36

dd1 chose to get her friend a stationary set for her borthday party today (she is 6). she was umm-ing over getting her a my little pony, but saw a winnie the pooh gift set in tesco (pencil, pencil case, note book, rubber etc etc in a little clear bag).

Gobbledigook · 16/09/2006 17:44

Mine was all from Tesco too Misdee - love tesco for party presents - easy to pick something up and this week I paid for them with vouchers - yippeee!

dazzlincaz · 16/09/2006 17:52

Dd has just gone to a 9th birthday party. Present was from Tesco - a hardcover spiral bound lined-paper notebook and a set of 10 fineliner coloured pens (which apparently don't dry out if the cap is left off.) Agree with Misdee and Gobbledigook - Tesco is just so convenient and popping into town wasn't so it saved me on this occasion.

misdee · 16/09/2006 17:54

i am stocking up on their stationary stuff for last minute pressies.

nikkie · 17/09/2006 17:52

I tend to put presents away for future use as they get so much
Both mine have used make up and those head things but they'face paint' with it!(I don't wear make up so they probably have very little idea what to do with it!)

motherinferior · 17/09/2006 17:54

That sounds quite repulsive. I'd feel exactly the same as you. Ditch them, hide them, or give them away.

Enid · 17/09/2006 17:54

mine are past disney princess and winnie the pooh by 5 (ah they are sophisticated Enidettes)

my little pony perfect I would say

nikkie · 17/09/2006 18:03

Mine (5&6) like princess stuff but haven't been into Winnie the pooh for ages.One of dd1s bfs loves it though so its one of those depends on the child things!

Gobbledigook · 17/09/2006 18:23

Enid don't say that! I've bought them now!! Arrrggghhhh!

fennel · 20/09/2006 14:05

yes we also have an influx of nail and make up kits from dd2's recent 5th birthday. clearly from parents who don't know our family at all.

dd2 would notice if I removed half her birthday presents. I'd have done that in the past. I let her use these kits, straight away, and will ditch them as soon as I think she won't notice.

also I let visiting little boys use the kits, they tend to love that, though their parents don't always appreciate it.

they are horrible, ugh.

hana · 20/09/2006 14:07

as a mum to only girls I find it hard to choose presents for boys! usually get books for them...

SpaceCadet · 20/09/2006 14:08

the last two parties ds went to, both 5 year old girls, i bought them
minnie mouse glitter pens, pencils etc in a minnie mouse case.
little mermaid set same as above, both a fiver from disney store.

colditz · 20/09/2006 14:10

Boy = something with wheels, something you have to put together (lego etc) or a ball.

Girl = Something to make with glitter on it, sparkley pens, 1 pair plimmies and a shoe decorating kit, personalised mug/pencils/necklace bead thing.

hana · 20/09/2006 14:11

have also bought some of the orchard board games for boys ( and girls)

dmo · 20/09/2006 14:23

i'm a cm and mindee was 5 this week (only had her before school for 3 days) so didnt really know her so i got her a book about best friends with two necklaces one for her and one for her friend and a priness card with her name on (from e-bay) she loved it

redshoes · 20/09/2006 17:45

Couldn't agree more - why push them into acting older than they are. My personal 'thing' this week is sleepovers - the little girls in dd's class (yr 2) have just started this - I feel they are too young (dd is just 6). Am I wrong?

dmo · 20/09/2006 19:02

sleepovers are a nightmare as children dont sleep etc etc
we have only had the neighbours boy over to sleep a few times and that was bad enough with 3 of them never mind a party
it takes them too long to recover

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