New toys throughout the year

[Mytribeof3]

I'm wondering whether to update my childrens collections a bit, in terms of playmobil and lego mostly as my dcs birthdays are so close to Christmas and I feel that we need some little extras to keep them going over the next few months. It seems like such a long time to wait until next Christmas before refreshing what they've got. Not thinking much, perhaps a couple of sets so £50 approx. Bit of a random one but I'm curious to know what others do in this situation? Do you tend to buy your cd little bits throughout the year or do they have to wait until Birthdays/ Christmas? My dc are 5 and under so don't get pocket money yet x

My ds is only 16 months but his birthday is really,really close to Christmas. We didn't go crazy at Christmas and his birthday and have bought him bits so far throughout the year. We've also put aside any cash he's given to buy Summer toys, things for the garden things like that. But...I'm terrible with toys, he gets a bit of something nearly every week, just little thing from nearly new sales etc. The toy situation is already becoming critical in the house so it may have to be curbed!

My ds's birthday is in the summer however he is coming up 3 and we do buy him things as he needs them as he can get to a point where he has outgrown all his toys or his interests just change. I sell off his old ones to help put money towards them. I guess as he gets older he won't grow out of them so quickly so that we will be able to stick mainly to Christmas and birthdays. However giving bits through the year works for us now. At birthdays and Christmas at the moment we don't tend to buy him much but he gets presents from family and friends.

When DS was younger, probably until he was about 2.5, we bought him toys when he 'needed' them for development.

Now he's 4.5 they are mainly bought at chistmas and birthday (unfortunately for him his birthday is in November) but we'll buy toys occasionaly for him outside of these times eg if it's something he's been asking for for a while and he's really behaved himself or if one of us has extra money for whatever reason, and he knows it's a one off for these reasons. But certainly not every month at payday or any other similar routine.

If we're in pound shop and he sees something he'd like I usually treat him to that too, but again, that's probably every two months.

I'm planning on introducing pocket money when he starts school in September, and then he'll be expected to save that money towards any toys he would like but we'll contribute too.

I definitely think that when they are younger ie babies/ toddlers, they may need a few new things more regularly as they are developing a lot in this time and to expect them to wait several months can be harder. I tend to update their books from time to time and also crafty bits every few weeks but I class those as more essentials as they spend a lot of time making stuff!

I have a 7yo and 4yo. One has a birthday 3m before Christmas and one 3m after, so there is a 9m stretch for each.

We buy things like books and activity books as needed, and when babies bought a few age-appropriate things as needed because their needs change so much when little, but we never buy toys except for Christmas and birthdays. They get so much then that there really should be enough to last them until the next celebration (and there is) and I have never wanted them to expect toys by right. Any pestering and they get told to add it to birthday/Christmas list. Neither gets pocket money yet, but when they do they can then choose to buy toys but I don't intend to spoil them beyond birthdays and Christmas.

DC3 is nearly 1 and expect we'll be exactly the same with him. New toys are just not necessary that often I think.

I should have also said I don't consider garden toys such a sandpits in the same way, they are just bought because I want the kids to be able to enjoy playing outside and leave me alone to enjoy my coffee in peace!

If you think they have enough toys but are concerned they'll be bored waiting until December for new ones, what about an annual membership to somewhere you can take them on a regular basis? Here in Belfast we have W5, I plan on buying a membership when my two are older as it's a great place to while away a day and is less clutter some than toys :)

DS1's birthday is in December, so he's always had a few extra bits through the year, especially when we've been back to the UK. But he's 7 now, so I'm aiming to stop it, especially as he already has a lot of stuff.
DS2 is an October baby, so also fairly close to Christmas, so he's still getting odds and sods through the year too - but probably less than DS1 did, because he has all DS1's old toys to play with as well.

One thing that I am bad for though, is buying dragons when they become available (from How To Train Your Dragon) and then giving them to the boys straight away - because both boys are really into HTTYD and play with the dragons all the time. So they get very excited when they know that a new toy is out and so do I

I tend to keep some birthday and Christmas toys hidden away to bring out through the year and also do a bit of toy rotation so DS1 has "new" toys to look at. He is only 3 though, so it's still possible to squirrel away toys and he mostly forgets them. I do also buy him new things, mainly if I see a bargain I can't resist.

No they get presents on Birthday and Christmas only. One DC has a December Birthday, he gets excited all year as he plans what he wants by march , so when he finally gets it he plays with it solidly until about March. I don't leave all the toys out all the time, only favorites or new ones. Our two youngest have about six boxes in their room. I alternate them in the playroom so leave the other 5 in their room for example. After a week I change the box, so It's like new toys again. This works well for them not getting bored and all the toys all over the place.

I suppose it's just that dd2 has recently started to enjoy lego but our collection is quite basic and I think she'd benefit from a few little sets to build as she likes to 'play' with the things she's made if that makes sense? At 3 years 5 months she's quite young for it but I suppose I'm trying to encourage her interest as I consider lego a decent activity rather than 'just another toy'.

DD has Christmas Day and her Birthday 2 days in a row.

We have always bought her a few bits during the year as needed, development wise, garden games in summer, things she fancied that weren't OTT etc. And books year round too. We also found that many years we have opened all gifts, but put a few aside to take out later in the year, as there was so much and too much to use all at once. We also end up getting lots of sports stuff during the year - whereas I know lots of friends who give hockey sticks or new footballs as birthday gifts only.

I am not a believer in ONLY having toys for Xmas and BD, but giving during the year as well if needed/wanted.

I am also not a believer in ONLY giving TOYS for Chsitmas and BD, but getting books, clothes, craft consumables (I know an American word, but it fits - paper, pencils, glue, stickers etc), and also other things that she needs like nice toothbrush, sports equipment etc for those occasions as well. She's getting to a stage where toiletries will start to feature as well for those presents.

Some people give small bits during the year (e.g. MIL) whereas others prefer to give 1 large gift for Xmas/BD combined and nothing else. It all depends on different people, and we can deal with all, as long as they don't give disapproving vibes on how WE parent our DC (there is 1 - there's always 1! - who does and it really annoys me ).

We also have a Christmas birthday and for that reason, I do tend to buy occasional bits throughout the year, if I think it's needed.

I don't buy much for Christmas itself (though I am sure there are Mumsnetters who buy even less). I don't want to be overwhelmed with lots of stuff then, especially with birthday presents as well. I'd rather it was spread out a bit.

I buy throughout the year....mainly smallish bits and bobs, and then it's one big present for Xmas and one big present for birthdays.

It's a bit miserable I think, if your child is really keen on something, and will use it, and it's a 'good toy' that will last, to not maximise the pleasure by getting it when their interest is at its peak. If mine are being good, save a bit of money towards it, do a few chores etc, then I'll usually buy the toy they want after a week or so.

They know it's not every blimmin week though and they don't exploit it. They are 8, 14, and 17, now, though I've pretty much always done this. And for babies and toddlers I refreshed stuff often, usually via the charity shop or eBay.

All my DC are winter birthdays, so now we often do a family present for the summer holidays eg swingball, new board game, a new bike (usually secondhand as we've got a fab bike shop nearby that does reconditioned ones).

(I am on a tight budget btw, so I still need to save to do this, and I do say no to quite a lot, esp. Pound shop rubbishy toys).

I certainly don't think children need to get new toys all of the time. I like them to appreciate the things they get so that's why I'm giving it thought, but as others have said its important to spread things out. Particuarly with things that help their development.

Do people ask you what to get her? We had this with DS1 his godparents never knew what to get so I always said lego. He's 12 now and has a lot, which he still plays with. My family and DH's family rarely buy toys, only their godparents or our really close friends so they didn't ever have enough toys to spread over the year. It's a good idea if you do get enough of them though. But then that's the beauty of lego, once you've made the set you can mix it up and make new toys every week

Yes last Christmas I was largely in control of what other people bought them as family had asked for suggestions. I was pleased with this as it meant I could ensure they received things that they actually use. That said, I still feel there are a couple of gaps (such as the lego in this case) as the childrens interests are developing changing so much at this age.

I buy DS(4.8) stuff throughout the year that supports his development and/ or school topics.

For example Orchard games are graduated in their complexity and the academic skills they require, we probably get a new one every couple of months.

DS had dino books and toys when they did that topic at school and is now having some space related stuff. I have bought him a bug study kit because he was showing a lot of interest in the minibeasts appearing in the garden and he has recently had some spelling games.

Just watching this thread with interest.

Have you thought about joining a toy library, op?

I have just recently joined one.

If you can afford it, of course. I often buy my DS things as I see them. He's 2 and developing fast so things that work for his birthday might be totally inappropriate by 9 months later at Christmas!

I do, DD is an only child so I have to play with her a lot and I get bored of the toys lol. her birthday is in September so she gets new academics type things, magnet letters etc along with some new stationary for her desk normal toys for the new school year. 3 months later at Christmas she'll get some indoors toys, top up the lego/ playmobil a couple of board games etc, 3 months after at Easter she gets a few small eggs and an outdoors toy, new scooter/ bike/ swing etc what ever she's grown out of, and then the start of the summer holidays maybe another few outdoorsy things, swing ball, space hooper etc.

I like it because it's evenly spaced and most of the extras are just as much so I don't get bored as they are for her and encourage more time together. However, she is very well behaved, tries hard at school and NEVER asks for things if she whinged for things a lot or had poor behaviour she probably wouldn't get as much.

I wish I'd brought my children more toys. At the time I embraced minimising clutter/ anti consumerism but toys are the way they learn and the stuff doesn't hang around for ever.
I still hyperventilate when I see the average toddler's haul though!

That's interesting, Seriouslyffs. I don't think I have ever come across anyone else who's said that.

Most of the time people end up saying that their kids have way too many toys.

I like ds to have toys, but our home is tiny. The toy library seemed like a good way to get round the problem! I have seen some lovely toys for him though. I may splurge after all!

I got a few bits when the first one was tiny if they needed them for their development (2nd had use of those), but now they are 5&7 the only things I've bought outside of xmas/bday for years are garden toys (trampoline, water shooters), replacement (bigger) bikes and scooters and replenishment of craft/playdough. They don't actually play with toys much and don't request them. I have friends who have kids begging for computer games, if that was the case I'd initiate some sort of pocket money system.

I am unusual littlemoaner!
DC1 wasn't a great player, and once the other 2 were around, they all entertained each other! They had enough toys- just far fewer than their friends and we were never early adopters! We also lived in flats so they never really had garden toys.
I'll probably drive my children mad and spoil their children.