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#21
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"choosing" gifts for kids
My whole family and all my in-laws knew I did not want Barbie in my house. So for my oldest daughter's 5th birthday, she got: a Barbie house, a Barbie Jeep, a Barbie dog, a Barbie horse, a Ken, a few of the Kelly dolls and I lost count of how many Barbies. I was so mad. And that Christmas both the kids got Barbie sheets for their beds. It was like everyone did it on purpose. I just didn't want Barbie crap cluttering up the house, but it did. I finally got rid of most of it last year. So if your family is like mine, they won't care if you tell them no Barbies. I have no idea why people think Barbie is mandantory for girls. Marie My pet peeve (after visiting my SIL, who has a 2 yr old) is that every single kids' toy out there makes NOISE. I spend my working days trying to get children comfortable with making music themselves, and from the days in the crib on, every single toy seems bent on doing it for them. Usually with the most hideous, electronic sounds (and with my trained ears, it's downright painful in some cases). I can understand the music boxes in baby things (and most of them sound decent), but WHY does a Fisher-Price school bus need to play "The Wheels on the Bus"? Given my BIL's reaction to that statement, I strongly suspect that this baby will never see a non-noisemaking toy from that family. Arrghh... |
#23
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"choosing" gifts for kids
"Banty" wrote in message ... In article 1fvPc.7351$go.1989@fed1read07, Circe says... Marie wrote: I have no idea why people think Barbie is mandantory for girls. Maybe because the typical 4-6yo girl likes them and they're not exactly the spawn of the devil? LOL! Hear hear. With birthday parties I do sympathize with the sheer amount of STUFF that it leads to, but, if one has strong socio-political-taste objections regarding kids' toys, one has to either set those aside, be prepared to intecede (at home after the party), or just not have a birthday party. And Barbies are not the spawn of the devil. (Oh NO Banty doncha know they're a plot by the International Association of Anorexics looking for a steady stream of recruits!) This goes for boys-guns, etc. etc. Banty Incidentally, what ever happened to the announcement I heard on the news several years ago that Barbie was going to be remodelled to be shaped like a normal human woman? |
#24
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"choosing" gifts for kids
"Donna Metler" wrote in message
... My whole family and all my in-laws knew I did not want Barbie in my house. So for my oldest daughter's 5th birthday, she got: a Barbie house, a Barbie Jeep, a Barbie dog, a Barbie horse, a Ken, a few of the Kelly dolls and I lost count of how many Barbies. I was so mad. And that Christmas both the kids got Barbie sheets for their beds. It was like everyone did it on purpose. I just didn't want Barbie crap cluttering up the house, but it did. I finally got rid of most of it last year. So if your family is like mine, they won't care if you tell them no Barbies. I have no idea why people think Barbie is mandantory for girls. Marie My pet peeve (after visiting my SIL, who has a 2 yr old) is that every single kids' toy out there makes NOISE. I spend my working days trying to get children comfortable with making music themselves, and from the days in the crib on, every single toy seems bent on doing it for them. Usually with the most hideous, electronic sounds (and with my trained ears, it's downright painful in some cases). I can understand the music boxes in baby things (and most of them sound decent), but WHY does a Fisher-Price school bus need to play "The Wheels on the Bus"? Given my BIL's reaction to that statement, I strongly suspect that this baby will never see a non-noisemaking toy from that family. Arrghh... Here's a very helpful tip passed on to me by a fellow parent: Burn a candle and let the melting wax drip in to the speaker of the very noisy toy. This muffles the sound while still allowing the child to enjoy the toy. It doesn't hurt the toy at all either. May void any warranty, but at least your ears won't hurt! Peggy |
#25
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"choosing" gifts for kids
"ted" wrote in message om... Is it appropriate to mention that you prefer/do not prefer certain kinds of gifts in a birthday party? For example, is it okay to say in the birthday invite something like "please bring only a small book as a present"? In fact I would love to say "please donot bring anything related to barbie" but I know that sounds off. Like others, I would not mention what gifts not to bring (or to bring) in the invitation. Usually, in RSVP'ing the parent of the invitee asks what kinds of stuff does the child like. Also, when the kids are school-aged, they generally know what the birthday kid likes. So, if DD likes Polly Pockets and horses, she'll probably get Polly Pockets and horse things no matter how I feel about itty bitty dolls and even ittier bittier accessories. Personally I detest barbie dolls and I would be very disappointed if my kid(s) like barbie stuff LOL. I'm not the pink and frilly kind and I don't want them to be either. Well, I usually buy what the child likes and wants, instead of what the parents likes and wants. You may not have a choice in what your child likes or how she will be. She may be a pink girly girl although you're the tomboy type. DD loves to wear dresses even though I haven't worn a dress since before she was born. Lately, she has decided to wear her skirts and dresses with her workboots (for horseback riding). It makes a statement that I personally wouldn't make, but it's her choice and her statement. Jeanne |
#26
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"choosing" gifts for kids
ted wrote:
Is it appropriate to mention that you prefer/do not prefer certain kinds of gifts in a birthday party? For example, is it okay to say in the birthday invite something like "please bring only a small book as a present"? In fact I would love to say "please donot bring anything related to barbie" but I know that sounds off. Personally I detest barbie dolls and I would be very disappointed if my kid(s) like barbie stuff LOL. I'm not the pink and frilly kind and I don't want them to be either. Sorry, but there really isn't any way to do that other than saying, "No gifts, please" and even that is dicey. (It's against etiquette rules to say "no gifts" but a few etiquette mavens are starting to soften on that issue as long as it's done very tactfully.) Gift giving is always the prerogative of the giver. One doesn't get to issue a list of demands. If you don't want Barbie things, discuss with your daughter ahead of time that you don't approve and if she gets any of them, she will discreetly exchange them (if possible) or give them away (you can replace them with something different, if you like). Of course, she will still thank the giver very nicely and she will keep quiet about the exchange or donation. Best wishes, Ericka |
#27
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"choosing" gifts for kids
In article , Donna Metler says...
My whole family and all my in-laws knew I did not want Barbie in my house. So for my oldest daughter's 5th birthday, she got: a Barbie house, a Barbie Jeep, a Barbie dog, a Barbie horse, a Ken, a few of the Kelly dolls and I lost count of how many Barbies. I was so mad. And that Christmas both the kids got Barbie sheets for their beds. It was like everyone did it on purpose. I just didn't want Barbie crap cluttering up the house, but it did. I finally got rid of most of it last year. So if your family is like mine, they won't care if you tell them no Barbies. I have no idea why people think Barbie is mandantory for girls. Marie My pet peeve (after visiting my SIL, who has a 2 yr old) is that every single kids' toy out there makes NOISE. I spend my working days trying to get children comfortable with making music themselves, and from the days in the crib on, every single toy seems bent on doing it for them. Usually with the most hideous, electronic sounds (and with my trained ears, it's downright painful in some cases). I can understand the music boxes in baby things (and most of them sound decent), but WHY does a Fisher-Price school bus need to play "The Wheels on the Bus"? Given my BIL's reaction to that statement, I strongly suspect that this baby will never see a non-noisemaking toy from that family. Arrghh... So you know exactly which toys to bring with you when you visit your in-laws! evil grin Cheers, Banty |
#28
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"choosing" gifts for kids
Nikki ) wrote:
Now I'll agree it is not cool to get the stuff after a parent specifically says no, regardless of the silly logic gdr I think a parent has a right to veto certain kinds of toys simply because they are maddening -- e.g., noisemakers that eat batteries, truly ugly dolls/stuffed animals, etc. I wouldn't go so far as to ban something my child *truly loved*, mind you, unless I really did think it was devil spawn, but kids like playing with a huge variety of stuff -- there is no reason the parent has to live with something that truly grates on their tastes, unless there is some huge benefit to the child. --Helen |
#29
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"choosing" gifts for kids
"ted" wrote in message om... Is it appropriate to mention that you prefer/do not prefer certain kinds of gifts in a birthday party? For example, is it okay to say in the birthday invite something like "please bring only a small book as a present"? In fact I would love to say "please donot bring anything related to barbie" but I know that sounds off. Personally I detest barbie dolls and I would be very disappointed if my kid(s) like barbie stuff LOL. I'm not the pink and frilly kind and I don't want them to be either. This is somewhat related to the other thread about girls' clothes but I didn't want to cannibalize that thread. I don't know why people just assume that if it's a little girl's birthday, they must buy barbie-stuff as a present. Not to mention this friend who's insisting that she'll bake a big barbie cake for my DD's birthday! That's still several months away though! Thanks My very close girlfriend & I have moved on to the next level with our kids. She has 1 DD & I have 1 DS. They are both very spoiled by both sides of the family. I have in the past given her a check for the college fund for either Birthday (May) or Christmas exchange with something small for a package to open. We have in the last year made donations to the Children's Hospital in her & my DS's names. They just all end up with so much "stuff" Barbie/Character of the month from family, etc. I would put a little note on the invite that says " No gifts- if you feel you must, please donate to *** in your child's honor" Then you use the opportunity to teach them about giving back to kids less fortunate and charity. Mary |
#30
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"choosing" gifts for kids
H Schinske wrote:
Nikki ) wrote: Now I'll agree it is not cool to get the stuff after a parent specifically says no, regardless of the silly logic gdr I think a parent has a right to veto certain kinds of toys simply because they are maddening -- e.g., noisemakers that eat batteries, truly ugly dolls/stuffed animals, etc. Well sure, that is why I said it wasn't cool to get stuff that the parent expressed disapproval of. There are plenty of toys in the world that banning certain ones won't be the end of the earth. I said it was silly because I can't really get on board with banning Barbies (or any toy really) is all. -- Nikki |
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