How do you curb a case of the "gimmies" and the "wants"

[MickeyNicki]

Going with 2 nieces, age 3 and 10, for the first time this fall. How do I control the "I want this" or "Can I have that" spell that kids seem to fall under everytime they are in a gift shop?

I am a big push over aunt and normally when we are in the Disney store in the mall I get them each something every time but if we are in WDW there are a million stores!

The trip is not cheap as you all know but I do want to make sure they get stuff from AK and MK too. Should I tell them to wait until we are leaving the park or to pick one thing per day or what??

My mom is going to give them each some "gift from grandma" cash for their trip but I am seriously worried that they will throw an embarrassing tantrum if I have to say no...and then DH is worried that I will cave anyways!

Any tips would help, and if you have not guess, we do not have kids so I am new at this ha ha

 

[MickeyNicki]

Oh and I forgot to mention neither girl has been to WDW before so this is all new to them too

 

[taximomfor4]

We have truly never suffered that too much...our kids are used to browsing but not buying. Maybe practice at the toys section of Walmart or whatever. When my kids ask to "look at" the toys, we have the Talk about how we will look but not buy. And we DO NOT buy. They got used to that, so don't question not buying souvenirs.

That said, we talk before the trip about how much spending money they have (I limit to around $25). They browse for the whole vacation (we reiterate that we are LOOKING, not BUYING). We then talk on the last day, they tell what they wanted most, and we let them buy it.

I know this would never work for some children I know, because their parents always buy the toy they want when they throw a fit. But if you never give in to the fit, they'll quickly figure out that the fits don't work.

This is just what works for our kids...every one of them.

Good luck , and I hope you all have a great time!

 

[tsd1202]

Go to the Disney store and buy Disney Dollars in the amount you wish to spend for each of them, plus Grandma's cash. Put it in two seperate envelopes or a coupon holder for each child. Explain before you leave for the trip they have $_.__ to spend on stuff for the trip/day and that is it. By being able to show them the money and hand it to them to give the cashier, they feel more in charge of their purchases and especially for the 10 year old may teach her some money responsibility and planning tools.

You may even want to go as far as to seperate in to catagories of stuff, like- T-shirt $15, toys $10, extras (glow-necklace, parade souviners) $10. That way they can plan ahead.

Or let them have a set amount for each day.

Good Luck!

 

[megan2346]

I think you should spell everything out before you go. Sit the kids down and tell them how much you love them and how much fun you are going to have but also let them know it is a very expensive trip and you can only afford to buy them each a shirt and whatever else say a stuffed animal. Let them know your going to have fun not to go shopping.

 

[dismom301930]

I agree with the Disney Dollars. My two older daughters (6 and 4) are currently earning Disney Dollars for our next trip by doing chores, etc. They will only be able to spend the amount that they earn. They frequently ask for more jobs so they can earn more Disney money.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I like the disney dollar idea too, thanks!

 

[pixie dust 112]

I agree with the Disney Dollars. My two older daughters (6 and 4) are currently earning Disney Dollars for our next trip by doing chores, etc. They will only be able to spend the amount that they earn. They frequently ask for more jobs so they can earn more Disney money.

WE're doing the samre thing with extra chores. My kids, who are older 10, 12 and 14 have to earn the money they spend.

The Easter Bunny did bring them some Disney Dollars though!

If you give your neices Disney Dollars of their own, the'll probably be much more careful when buying.

 

[LBKMAMA]

I have to say those stores that the rides empty into are tough! My boys have done fairly well the last two trips they were 6 & 5 this past year. The Pirates of the Carribean is always tough...this time we told them to wait a couple of days to make sure they did not see something at another park before we bought their souvenir. That seemed to work. Grandma was with us so she started the pin thing...that was hard to control and figure out. I ended up letting the bigger one buy one a day for the last few days....I know,

This trip I'm going to do the Disney dollar thing ahead of time. We will be setting up a chart for the summer leading up to trip and I'm hoping it will encourage chores and behavior. I'm also going to buy some pins ahead of time so he can just trade and not worry about buying (unless he uses his Disney $)

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

Our kids usually have Disney Dollars to spend on whatever they want. They usually spend their own money for little trinket type things or candy from Goofy's Candy Co... I try to guide them to spend their own money in small increments throughout our vacation instead of blowing it all on a big ticket item the first day.

On our last day, we shop at DTD and we let them pick out one or two bigger items that we buy for them. DD always get a new princess dress or accessories and DS usually chooses something from the lego store or a disney themed toy.

 

[Julia M]

Going with 2 nieces, age 3 and 10, for the first time this fall. How do I control the "I want this" or "Can I have that" spell that kids seem to fall under everytime they are in a gift shop?

I am a big push over aunt and normally when we are in the Disney store in the mall I get them each something every time but if we are in WDW there are a million stores!

The trip is not cheap as you all know but I do want to make sure they get stuff from AK and MK too. Should I tell them to wait until we are leaving the park or to pick one thing per day or what??

My mom is going to give them each some "gift from grandma" cash for their trip but I am seriously worried that they will throw an embarrassing tantrum if I have to say no...and then DH is worried that I will cave anyways!

Any tips would help, and if you have not guess, we do not have kids so I am new at this ha ha

well, at the risk of sounding mean, I'd avoid the shops. I know that some rides empty into shops, but most don't. I have always told my kids that we are at WDW for family time, not shopping. That's not to say we don't ever look at the more fun shops, just it's not our focus.

I'd set the parameters you want (ie, we'll shop at one store at the end of the day, or go to DD, or whatever you want to do) and then stick to it. Tell the girls what your "rules" are and then the consequence for a tantrum. My consequence would be leave the park and back to the hotel for a nap or bed(I would tell them that if they are behaving that way they must be tired). My guess is you'll only have to do it once.

Being an "auntie" usually means a little more fun, and a litttle more sliding of the rules, especially at home, when it means an extra $20 at the Disney Store. However, since you are paying for the trip, and having them awhile, your role has to slip into a little more "parenting" than normal.

Have a great trip

Julia

 

[la79al]

Go into the stores at the end of the day when the kids are exhausted and just want to sit down. Seriously, tell them if they want to buy something, they will have to carry it, it may get lost or stolen, etc. We actually had to push our two to get souvenirs on our very last day of our trip.

 

[ribbot]

I'd get them each a Disney gift card and each time they purchase something, let them know they only have so much left. When it's gone, it's gone.

I usually have to prime up my 6 year old--even with Walmart trips. I tell him we are going here or there and then I say this trip is for Mommy, Daddy or house stuff---we can look, but we are not buying. He understands and says ok.

When we were at Disney, I'd tell him we are going into this or that shop (outside) to look around and we won't be buying for ourselves this time. "Maybe" next time we will get something for you or us. It worked very well. Then when we were DTD and were shopping for gifts for his little friends and himself and he was given the green light--he had a field day because he knew it was his and their time.

I think if you just prewarn them BEFORE they get into the store, that helps. Because if you're already in and you tell them no--it's too late, they already see the stuff and are "just dying" to have it.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[DaisyD]

Unfortunately I allow DD what ever she wants. I have the Gimmes myself at WDW so I know how hard it can be to not buy! If you want to limit then I would give them a set amount a day. Explain they can use it how they like. Either spend it every day or save it for a larger souvenier at the end.

 

[la79al]

The 3 year old is going to have no concept of money whether it be Disney dollars or otherwise. She may be so overwhelmed by the parks that her I wants are at a minimum. Otherwise, you will have to give her a one thing a day (or whatever) limit. Then remind her that if she gets something now she will not be able to get anything later. With a 3 year old, expect tantrums over anything.

 

[cocoswife]

I have given them an allowance for the trip. If I get an "I want.." I would say, it is coming out of your allowance and they would normally say that they would wait until they found something they really wanted.This has worked for me in over 6 trips, when the youngest was 4 yrs old.You will be surprise when you see the "gimmies" and the "wants" dissapear.

 

[tsd1202]

Another idea I thought of, is to go to Dollar Tree (hopefully you have one near you) and stock up on some cute Disney stuff, I have seen recently Nightlights, colors, markers, school type (but fun) workbooks, pens,m photo albums, notebooks etc. and wrap a gift for each day, slip it on the bed or a table as you leave each day for the park and tell them Mickey Mouse left it for them when you get back from the parks or let them open each morning and say he delivered them last night, (nightlights the first day so you have each night). Tell them this is their souvenir for the day and then get them one nice thing at the end of the trip once you see what they really want or keep looking at. When they ask for something at the store, you can say, "but what if Mickey brings you that tonight, you don't want to have two". You could maybe even have whoever you are traveling with go back and buy a thing or two they might really love and surprise them with it that night from Mickey- or from you . This may start a routine of gifts/treats at night/morning and not all day long. Just a thought!

 

[Order66]

My kids (age 6-twins) are ready willing and able to spend MY money like water and when I tell them I don't have extra money for toys/movies etc.. they just tell me to go to the ATM which they think is just a cool box that spits out money when you want. I also gave my kids their own Disney Dollars along with a little cash for spending outside of Disney. Grandma's also gave them some. I have found with my kids that when it's THEIR money they are a lot slower to spend it. It works outside of Disney too. When we go out shopping I take their wallets with their own few spending dollars and whey they ask "can I buy this" I say sure you have money. They usually put it back.

 

[graygables]

I gave DDs WDW gift cards for our last trip. I carried a little notebook with me and if they saw something they really liked, we would write it down (inlcuding the SKU, just in case we needed to phone WDW merchandise). There were a few things that they absolutely adored and promised that it was a "wise choice" or things they had already planned to buy ahead of time. They then had a receipt that told them how much they had left on the cards. About midway through, we went to DTD to the WoD store to see what was on the list that they wanted so I could use my AP discount, then at the end of the trip, they looked over the list and what was left and we finished shopping.

BTW, they were 9 & 7 and had saved birthday/Christmas money as well as money they had earned by helping out with my business. My FIL also pays them some when they help him with his planting/harvest, so while they had a good sum, they understood the value of the money they had (and they did spend every penny, but that's OK, it's their money and they still play with, wear, or enjoy every single thing they bought)

 

[amy4bruce]

I do sympathize. My DD6 had $25 in her own Disney Dollars, and could have spent it the first day if we had let her. She will also carry on about buying things, but will be quiet after she realizes that she's not getting anywhere.

Don't worry about tantrums and meltdowns. Many people there are parents, and most of them have seen these. They'll agree that the trick is not to give in, and, if you have to threaten (going back to the hotel) you have to be willing to do it.