toys for no reason

[dixeedeluxe]

Do/will you buy your kids toys for no reason?  We never got toys for no reason growing up.  It always had to be a birthday/xmas/etc.  I haven't followed that "rule" because we were building our "baseline" toy stockpile.  We're more than there now, so I've stopped.

But I REALLY wan to buy Edie the Doc McStuffins doctor kit! 

[Regina Philange]

Buy it!!!

I'm a bad influence.

[muppetinma]

I probably won't. I got presents for birthdays and holidays growing up, and for things like straight As or other notable achievements.

[mrsjaymay]

Could you use it as a reward for good behavior of some sort?

DH and I will probably not follow that 'rule.' We will probably buy new things for her on occasion. We are that way with ourselves, too, though!

[kistjenn]

I try not to.  I like to shop, and when the girls come with I DO NOT buy them anything (except maybe clothes).  My SIL has created a monster that thinks every time they go shopping he is entitled to something.  When I'm alone, I will from time to time pick up some stickers, coloring book, water color paints.  I try to leave the toys for b-days/holidays.

[irishsara]

It depends on what it is. I'll pick up matchbox cars randomly, but not usually something more than $10.

And matchbox cars are like $1

[TrudyCampbell]

I do now because she needs new things developmentally but when she gets older I probably will not.

[Deleted]

I buy things sometimes. But, I never give them to him in the store. I just surprise him at home. (Not that he has any earthly clue about any of this. But, we occasionally got presents for no reason growing up. My mom called them "sunny day" surprises and they made me feel SO LOVED.)

[rjamz]

I do when I see something cute, but probably won't as he gets older

Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards

[jenbelle]

My step daughter has been given everything, no matter when it is, so has no understanding of the anticipation of waiting for a gift you really want. So I have watched that too much. It will take a lot of self control, but I am hoping to only do toys for birthday and Christmas.

[ruby412]

Apr 26, 2013 14:25:19 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

I do now because she needs new things developmentally but when she gets older I probably will not.

This.

And I bought her a new puzzle the other day because we got rear ended and she was so upset. So, it was a gift to make her feel better... not that she really gets that anyway.

[dixeedeluxe]

@thadsrad, I like that! And now that I'm stewing on it, I feel like "sunny day gifts" or "gifts for no reason" seem better than a reward.

I might buy the kit on Amazon now (it's payday) and put it away for a sunny day

[eav2c]

Yes but not a lot/often. This will probably change as he gets older for occasions such as birthday/Christmas/reward.

[joyhart02]

We do on and off. She doesn't expect anything (Lydia) but is nice to surprise her or reward her for things.

We have let her pick out a toy at the store before but she certainly does not get something every time. And it is something small, no more than $10. But this sometimes includes a new cup, plate, pajamas, a new snack not always toys.

My co-worker said her kids get something every time they go out and now they throw major tantrums if they do not get something. To each their own.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

Yeah, I do. I'm a sucker. But H doesn't expect stuff, and she's always delighted when she gets something unexpected. Plus, poor kid's birthday is so close to Christmas, so...

[Deleted]

dixeedeluxe Our birthdays were all in the spring so Christmas was a long way off. And the presents were never huge. Once I came downstairs for breakfast and there was a present all wrapped up with my name on it. There was a little card that said something like "I thought of you when I saw this. I love you."

[The Foozzler]

I am the opposite with gifts, we give things when they are needed, not for holidays. We never got big holiday gifts growing up. I hate that it is beautiful this week, and I have to wait until next weekend to give Tyler his new outside toys. I want him to ride in his wagon today!

[imimahoney]

I haven't but once and awhile I think is fine. You could always swap out one old toy for the new one. And for the record, I got my niece the set for Chanukah and she freaking LOVES the thing. It's so cute to see her play with it.

[Deleted]

I think I will but only on occasion as a nice little surprise! Not necessarily for good behavior or anything and definitely not all the time. As PP mentioned, I do it for myself sometimes so I don't see why I wouldn't do it for her. But bigger things will most likely wait for a special occasion.

[Deleted]

I think I will but only on occasion as a nice little surprise! Not necessarily for good behavior or anything and definitely not all the time. As PP mentioned, I do it for myself sometimes so I don't see why I wouldn't do it for her. But bigger things will most likely wait for a special occasion.

[Deleted]

We do all the time because my husband's family and mine were very poor when we were kids and we tend to overcompensate for that by spoiling our kids. Juliana is happy with a dollar store ball so it's not like anything we get them is really expensive. She also knows that she isn't to ask for them either or she won't get anything at all.

[nannerl]

Apr 26, 2013 14:25:35 GMT -5 @thadsrad said:

I buy things sometimes. But, I never give them to him in the store. I just surprise him at home. (Not that he has any earthly clue about any of this. But, we occasionally got presents for no reason growing up. My mom called them "sunny day" surprises and they made me feel SO LOVED.)

I like this. I feel like there is a difference between getting something on the fly at a store and giving to them there (thus possibly opening the door to begging scenes during future shops), and occasionally surprising the kids at home with a special treat just because. Having said that though, DH and I discussed this a few days ago and basically decided we would never say no to a book.

[Deleted]

Apr 26, 2013 15:15:36 GMT -5 nannerl said:

Apr 26, 2013 14:25:35 GMT -5 @thadsrad said:

I buy things sometimes. But, I never give them to him in the store. I just surprise him at home. (Not that he has any earthly clue about any of this. But, we occasionally got presents for no reason growing up. My mom called them "sunny day" surprises and they made me feel SO LOVED.)

I like this. I feel like there is a difference between getting something on the fly at a store and giving to them there (thus possibly opening the door to begging scenes during future shops), and occasionally surprising the kids at home with a special treat just because. Having said that though, DH and I discussed this a few days ago and basically decided we would never say no to a book.

Books never count!!!!!

[tuck]

I'm really bad about spoiling the kids. I'm trying to become more minimalist, though, so that is going to have to stop. I really like giving I love you gifts instead of as rewards, because the reward for good behavior in our house is not getting in trouble.

[nannerl]

Apr 26, 2013 15:20:18 GMT -5 @thadsrad said:

Apr 26, 2013 15:15:36 GMT -5 nannerl said:

I like this. I feel like there is a difference between getting something on the fly at a store and giving to them there (thus possibly opening the door to begging scenes during future shops), and occasionally surprising the kids at home with a special treat just because. Having said that though, DH and I discussed this a few days ago and basically decided we would never say no to a book.

Books never count!!!!!

Totally. I will happily go broke buying A all the books he wants :-)

[fusion]

We have so much crap now that I don't buy anything, but I am not opposed to the idea in general. When they get older I would rather them earn material possessions outside of holidays, so if they want a video game or something then they can do extra chores around the house.

[Deleted]

I will buy him things, but rarely while he's with me at the store. I know too many kids who demand toys or treats anytime they go ANYWHERE. I will not have that child. But I love to give surprises, so I'll surprise him with new toys every once in awhile, outside of holidays and birthdays.

[thedahliharpa]

Apr 26, 2013 15:44:02 GMT -5 @sprinkles said:

I will buy him things, but rarely while he's with me at the store. I know too many kids who demand toys or treats anytime they go ANYWHERE. I will not have that child. But I love to give surprises, so I'll surprise him with new toys every once in awhile, outside of holidays and birthdays.

This is what we did with H with the exception of trips to the bookstore where she can pick a book. She thinks it's huge deal to get a individual serving of soy milk in a juice box at the grocery store as a result.

[Deleted]

I will probably buy small things, coloring book, paints, crayons, stickets, etc randomly. Other than that, I don't really buy anything other than clothes expect for holidays.

[formerlyllizzyb]

I have no clue what I'll do in the future, but right now I just buy stuff that falls into the developmental or sensory bin categories. I guess the baby equivalent of a learning type toy? I lean towards stuff that is more Montessori in nature. My IL's and parents buy battery operated flashy stuff.

But I do want to buy him a kitchen, and I might not wait until Christmas.