Step daughter wants trampoline at our house

[Digitallife27]

Hi,

New to the boards.

So I have a step daughter (8) but also have a 10 month daughter with SD's Dad. SD stays with us one night a week and then every third weekend (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon), then we don't have her the following Monday after a weekend...

Anyway, she really wants a trampoline at our house because Dad will buy stuff for her. I have always found that trampolines end up being not used by people who I know who have them and a waste of garden space. We buy her outdoor toys that she wants and most of them have been used a few times then forgotten about as she prefers to watch tv.

We told her that we will look at how much she plays with her current toys before we can consider buying her a trampoline. She recently had her bike serviced so that she can use it more/get outside a bit more during the summer but that's hardly been used too.

I personally can't justify getting a trampoline that will hardly be used. She has a whale of a time when she uses it at her cousin's house but it's always a novelty to play with toys you don't have.

She also wants us to get chickens and a pet at our house too...that's another thing we need to think about. Can't justify a pet if she's not here to look after it and my partner works away a lot and I'm going back to work in August. 🤷‍♀️

Sorry, I just needed to vent a bit about it! Thanks.

@VikingBlonde haha, yeah...I just want to enjoy this simple time with toy play before DD is all about screens. DSD's mum thinks DSD is addicted to the screen...we honestly don't find that in our household. It's weird.

Yeah we're trying to accommodate her interests at the time but it changes so much and so often. Lego friends was a thing earlier this year! I guess that's just what older kids do!

I think she's lacked a lot of peer play through the years as outside of school she's always been around adults or really young kids as that's part of her mum's circle of friends. Will try and get more play dates with my friend's sisters kids...they're really nice kids so it'd be nice to encourage that friendship.

You are doing your best, that's all any of us can do - and if you've found some kids which it sounds like she clicks with & wants to be adventurous outdoors with that is perfect. Def encourage!.

Have you seen the book Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls? It's a really lovely, inspiring illustrated book with short snippets about brilliant women through history, maybe get her that, perfect for her age group and encourages lots of thought, discussion and GIRL PIRATING!

Bloody slime. this might cheer us all up regarding that stuff!

@VikingBlonde yeah, her parents are really into outdoorsy stuff having been raising in this rural area so the whole tree climbing and adventurous related stuff works well.

Yeah I've seen that book in the shops (I end up getting my DD to nap in Waterstones in her pram as it's so quiet and I can spend an hour browsing the books lol) and have it on my to buy list for her.

Haha! Great video...so true too. Where's my Tupperware gone? Lol 😂

@Digitallife27 Aldi have a really good smallish Plum one with enclosure and hidden springs for £69 in next week! #justsayin