giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Nov 23, 2014 21:38:02 GMT -5
What about experiences?
What do they like, enjoy, etc?
Last year, MIL gave DD money to buy a fancy leotard for gymnastics. This year, DD is doing tap, so I'm going to ask for a GC for shoes.
The kids are going to be wanting to go to movies. A GC would come in handy.
My kids would be thrilled to be told "We're going to stay overnight at an indoor water park" thanks to relatives.
I'm not such a good YM'er. Not only did I take my 7 yo to get a full manicure for her birthday, but I also bought her one AG toy, and she's getting one or two from Santa. (But, half of my DD7's wardrobe are hand me downs she is thrilled with. So, maybe that makes up for the splurges...)
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MarleyKeezy78
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Post by MarleyKeezy78 on Nov 23, 2014 21:52:42 GMT -5
Geena! Yes, that is the one! I am so happy to hear it worked so well, I read reviews on it and some people were not happy while others were. We dug up a plug for it so we don't have to eat through batteries, bonus!!! I look forward to him opening it because he's gonna freakin love it!
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on Nov 23, 2014 22:09:45 GMT -5
DD hasn't said what she wants; however, I think she's a little too young to fully understand it. For our 3 year old, we are going to get her an iPad. From friends and family, our recommendations have been anything Minnie Mouse or Frozen related. She LOVES both! She'll be fine with toys or clothing. I'm not a fan of SpongeBob or Dora (the Explorer) so if she received any of those gifts, they would be returned.
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MarleyKeezy78
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Post by MarleyKeezy78 on Nov 23, 2014 22:29:31 GMT -5
Taz, getting and ipad for your kiddo with be the best move ever! We got one for DS when he was two for Christmas and it was the best and most used gift he has ever gotten There are so many learning apps, not to mention Netflix and Hulu! The great thing is, they are using them in kindergarten as well and he already knows a ton about it.
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on Nov 23, 2014 22:31:20 GMT -5
Taz, getting and ipad for your kiddo with be the best move ever! We got one for DS when he was two for Christmas and it was the best and most used gift he has ever gotten There are so many learning apps, not to mention Netflix and Hulu! What apps does your DS's have? She really the Netflix app so she can watch Curious George. She also likes to watch the various videos on Disney.com.
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MarleyKeezy78
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Post by MarleyKeezy78 on Nov 23, 2014 22:43:43 GMT -5
Oh lord, lol!!! He has so many accumulated! Some of them are- iHeartRadio(great for bedtime music) WhirlyWord, FriendShapes, Google Earth, Checkers, AnimalTrain, Calculator, MemoryMatch, Basic Skills, Math Puppy, Crayola, Flashcards, CookingMama, BubbleWitch2, Angry Birds, KidShape(awesome!) Drawing Pad, and a boat load of games! When he was really into getting new apps, we let him get a new one every pay day(just a time referance for him) the free ones mostly but sometimes we pay so he can have full access to a app. You can also download movies, tv shows and home videos and photos (DS loves this feature).
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on Nov 23, 2014 22:56:29 GMT -5
Thanks!
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Nov 24, 2014 0:26:07 GMT -5
My daughter's son (oldest of those four) LOVES his three sisters' presents. When there is a kitchen or a doll, he gets to be "daddy" in the kitchen.
Who cares
Oh, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with traditional "girl" toys, or boys playing with them. It's just that I can't relate at all to see the appeal. I'm honestly perplexed walking down the nauseating pink aisles in the toy store. RC cars, Lego sets, Transformers...those things are cool. I like buying them. My 4 year old went through a period when he wanted a doll and his Dad would have nothing of it, but I think I'm going to get him one this year for Christmas now that he has no say. I asked him again and he said he wanted one. I get to venture into the pink aisle.. My brother wanted a doll and couldn't have one, I didn't want dolls. I got a big doll for Christmas and he didn't and he cried. He grew up to have lots of kids and I didn't have any so a doll would have been good practice for him being a parent. Boys who want one should have a doll to love, dress, feed whatever people do with dolls. I was lucky I was allowed to be a boy pretty much always building something with tools, playing cowboys, climbing trees and fishing. Toys are good for kids to pretend and dream of being grown up.
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MarleyKeezy78
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Post by MarleyKeezy78 on Nov 24, 2014 0:38:45 GMT -5
Awww, Crone, that's so sad I wish your brother would have gotten his doll. My son is a huge fan of rainbows at the moment, school photo haaaddd to have the rainbow type background and that is what he draws all the time! I know DH may think uh oh, but he did go out and get DS the rainbow in my room for Christmas and I am so proud of him for that Boys should be able to enjoy everything just like the girls! Just like your brother became a great father to many children, I look at it that my son is a happy kid And if things come out as he gets older, well whatever, he's my kid and I love the hell out of him!
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trippypea
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Post by trippypea on Nov 24, 2014 8:23:38 GMT -5
They are her children, and she is raising them not to be into name-brands. That is her choice, and I respect it.
This isn't directed at the poster, but in general: I buy name brands for my teen girls, and I also buy no name brands. We shop in the 'trendy teen' stores, and we shop at Good Will and yard sales. I've drummed into them from an early age, be the one to set the trends, don't be a sheep. Anything tends to stop being cool once everyone has jumped on the band wagon, so you be the one other kids want to emulate. So I think if you raise a kid with an entitlement chip, you are going to get kids who ONLY want the name brands. You raise a kid to follow their own path, and they are cool enough to make yard sale clothes cool. We had American Girl dolls. They knew they were lucky to have them. They are very good quality and do retain their value for resale too...
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Nov 24, 2014 8:33:39 GMT -5
My DD's inherited 3-4 AG dolls (real and knockoff) and a crapton of Build-a-whoosis and the clothing accessories for each. Whatever works for your family.
Now, someone explain more about this Rainbow in the Room thing please.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Nov 24, 2014 8:34:27 GMT -5
I'm curious about something so bear with me. Remember I don't have grand kids so clueless. When you give a girl/boy an American Girl Doll are they allowed to play with it or does it stay in the box. I only ask since I know someone who gives Barbie Dolls to their daughter but she can't play with them. They are in their boxes on the top of a book shelf.
Are these dolls an investment?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 8:45:24 GMT -5
I'm curious about something so bear with me. Remember I don't have grand kids so clueless. When you give a girl/boy an American Girl Doll are they allowed to play with it or does it stay in the box. I only ask since I know someone who gives Barbie Dolls to their daughter but she can't play with them. They are in their boxes on the top of a book shelf. Are these dolls an investment? my DD played with hers and all the accessories that she got with it. I also purchased the American Girl doll xmas tree and have been putting it up for at least 10 years now (it's about 24 inches high).
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Nov 24, 2014 9:11:44 GMT -5
I'm curious about something so bear with me. Remember I don't have grand kids so clueless. When you give a girl/boy an American Girl Doll are they allowed to play with it or does it stay in the box. I only ask since I know someone who gives Barbie Dolls to their daughter but she can't play with them. They are in their boxes on the top of a book shelf. Are these dolls an investment? My family doesn't consider them an investment. They're toys, several of which are similar in coloring to the child the doll was originally intended for. They're played with. My sister and her husband used to do a Good Friday adventure in Chicago where they'd visit the American Girl Store and have the dolls hair re brushed or whatever. And buy expensive stuff and eat an expensive lunch there. Same for Barbie. Toys are meant to be played with. If you want it as an investment, then buy it for yourself.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 9:14:11 GMT -5
My DD's inherited 3-4 AG dolls (real and knockoff) and a crapton of Build-a-whoosis and the clothing accessories for each. Whatever works for your family. Now, someone explain more about this Rainbow in the Room thing please. I guess I don't understand people getting rid of their AG dolls. when DD outgrew hers they all got packed away for her DD someday.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Nov 24, 2014 9:15:32 GMT -5
Trust me Single, when the girls have their own kids, I'm sending a lot of this back to them! With interest! Esp. the damn Littlest Pet Shop stuff.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 9:17:09 GMT -5
Trust me Single, when the girls have their own kids, I'm sending a lot of this back to them! With interest! Esp. the damn Littlest Pet Shop stuff. I got rid of all the other toys except legos (DS2 still plays with them) and one or 2 other things....no way was I saving all their childhood toys for grandkids - I'll buy new ones. I can't stand clutter!
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Nov 24, 2014 9:40:37 GMT -5
Single, There's a 8 year gap between my youngest niece and my daughter. So she's 14 and ready to the last of her beloved toys. The oldest niece is 21/22. By the time my DD is ready to her beloved toys, I'm assuming there will be grand nieces either on the way or here.
I've also rec'd about 1/2 of my Mom's collection of Legos. She's keeping the other 1/2 for the kids to play with at her house. But this is the Legos collection that started around 1973 or so and stopped around 1992.
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Pants
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Post by Pants on Nov 24, 2014 9:44:17 GMT -5
My DD's inherited 3-4 AG dolls (real and knockoff) and a crapton of Build-a-whoosis and the clothing accessories for each. Whatever works for your family. Now, someone explain more about this Rainbow in the Room thing please. I guess I don't understand people getting rid of their AG dolls. when DD outgrew hers they all got packed away for her DD someday. Because dolls packed away for 20+ years typically don't survive as well as you'd hope? Because by the time your DD has kids, the likelihood that american girl dolls will still be THE THING is very small? Because they "hate clutter"? There are 100 reasons, why is this difficult to fathom?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 9:45:48 GMT -5
I put most of our old toys in totes and put them in the basement. I have tons of storage room so it doesn't really matter. My Mom still has all my Fisher Price little people toys from when I was a kid and my kids loved them. The old airport and village and castle. Way more fun than the Little People sets they have now.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Nov 24, 2014 9:53:18 GMT -5
Because dolls packed away for 20+ years typically don't survive as well as you'd hopeDepends on the doll and the packing. My dad's GI Joe looks like he never left the box, same with all the accessories. His hot wheels are also in immaculate condition. I don't think my dad was a normal child.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Nov 24, 2014 10:38:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies about putting them up as opposed to letting kids play with them. I guess I just couldn't imagine giving a child a gift and saying "now it has to go on a bookshelf" But then I'm not the mother. As for "saving" toys, my son still has his matchbook cars in a small trunk. Why he saved them is anyone's guess but now he drags them out for his SIL's little girl to play with sometimes. And she loves them too. Go figure
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 10:41:54 GMT -5
My older son's grandfather is a big hoarder and HORRIBLE about giving the kids gifts and not letting them take them out of the box. DS is 12 and used to it now, but man I would get pissed when he'd hand him something at age 3 and then take it away and say it had to be stored. He never even got to bring them home!
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Nov 24, 2014 10:44:43 GMT -5
If that mother thinks any of those Barbies are going to be worth much more than what she paid she's fooling herself. Collectibles don't work that way. Just because it's a "Barbie" doesn't mean it's automatically valuable. Poor DH got snookered on a Star Wars Pez dispenser under the same logic. A flea market guy got him to purchase it for $20 because it was "Star Wars" and would be worth "big money" someday because of it. Boy was DH pissed when I told him that Pez dispenser was from the "Special Edition" release and was worth exactly 99 cents.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Nov 24, 2014 10:48:26 GMT -5
If that mother thinks any of those Barbies are going to be worth much more than what she paid she's fooling herself. Collectibles don't work that way. Just because it's a "Barbie" doesn't mean it's automatically valuable. Poor DH got snookered on a Star Wars Pez dispenser under the same logic. A flea market guy got him to purchase it for $20 because it was "Star Wars" and would be worth "big money" someday because of it. Boy was DH pissed when I told him that Pez dispenser was from the "Special Edition" release and was worth exactly 99 cents. Oh I know this. I remember one year when she was absolutely franic about a "special" Barbie cause she couldn't find it. I found one at the BP station and called her to see if she wanted me to pick it up for her. I figure if you can get it at a service station it must not be too limited. But I could be wrong. Reminds me of all the Beanie Babies - but I won't go there since I am NOT a collector of anything so could be way off base on my thinking!!
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Nov 24, 2014 10:55:07 GMT -5
Watching Pawn Stars and Toy Hunter, both have commented that things like those "Special Edition" Barbies are marketing gimmicks. Marketers slap the label on there and then flood the aisles. Idiots go out and buy them thinking they will be worth $$$$.
Problem is if every Tom, Dick and Harry owns one, there is no market for it! If there is no market for it there is no value.
You don't buy toys as an investment. Sometimes you get lucky and a toy you own ends up being valuable, but you shouldn't buy them thinking they'll be your retirement vehicle or anything else.
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tootsieroll
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Post by tootsieroll on Nov 24, 2014 11:01:44 GMT -5
I have four year old twins and a 7 1/2 year old, all girls. A craft item that has been a hit with all three is called Doh Vinci. It is from play doh, and is basically like puffy paint. You apply it with an applicator to paper, cardboard, or different kits that you can buy, like a vanity or a picture frame. If you mess up, just form the play doh into another shape and add it to the decoration. It eventually dries, but not until 24 hours or so. And it doesn't leave behind crunchy hard play doh chunks like regular play doh. My girls have made pictures, decorated goody bags, coloring book pages, etc with this stuff. Lots of fun!
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trippypea
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Post by trippypea on Nov 24, 2014 11:06:55 GMT -5
I just sold all my girls' American Girl stuff. They are teens and don't play with it anymore, and I gave them the money from selling it. I figure I came out pretty even or possibly ahead, considering a couple of the dolls were yard sale finds and they netted me 3x as much as I paid. AG stuff is hot now, but they could be like the Cabbage Patch doll or Beanie Babies in another 10 years and be worth nothing. At least the kids benefit from selling it now, rather than hoping they 1) have girls someday, and 2) have girls who want to play with dolls...
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Nov 24, 2014 11:09:33 GMT -5
Well, the resale of toys depends.
Apparently, DH has been selling MASK toys from his childhood. He has a box bigger than a bankers box full of this crap. One of I'm betting he's going to make close to $500 on it. I think one of his toys went for close to $100. I think he's also got A-Team or other stuff to get rid of as well.
We found that the foam on all our childhood FP sets didn't make it 30 years. But, everything else did. I'm glad some of the old FP toys were kept for us. Sometimes it's nice to play with a castle without it being Sophia the Firsts, any number of the Disney princesses, or Dora licensed. And it's nice to have toys that don't make much for sound (or are silent) or light up. Dude, my barn still moos.
We have some really nice generic Playmobil sets, that they don't make anymore. We're saving those, in case we have grandkids. I don't want to buy more toys in 15 years, and if my kids live cross country, I don't expect them to haul toys on a plane when we visit. That would really stink.
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geenamercile
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Post by geenamercile on Jan 10, 2015 15:32:27 GMT -5
So we ended up picking up a white and cream 7 month old male kitten. Santa brought a litter box and scratching post, who knew an 8 year old could be so excited about a litter box. He seems to be adjusting nicely, he is a friendly little guy, and smart enough to find some hiding places from the girls. The dog and the cat, right now they have the house divided cat taking the top half, dog the bottom half and ignoring each other.
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