Was this horribly pfb? (Reading related)

[Spindelina]

Fil loves buying dd (4 months) tat gifts.

Most recent offering was a plastic spinner thing that, when it stopped on a letter, played a sound clip along the lines of "A. A is for apple" in a really irritating tinny, American voice

I was under the impression that learning the names of letters wasn't terribly helpful (especially e.g. W)

Was I being horribly pfb to get DH to see if fil still had the receipt?

Well given that she is 4 months old I doubt she will be aware of the letters just yet?
My PIL used to love buying stuff for dd when she was born. Some of it was not exactly to my taste but I would never have asked them to take it back.

Yea that's rather rude. Allow him to enjoy spoiling his new grandchild for heaven's sake. Do you really believe this toy will have a negative impact on her GCSE results?

Wonderfully pfb! But I would probably have felt the same. I hate those electronic learn-the-letters things - I have yet to witness any child learn anything from them, so its just noise. I don't think I would ask for the receipt though.

Yes.

YANBU to think it won't particularly help with learning to read.

YABU (and rude) to ask for the receipt back.

She's 4 months old, it'll be 3 years or so before she's ready to learn to read and by then the toy will probably be broken /worn out anyway. Just let her have fun pushing the buttons.

All she will be interested is the pretty colours and funny noises! You are a long way off having to be worried about correct letter formation.

If it helps DS is just turned 3 and did (and still does) play with toys like that. He is also already starting to learn the phonic sounds for letters and enjoys doing so.

A present is a present. If you don't like it then hang on to it for a while and later give it to a charity shop.

Oh how rude.. sounds like a thought out present.
Hope he wasn't upset...

Is this a joke?

If it's not apologise to your father in law, abjectly, thank him for the gift and explain you were being ridiculously PFB.

That's what I thought (with the benefit of hindsight).

Oops. Will endeavour to make amends.

Just say you didn't realise how wonderful it was until you played with it yourself!

Unfortunately it went back with the bearer in the bag it came in.

Oh dear. Going to be bit hard to make amends then...

Meany.

Either: your 4 month old is learning to read. That's amazing.

Or,

you were rude PFB

I really wouldn't worry about it. The letters will be meaning less to your DD. If you do decide to teach her at home jolly phonics was great and in line with school teaching.

just let her enjoy the noises etc

Don't worry. My dc all had those dreadful toys. They all learnt the alphabet by phonic letter pronunciation first and were early readers.

Dd2 did do a great rendition of the alphabet song at age 18months-2 years. Spoilt the impression by asking loudly "Mummy what does MNOPQ (said em-no-peeque) mean?"

Too late Rudolph. She already gave it back...

Spin, any chance you can burst into tears dramatically next time you see fil, apologise, tell him you were having a really bad day through lack of sleep and ask if he's still got it, as you realize you were being completely ridiculous?

You can both laugh about in a few years when dd really starts school...

If it helps, my pfb learnt her letters at 18 mos (don't ask. I went away for the weekend), and despite disparaging comments at our first pre yr r parent's meeting about the importance of not learning names but sounds, she's still considered gifted at nearly 13. howzat for pfb?

Ha, TSC, I was just about to say the same thing! Reading related...honestly!

All PFB comments aside, my dd knew all the letter names before starting school as my eldest DD taught her them one afternoon.

It didn't matter a jot when she started in reception, she very quickly picked up the phonic sounds and she is top of her class for reading.

4 months

OP, I can't believe you didn't accept a toy for a child that's not even eating food yet because it wasn't phonically accurate. If there were PFB awards this would have to be in MN's top 3 surely? And yes - Primary education - brilliant.

This is a good one. I was expecting some sort of book colour scheme OP.

Agree with PP that babies just like pushing buttons with lights and sounds.

When DS was 3 months my MIL gave him an "educational" toy thingy which makes animal sounds, and on different settings asks you to press to show the picture with 3 animals, or the grey animals etc It's aimed at 18 months+

We put it away and only got it out recently (he's 14months). He has no clue what it's doing but loves hitting the buttons and standing on it

Maybe suggest that FIL (or you) keep it tucked away for in a years or two time?

I'm just puzzled as to how this is reading related or about Primary Education

OP, you are not just PFB, your reaction was downright rude. Your poor FIL