When Your Child Wants Every Toy They See!

[hvivona]

How much is the Pal Mickey?

 

[emerymt]

You know, after hauling my kids all over the planet, we just don't buy them much anymore. They need to learn that the value is in the experience and not the stuff, which all turns in to junk, anyway. They are 8, 12, and 15. When they were really little, we did do the "one present per trip" rule, which worked fine.

We give them each a disposable camera to use at their discretion, which they love. Half the time, when we get home, they forget about getting it developed.

Pressed pennies are terrific- they are mementos like pictures and can be found everywhere, not just at WDW. We got our first book on the way to Pearl Harbor (p.s. use pre-1982 pennies as they have no zinc. We soak them in vinegar for a couple of days before to shine them up). Obviously, they are also cheap.

We'll also buy books with no limit on that.

As for the rest, they can spend their own money. It is important to teach them how to buy things that have real value. My oldest son (15) collects figurines, and has for years. He still has the row of porcelain kitties he bought at Disney four years ago, at a shop in China in World Showcase. My youngest burns through money on anything that catches his eye, but is learning his lesson on cheap toys. My daughter is somewhere in between.

 

[matthew_hull]

A search on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com) shows him for $25.

How much is the Pal Mickey?

 

[autumnsmommy]

It's not the same thing...They run about 60 at the parks, or last years model is about half off in the outlet shops.

 

[hollyb]

The way we look at is this. We are all on vacation and part of the fun is buying stuff. I would feel awful if one our kids saw something they really wanted but we said they had to wait until our last day and then we couldnt find it again. NO WAY would I risk that.

As for making them use thier own money, nope don't do that either. We are the parents and make the real money. Any money they get from holidays, birthdays is thier money. We do not need money from a child to afford to buy them gifts.

 

[MorningGlory]

The way we look at is this. We are all on vacation and part of the fun is buying stuff. I would feel awful if one our kids saw something they really wanted but we said they had to wait until our last day and then we couldnt find it again. NO WAY would I risk that.

As for making them use thier own money, nope don't do that either. We are the parents and make the real money. Any money they get from holidays, birthdays is thier money. We do not need money from a child to afford to buy them gifts.

I also do this, although I can also see why other parents would do things differently.

My DS is quite frugal anyway when it comes to spending, but whenever I have taken him on holiday before, he has saved up some money that he gets from his grandparents every week as well as some of his pocket money, and the rest of it is made up by me. I encourage him to watch the pennies, although I would never deny him anything (simply because he doesnt ask for much in the first place - I often have to encourage him to spend lol!). I have to worry more about him wanting to buy gifts for his sister, friends, mum, etc than wanting to buy stuff for himself. He often ends up leaving himself without just cos he has seen something nice he wants for someone else.

I think he secretly knows I wont let him go without though, the wee rascal

 

[rwrocksme]

I am a certified shopaholic, but I do have a few tricks of my own. First, all I buy at the parks is a pin. I have 50 + pins, but I can look back at all of them and say, "I remember this pin! We were on this trip and did so-and-so with so-and-so at so-and-so!"

Also, I take money for the Florida Mall. We have mall lackage where I live.

 

[Grumpy23]

I can't do that. God forbid we can't find it the last day. NO WAY am I going to live that down. Our motto is: you see it you want it buy it now.

Yikes, just had this conversation with my son the other day. Last year I told him to wait to spend his money to make sure he didn't find something better later on in the trip, that he liked. Needless to say, he never ended up getting the one tee shirt he really wanted, and I haven't heard the end of it since. I told him, this year, buy what you want, when you want, I'm not saying a word.

I wonder if these tips will work with DH. He is really the bigger "I want that toy" kinda man.

 

[Dashzap]

When the kids were younger, we used the Trading Up method. Let them window shop for a few days, then they pick 1 toy which you will buy on your last day. Each time they want something, you ask which they want more, this new toy or the one they wanted before. Obviously this won't work if they want something unique that will be hard to find on the last day, but it helps with the stuff you see everywhere.

 

[hollyb]

Yikes, just had this conversation with my son the other day. Last year I told him to wait to spend his money to make sure he didn't find something better later on in the trip, that he liked. Needless to say, he never ended up getting the one tee shirt he really wanted, and I haven't heard the end of it since. I told him, this year, buy what you want, when you want, I'm not saying a word.

I wonder if these tips will work with DH. He is really the bigger "I want that toy" kinda man.

Thats what I am talking about. If DD see's a stuffed animal that MUST come home with her, because it needs a family and will be forever lonely wihtout her. (To her 6 year old thinking anyway) If we wait until the last day and we can't find it, she will NEVER let us live it down. So to keep my sanity I buy it then and there for her.

 

[Chrissie-riel]

I have to chime in and agree with those that have the kiddos use their "own" money. I got crafty a while back and traced/drew a 2ft high Cinderella's Castle (with 10 spires) that gets put up onto the fridge a few weeks or months before a WDW trip. Each child has 10 magnets that go up onto the castle spires each day for chores, being nice to your sibling, helping mom, etc. 10 magnets/day = $1 Disney Dollar I hate dealing with the gimme's at the parks and this method negates all of that. They use their Disney Dollars for everything that they want - toys, clothes, Mickey Bars, face painting, etc. They learn great lessons about earning money, saving, budgeting, price comparisons, etc. They have already asked me when the chart is going up for the trip in September - we'll probably start in summer so that they can "earn" up to $100 each.

 

[hollyb]

I have to chime in and agree with those that have the kiddos use their "own" money. I got crafty a while back and traced/drew a 2ft high Cinderella's Castle (with 10 spires) that gets put up onto the fridge a few weeks or months before a WDW trip. Each child has 10 magnets that go up onto the castle spires each day for chores, being nice to your sibling, helping mom, etc. 10 magnets/day = $1 Disney Dollar I hate dealing with the gimme's at the parks and this method negates all of that. They use their Disney Dollars for everything that they want - toys, clothes, Mickey Bars, face painting, etc. They learn great lessons about earning money, saving, budgeting, price comparisons, etc. They have already asked me when the chart is going up for the trip in September - we'll probably start in summer so that they can "earn" up to $100 each.

You make them but thier own food? Do you also make them buy thier own food when your at home too? I understand why parents refuse to buy things for thier kids. As a adults thats our responiblilty.

 

[Chrissie-riel]

You make them but thier own food? Do you also make them buy thier own food when your at home too? I understand why parents refuse to buy things for thier kids. As a adults thats our responiblilty.

No - of course I don't make them buy their own food! (I am really upset and offended that you would even think to chastise someone else anyway on how they raise their own kids. I happen to like most of the people on the DIS but really get steamed when other people sit at their computer and make judgements that they know nothing about!) We go on the dining plan and eat like kings, but sometimes they walk by those food carts and get the gimme's for more food/candy/ice cream (i.e. treats) than they really need. In that case, if they want to spend their own money, it is their choice.

 

[emerymt]

You make them but thier own food? Do you also make them buy thier own food when your at home too? I understand why parents refuse to buy things for thier kids. As a adults thats our responiblilty.

Whoa, did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Mickey bars are junk, plain and simple. They're not considered "food"- some (not me!) would argue they're better off without it, anyway.

Also, hollyb, you previously mentioned "We do not need money from a child to buy them gifts." That, too, sounds a bit sanctimonious. Other families budget every penny they have, and the unfortunate fact of life is their kids need to learn to do it, as well. Still other families could afford nearly everything the kids want, but don't think it accomplishes anything to buy it, except making the kids more spoiled than they already are.

However, the most important benefit in telling the kids they must use their own money is that it ends all the arguing. One could also do this buy purchasing a Disney gift card as a treat. There is nothing like constant nagging and poking through every gift store in WDW to ruin a trip. However one chooses to do it, giving kids a finite amount of money is not only a lesson in budgeting for them, it gives the parents a modicum of peace.