Niece's birthday gift - what would you do? (only sort of budget related)

[scra]

So I was watching my 9-year-old niece yesterday and we got around to the topic of what she would like for her birthday in March. She has been collecting Rebecca Rubin's things from the American Girl line since my SIL and I bought the doll for her two and a half years ago. I really love the history education nature of the American Girl line and the fact that there are lessons in the books that transcend time, so that children can really learn that history was not just something that happened a long time ago - these things have relevance to how we are today. My SIL and I have tried really hard to teach my niece to value Rebecca and the clothes/accessories we have bought for her, and it always seemed that she loves her a lot and likes the connections she shares to Rebecca's story (we are also Jewish and my side of the family is of Russian descent). She likes reading, too, and has read all of Rebecca's books as well as many from the other doll lines.

I asked my niece what she wanted for her birthday, if there was something from American Girl she might like - and she said she likes the new purple loft bed. I was a little disappointed that she didn't want something that goes with the collection my SIL and I have been building for her, but said I would think about it. I looked at it online -

This is a doll bed that goes for $225 I just cannot justify spending that much money on a DOLL BED, let alone one my niece may not be interested in much longer (she will be 10 in March)!

What would you do? Should I speak with my SIL and see if she would be willing to go in on it with me, to ease the blow a little? Should I get my niece something from Rebecca's line? Something else?

Do you think this means she does not want to get anything from Rebecca's line anymore?

 

[Perditamarie]

This bed from the Journey Girls line at Toys R Us is practically identical:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4082098&prodFindSrc=search

You could even assemble and paint it purple if that was part of the attraction and I bet your niece would be hard pressed to tell the difference! There even may be enough left in the budget for an item from Rebecca's line....which I am sure she will still continue enjoy collecting - the pieces are really nice!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

She may just like the bed You can ask if anyone else wants to go in on it--but she may just like it and want it. Or you can simply get her something else. I had my AG dolls mixed up sometimes, just because I liked one girl's outfit better on another girl--or I liked someone else's accessories with someone else.

To put it into another context....
You wear ALL Dior cosmetics and skincare--but you really want a Chanel lipstick because you like the color. You want it because you like it--not because of the brand. To the salesperson, it looks like you're cheating on Dior and don't value loyalty... but to you... you just want what you want.

Did that make any sense?

 

[princesspwrhr]

What is it she likes about the bed? I love the bed too, but no way am I shelling out $225 for it. My girls like the desk under the bed, but mostly they like the accessories. If she just wants a bed - Ikea has one for $20. You can paint it whatever color you like, make different bedding inexpensively... Amazon also has a couple different options of loft and doll beds that fit the AG dolls. Most much cheaper than AG. I have 4 of the Ikea beds set up in 2 sets of bunks for my little girls. Each one fits 2 dolls and is extremely sturdy, it's solid wood.

To be honest - she loves the important part of the collection - the doll and her books. I don't think the accessories impact her understanding of the lessons and heritage. We adults are the ones who want collections all together, and tend to cringe when we see Elizabeth in Chrissa's clothes. I'd find out what she likes best about the loft bed and figure out how to make that happen for her bday.

 

[ceecee]

This bed from the Journey Girls line at Toys R Us is practically identical:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4082098&prodFindSrc=search

You could even assemble and paint it purple if that was part of the attraction and I bet your niece would be hard pressed to tell the difference! There even may be enough left in the budget for an item from Rebecca's line....which I am sure she will still continue enjoy collecting - the pieces are really nice!

That is really cute! I think I would go with that idea. See if she likes it because it's purple or she may like the TRU one like it is.

 

[MomToOne]

Unforunately, try as we might, our kids sometimes just don't want the toys we want them to want. Darn independant thinkers!

It sounds like she's a good kid, with good interests - she just wants something different than you want her to want. So I say go with what SHE wants. Remember that imagination is a great thing for a kid to have - while it's nice that she likes the books and all, it's also good that she can mix and match pieces that don't "go" together to make up play stories of her own. And just because she's making up stories of her own, doesn't mean she's done with Rebecca. It just means she's taking her play with her to a new place.

If you can't afford the AG bed, explain that the AG bed is very expensive and not something you can buy, and ask her if she'd be happy with something like the Toys R Us bed. Or give her cash and explain that she can either buy one of the knock-off beds now, or save it to buy the AG bed later once she gets some more money. She will probably amaze you with the tradeoffs she is able to evaluate, and she will value whichever one she picks more because she spent HER money on it.

(FYI - My daughter's favorite beds for her historical AG dolls are the pink and purple trundle we got at Target, and a wood canopy bed we got from WalMart for just $20. So not right for Samantha and Kit from their stories, but they seem to like them well enough LOL)

 

[akcire]

Okay first my perception from reading your post is that building this doll collection for your neice has become a hobby for you and your SIL, rather than toys/gifts for your neice.

Now I say that as someone who is collecting some American Girl items for a 9 month old....yes, you read that correctly.

At 10 years of age I would like to think your neice would know what she wanted. It is possible that her taste is just different, or she thinks her doll "really needs" (to quote my sister-in-law who is 20 years younger than me) a loft bed.

Here is what I would do:

If you live near an American Girl store, I would take her for a visit. I would either buy her a gift card or give her a certain amount of cash, and let her pick out her own gift. If you go the cash route, I would not tell her she had XX dollars to spend; but physically give her the money. There is something about having control over your own funds at that age. You can browse the entire store with her, if she decides on the bed and it is in her budget---so be it.

If you are not near a store, I might just give her XX dollars and let her spend it. If she wanted to save it toward the purchase price of the bed you could offer to order it once she had the money.

Final thoughts. There are many children in my life for whom I purchase presents. I will tell you without a doubt, all of them would rather have an experience rather than an object. I have visited the zoo, seen Disney on ice, gone ice skating, baked cookies, etc in place of gifts. The kids always talk about how much they enjoyed or what funny thing happened that day, but rarely do they rave (for more than the initial moment) about an item that was purchased.

If you know how to sew (or even if you don't) now would be the perfect age to start sewing doll dresses with your neice. I can't sew, but my daughter is 9 months old.....I have a couple years to learn.

Whatever you do, the fact that you are thinking about it means you are a good aunt.....even if you secretly want Rebecca for yourself

 

[HM]

It's too bad you didn't ask for several ideas when you talked with her. Of course, you probably had no idea the cost of what she wanted. I see no problem with mixing and matching pieces from different dolls if that's what the child likes. I'd just talk to her again and tell her that the price is too high and ask if there are other things she's wanted for the doll and doesn't have yet.

 

[LynnTH]

Personally, I would not get the bed. Maybe get a gift card so she can pick up something else she likes. My DD is 10 and she is at the point where she does not play with her American Girl Dolls anymore. We recently packed away all the clothes and accessories. The dolls still sit on her bed but she does not play with them anymore. (A few years ago my DD wanted the Armoire to hold all the clothes and accessories - it was around $300 - my DH went and built one instead and stained it the color of her bedroom set. So, now that the clothes are gone - she is putting other stuff in there).