Will your son get a doll for the holidays?
by Dr. Leah
Filed under Kids, Tips & Advice
If your holiday is kidless, we hope that you make the most of your free time. And if you’re hosting Thanksgiving is at your house, we hope that you truly enjoy your day with family and friends.
Our kids are already planning the next holiday celebrations. Are yours? Have they already hinted about gifts they hope to receive? Does Santa Claus visit your house? Does every toy commercial prompt a nudge in your direction?
For single parents especially, holiday planning is doubly essential.
We’re curious to know how many of you will be up early for Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. Will you be among the throngs shopping for bargains?
There’s always a lot of buzz about the newest “must have” toy. Around here, it’s all about the Nintendo Wii, the iPod touch — or anything by Disney. Funny enough, the stores are still filled with many of the same things we played with as kids: trucks, dolls, and board games.
We’re wondering what inspires you to purchase certain toys for your kids?
Of course, we want to make our kids happy, so we do try to make their holiday wishes come true. Savvy merchandisers now classify toys as gender-centric (dolls and trucks) vs. gender-neutral (classic board games).
We’re curious: Do such distinctions influence your toy buying?
Would you buy your son a doll because you hope to make him more sensitive and nurturing?
Have you considered buying your tween princess-in-training a building set or a truck?
So, tell us: What toys do you plan to buy your kids for the holidays?
What role will gender play in your toy buying decisions?
(Photos courtesy of Susan Yocum, “Aunt DsHandscrafts,” and Todd Klassy Photography via Flickr)
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My 8yr old son saw the commercial for the cupcake making set (easy bake oven type) and complained that it was purple and pink, because he wanted it. It ended up on the list to Santa….for me! I’ll buy it from Santa and address it to me, and then have a blast making cupcakes with my little baker!
Twitter @ http://cat804.blogspot.com
My son already has a doll- when he sees it he yells “baby!” and collapses on it with a hug. For Christmas he’s getting a wagon full of ball pit balls. Most of his stuff is generic toddler stuff- lots of cars and balls, but if I had a little girl whose eyes got wide and hands started clapping whenever something spherical entered her line of sight, she’d be getting all the ball pit balls she could ask for too.
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Twitter @ http://www.threeunder4whatwasithinking.blogspot.com
This is going to be a very different year for my family. It is the first Christmas as a “combined” family and I came up with a great idea one night while I was trying to fall alseep. All of the kids (my 3 and MrMans 2) will have stockings that will be filled with “personal” gift items, a new ps game, dolls, earrings, trucks, trains… but under the tree are going to be 10 boxes that will be named for the kids… but noone will have their own boxes… still not sure what I am going to put on the tag… the kids can pick any two boxes that they want to open and inside is going to be board games… loads and loads of board games. I am finding that the kids love to play board games when we are all home and sense my children are still young in the eyes of board games, I never really had any at the house. So there is going to be lots of young and old board games that we can play as a family… a “family” wow that word makes me smile.
Jolene´s last blog ..Do you honestly think that I don’t know?
Jolene: This is absolutely inspired! Board games are so budget friendly, too . . .another big plus. My family’s favorite is Sorry – it adapts to a wide age range. Family . . . it is a beautiful word!
Cat And, speaking of family, you can tell that my kids are grown up. . . .what are “ball pit balls”? Like at IKEA? Yikes!
debra Easy Bake ovens . . .YEAH!…I actually had one of the first when I was a little girl. It was powered by a 60 watt electric bulb – definitely inspired caution, but what a blast. Your son will likely forget that hideous color combination and join the fun.
Twitter @ Singlemomindebt
This year it is all about a guitar and PS3 for my 13 year old.
My son always wanted transformers and trucks. But I would have had no problem if he wanted something that was more for girls, getting it for him.
Have a great Thanksgiving !!
Single Mom Paying Off Debt´s last blog ..Extra Money for Christmas
I have two boys 8 & 5 and the 5 year old is a huge Dora the Explorer fan. He has had two Dora birthday parties, begged for the new movie in Target the other day and yes, I bought it. I really don’t see the issue. I will say – it drives his dad crazy. I guess that is why we are divorced!
Yes, I am a Black Friday shopper – every year.
Leslie´s last blog ..WOW!
Twitter @ http://cat804.blogspot.com
Dr. Leah- yup, like at the IKEA or McDonald’s ball pit. I can’t think of anything that would make him happier, and I got 100 of them new for $20. Given how excited he’s been to pull ornaments off the tree and throw them (“BALL!”) I think these will hit the spot!
Cat´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday
@Cat: Wow, to see the look on your son’s face when he sees 100 balls just for him!
I’m so curious to know if any moms are getting trucks, cars, blocks, tools, etc. for their toddler daughters? (Yes, I was one of those moms…)
Twitter @ FullCustodyDad
I have no problem with this. I am kind of beyond gender specific toys. My 10 YO daughter has grown up with Legos, race tracks, building sets and dolls.
My 5 YO son plays with dolls and all of the above. In truth, I tend to buy toys I like–*hehe* and don’t think twice about gender thinking.
However, you’re talking to a dad that let’s his son take ballet. I only truly feel awkward when I have to buy him his ballet shoes and outfits! *hehe*
PS. I only shop one day a year, and do ALL my Christmas shopping on Black Friday (I’m such a guy). There is nothing specific that the kids are asking for (truthfully I just polled them). But then again, that might be a side effect of not owning any TVs–but that’s another story!
Fred Campos / FullCustodyDad´s last blog ..“Does Your Daughter Have Dad Hair?” Book Review
Great idea to have non-gender toys.
Don’t get to stressed out over the holidays, everything doesn’t have to be perfect.
Twitter @ tailgatingtimes
I have one of each and my mom got my son a doll when he was about 3. I didn’t care but she made a big deal about gender neutral toys. He never touched the doll at all. He just wasn’t interested in it. He has always loved trucks, radio controlled stuff, and Legos.
My 8 year old daughter has decided this year she wants the same stuff her brother is into…Star Wars toys, Transformers, Legos, Nerf Guns, and her new favorite color is blue instead of pink. She’s still a serious girly girl though and loves it when her mom takes her to get her nails done.
I try to put more emphasis on the traditions and experiences than the gifts. For the most part they are happy with whatever they get. We have a big family and 1 more toy or a high priced gift vs. lower price doesn’t make Christmas any more or less special. We also always do Angel Tree and they each help me pick out a gift for that.
Twitter @ Lgood67334
I love your questions, Rachel.
I sent Thanksgiving packages to my sister’s grand kids–books to read with mom and dad (or maybe with grandparents) and socks with critters on them. These are non-gender, and I hope they are also non-dorky.
Is this a real question. Do you want your kid to grow up confused ?
C: Thanks for joining the conversation. And reminding us of the many possible points of view on this question.
Twitter @ BigLittleWolf
Having had boys – whose friends were girls – it was fascinating to see what they wanted as gifts.
Mostly, it was legos, power rangers, occasionally action figures. Lots of build it / science experiment things, and crayons/paper/paints.
But one of my sons REALLY wanted an easy bake oven and a number of kitchen-related toys when he was about 7. So I got him one! And he loved that stuff and played with it for a good two years, along with all the other more typically boy things.
And why not? Why not whatever interests and stimulates them?
There was also plenty of sticks, rocks, pots and pans and imagination. I still think that’s going to be true for most kids. And thank goodness.
Happy holidays!
BigLittleWolf´s last blog ..Metro tickets in my pocket, black cat, mashed potatoes
I’m a tomboy but I have no problem with dolls for boys. Squirt has begged for a “baby” for years and I even bought him a Cabbage Patch Kid but Ex returned it. It was a huge fight between us over and over. We always compromised with stuffed animals although he did have clothes and diapers and stroller and high chair and all that stuff for his animals. I was so looking forward to buying him a doll last Christmas but alas, it was the first year he didn’t ask.
He will sometimes ask me “Is that a girl toy?” or “Is that a girl movie” and I tell him absolutely not…there’s no such thing!
wondermom´s last blog ..Mom’s night out redux