6yo wants to gift people things! Advice needed…

[Zapx]

Hey mumsnet, bit a daft question here but I’d really appreciate some ideas…

My 6yo DD is pretty young for her age really, but absolutely adorable (of course!). However, she’s recently got into making loom band bracelets. The issue is, is that she wants to make them for everyone. All the time. She’ll seemingly pick someone she’s met (E.g her karate instructor) and will want to make them a bracelet.

This has escalated this week… She has spent pretty much all her free time over the last few days making a loom band bracelet for each of the members of the stunt jousting team at Warwick castle (!). We are going back there next week.

As much as I try and say that they’re busy, we won’t be able to give them to them, she knows they come out after the show, and she is SO EXCITED to give them her bracelets. 🤦‍♀️

Things I’ve tried:
Let’s make them for grandma and grandad instead (didn’t work, she just makes more)
We might not be able to give them to them as they’re busy (they come out after the show, she knows this)
They might not want one (she literally can’t understand this at all as obviously everyone loves a loom band bracelet!)

Help me mumsnet, I need to let her down gently but I have no idea how… this situation wasn’t in the parenting books!!

TBF, their job is to entertain families and they may well chuck it in the bin the second they leave but they probably would graciously accept it if your DD is close enough to give it to them. Just let her! (But be ready to comfort if she doesn't get close enough to give them).

I receive loads of tat (including loom band bracelets) regularly from children in my job. I compliment them and thank them, but quite often chuck it when I get home. It means so much to children, any adult used to working with children would accept gifts graciously.

Could you maybe take her to a busy playground and share them ,but set a limit ?

My DD, 9, can be a bit like this. Wants to make something for everyone in her class etc.
personally I don't discourage it, just let her get on with it. If she's happy to sit there and make 30 of something and then have the confidence to give them as a gift then I don't mind so much.

Only thing I have had to put a stop to is her giving her toys away to friends on play dates. It's just caused arguments and she gives expensive gifts away! And it's rather awkward having to ask for stuff back! And friends kept expecting to be given stuff.

Aww let her do it. Surely anyone working at a place visited by children would graciously accept the gift even if they throw it away as soon as they head back inside? And if there isn’t time to give them out for whatever reason I would just take her to leave them at the entrance or gift shop with a member of staff to give to the team, and maybe tip them off quietly that you’re not bothered if they just end up in the bin.

i think it’s lovely that your child is generous. My own cries when I give away her old clothes (that do not fit her anymore) to her friend who is smaller than her! I wish she was so kindhearted!

Stunt jousting team at Warwick castle

😂

Crack on, I love it!

Your daughter sounds fab

Please let her do it

People will love it

I think giving them to kids at the playground limit of 10 each time is a good idea.

Similarly I’d let her make them for kids in her class. I would encourage her not to give them to grown ups except family members.

Well, that's taken the wind out of my sails, I had spent most of last night and the early hours of this morning making 'hand-held posies' for the exact same 'stunt jousting team at Warwick Castle'.

I've put them in the bin now. 😪

Could she make them for her cuddly toys?

My daughter can be like this, I let her crack on. the only thing I worry about is people not being very kind about receiving a piece of tat but that hasn’t happened yet!! I’m sure the people at Warwick will say thank you and take it even if they later dispose (I’m a supply teacher and ex teacher and have been given much Crap over the years, I just smile say thanks, wear it for an hour then ditch later!!)

Id far rather she was crafting than on a screen and this gets the endless things she’s made out my house 😂

What's the problem? DD is 7 and does the same. She's made 100 over the last week. Some she just stores up, some she takes and gives to people. I'm not sure what the issue is.

Just let her do it but help her manage her emotions/disappointment if she can't manage to give them personally to whoever she's made them for.

It doesn't have to be an issue if you do this.

Usurped by a 6 year old 😁

What’s the issue? It’s their job to entertain kids and they will graciously accept them and then they’ll either keep them or not.

This is a really sweet hobby and something that will keep her occupied.

My youngest used to make loom band bracelets and sell them at family parties! 🙈🙈

At least it was to family. A child in my daughters class made some crap out of paper and set up a stall outside school and the mum whatsapped us all to ask us to bring a £1 to buy a paper thing so her daughter could go to the fair…!

Let her do it! It's a very sweet hobby and you never know for how long it'll keep her entertained after all. She might forget about it in a week, or if she doesn't and it'll still bother you, you can set some limits, a limit of 10 each time sounds reasonable. All my 7yo niece wanted last year was to add wild makeup to Olivia Rodrigo's photos in Photoworks (I'm a hobbyist photographer and she said she wanted to be one too!), but we set a limit of 3 pictures per visit, because she didn't need this much screen time and we see each other once or twice a week. She forgot about it in a month or so, though.

It’s very sweet and surely anybody offered a Loom band gift by a cute six year old will accept it graciously and act pleased?
the stunt jousting team absolutely should do this and hopefully will but how about this as a plan B if they don’t come out or don’t come over to you?
distract your dd with an ice-Cream, the playground etc then find a friendly looking member of staff and explain the situation. They can say to your dd that they know the stunt team really well and will pass them on because they’ll be so excited about their gifts.
It’s a lovely hobby to have, let her get on with it.

I don't see the problem, it's kept her occupied all week, she's enjoyed doing it and is excited about the outing to give them. The entertainers will surely accept them in good grace (and bin them once she's left). I'd just let her get on with it

How sweet. Nobody would do other than graciously accept, so let her crack on.

Thanks so much everyone - castle visit has now happened! I encouraged her to give them to one stunt team member to then “pass them on” (who my DD gave detailed instructions to as to who’s was who’s(!)) who was incredibly kind and gracious. I was very grateful.

One thrilled 6yo and a no doubt somewhat baffled stunt team person. 😂 Thanks mumsnet!