birthdays, what they want or what they need?
By bobbyjoe143
@bobbyjoe143 (1287)
August 21, 2007 4:53am CST
my son will have his 9th birthday next week, and i have been buying his presents (still have a couple more things to get lol).
but my question to all of you mylotians out there is, when it comes to your childrens birthdays, do you buy them what they want, what they need or a mixture of the 2?
personally i ask him what he wants, then decide from the list what i will and wont get for him, then i also find what he needs (new clothes or shoes, bedroom items and such) and buy a few of those things too.
i find getting him some of the things he wants and a few of the things he needs generally keeps him happy and he always says thank you for everything he gets (even if it's not something to play with lol).
how about you guys?
2 people like this
7 responses
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
21 Aug 07
I always reminded my boys when they were growing up that Birthdays was not Christmas, and funds were always tight when they were little to begin with so, if they wanted a party, they had to pick one special item that they really wanted, then I would have to factor in the cost of the party and whether or not they needed shoes or clothing for example. They understood this going into the month of their birthdays and it all worked well for me in the end. Big ticket items were generally left for Christmas time. But now thats not to say that through out the year they earned things they wanted, or got them just because.
@bobbyjoe143 (1287)
•
21 Aug 07
i often buy things for my son throughout the year just because i can or want to. but birthdays to me are a special time and so i want to get him something i know he wants and will like.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
22 Aug 07
My son is only 18 months old, so I can't say for sure. For his first birthday, he got toys and books. We didn't buy him any clothes or anything like that, but he didn't need any, because I'm constantly buying him clothes anyway.
For his second birthday, we will probably let him pick out most of his own presents. I don't think there will really be anything that he needs.
When he gets older, we might mix it up and give him some things he wants and some things he needs. Like if he wants new shoes or something, we might get them along with toys and books.
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
21 Aug 07
I would say to get them the things they want all the way, however my daughter is spoiled rotten by the whole extended family and has more than she wants or needs!
Generally though, if you're strapped for cash you should go with a mixture as suggested above. My wife would always try to buy pretty outfits for my nieces birthday/christmas/easter gifts but I flat out disallowed it. Little kids get no real pleasure from pretty clothes etc, that doesn't come until they're at least 7 or so. I MADE my wife buy all our nieces toys etc for gifts.
@jennifer611 (2514)
• United States
21 Aug 07
I get a mixture of things.
things they want and things that they need.
like a few toys, maybe a couple pairs of jeans or a couple outfits.
they love playing their game systems so I buy them games for it every once in a while.
whatever they get they are usually happy with it.
@prily9 (568)
• Indonesia
21 Aug 07
when it comes to birthday I ask my daughter what she wants then try to mix with the things that she needs it, but if I have to choose between the things that she wants and the things that she needs. I will choose what she wants first because its her birthday. I think next month I will buy the things that she needs.
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
21 Aug 07
I definitely think a mixture of the two is important, and not spoiling the child.
My parents would always ask me and then decide for themselves.
I often wanted books or a new stuffed toy, or I'd just ask for us all to go out somewhere nice (I'd like to think I was low maintainance =P)
Things that they need, but are also interactive are normally the best bet.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
21 Aug 07
I always used to try and get a balance between the two. Getting what they want AND getting what they need. It doesn't have to cost a fortune either, by picking out one or two items from the list. I used to pad out my son't birthday gifts with lots of little things too, so he always felt that he had loads of gifts to unwrap and yet he had everything he both wanted and needed.
