Anonymous
Post 06/21/2020 18:27     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
Not much.

I have a couple older teens that got summer jobs and needed a few work shirts/better shoes, so I bought them those--even though technically they are old enough/making enough money that they could buy them for themselves. I spent about $250 total (for both.)

I have two younger teens and one of them asked for about $50 worth of subscription stuff for his online gaming.

So...4 kids...about $300 total.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2020 18:12     Subject: Re:How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
I am spending a ridiculous amount on books. Usually I am a big thrift store and library person. I don't want DD 8 reading on screens.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2020 18:07     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
We got an inflatable pool and swing to hang from a tree branch. There’s been a pay it forward site on Facebook for my area so I have gotten some free puzzles and books there. Also some free craft stuff. Both kids have had birthdays during this time so they got new toys that way.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2020 16:22     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
I have a 4 year old. We get a lot of new books in English and my native language (not Spanish). That's about it.
I got new clothes and shoes a month ago but I usually do in the summer since she's a winter kind and transitions to a new size sometime in summer.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2020 16:06     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
My neighbor literally has amazon packages coming every day. They have built what looks like a red neck obstacle course in their front yard. They put it up and take it down daily. They have to park on our street to make room for all the kids crap toys.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2020 15:59     Subject: Re:How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
I'm not buying them anything. They're too old to play with toys and have their own savings.

I don't think you're sending a "terrible message" to your kids. It's understandable that you want them to be entertained.

There are plenty of low-cost or free activities your kids can do: reading (if you have books at home that they haven't read yet or can borrow e-books from library), cooking, drawing, playing in backyard, etc.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2020 15:35     Subject: Re:How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
In the beginning I was buying some new toys and activities to keep my 4 year old and 1.5 year old excited but after about a month I realized that that was not sustainable. Now I'm purchasing materials for science experiments and sensory activities that can be used multiple times. I dyed 3lbs of pasta with food coloring for a sensory bin. Now that the weather is getting warmer and we are finally moving into a bigger space with a yard and a basement I'm probably going to buy alot of things I had been holding off on like a big craft table that can be used for arts and crafts, schoolwork, etc, pikler triangle, trampoline, sprinkler, kiddie pool, squirt guns, etc. Our nanny is creating a "camp at home" with different themes so I have been purchasing things to help with that.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2020 21:30     Subject: Re:How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
You are not the only one. Bought Frozen legos, water table, crafts. We are saving over $3000 in daycare costs and I’m not too worried about spending $30 on a water table and $75 on a mini trampoline.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2020 20:52     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
Anonymous wrote:I am keeping the Lego store in business.


Me too! LEGO is my kid’s LIFE right now.

We are not paying for child care, so I feel fine buying more toys.

He will spend HOURS engrossed in LEGO, making up stories and switching out different character & details. Besides LEGO, we’ve gotten additional Magna Tiles, a few little vehicles, art supplies, books, and outside stuff like water and sand toys, balls, & bubbles.

He also had a birthday with lots of surprise packages from family and is transitioning from toddler stuff to preschool stuff. It’s just been a time of going through his toys, giving little kid stuff to friends, and bringing new big kid stuff in to encourage his new interests & abilities.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2020 20:48     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
Our library just reopened for curbside pickup and I am going to be saving a LOT of money on books.

We've been buying a ton of books and craft supplies (we've gone through multiple sketch books per kid and three sets of markers since the pandemic started) and have gone through some things more quickly than usual--bubbles, sidewalk chalk, baking supplies, etc... and we have bought a few summer things that we wouldn't have needed otherwise--sprinkler and some super soakers.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2020 20:17     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
Anonymous wrote:Don't beat yourself up about it. It's perfectly fine as long as you can afford it. I think a lot of us took the Little House on the Prairie books a little too much to heart and have this subconscious feeling that our kids should be devoutly grateful for an orange at Christmas and if they are so lucky as to be given like 6 buttons OF COURSE they should immediately create a button string and give it to their younger sibling (or nowadays, you know, donate it to the Less Fortunate). I mean, yes to philosophical conversations about consumerist society, buying local, etc... but treating your kids to some new toys a little more frequently during a pandemic is neither crazy nor morally problematic.

Signed, someone who 5mins ago bought their toddler a water sprayer shaped like a 3 ft watermelon via the Target app because we can't go to Dutch Wonderland this summer but hell yes I can at least buy this thing.


I love you
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2020 17:32     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
10 year old. Surprisingly nothing except books on the kindle.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2020 16:57     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
Anonymous wrote:After we got our refund for camp cancellation, I bought an Lol surprise doll water bounce house for $500! Kids ages 8, 5, 3 have played on it 2 hours a day every day since last week. It’s worth the money although I am embarassed by it!


I'm surprised you're willing to put it up and take it down that often. I hate rolling up the bounce house we have. And I can ever get it even remotely as small as it started when it came.
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2020 16:41     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
After we got our refund for camp cancellation, I bought an Lol surprise doll water bounce house for $500! Kids ages 8, 5, 3 have played on it 2 hours a day every day since last week. It’s worth the money although I am embarassed by it!
Anonymous
Post 06/20/2020 15:24     Subject: How much new stuff are you buying your kids?
So much. My kids are 1 and 3. They’ve both outgrown clothes and shoes. They needed new bikes and scooters (big hit!), arts and craft supplies and lots of new magnatiles.

Both of mine are back in daycare full time now. It’s been a huge relief for everyone. We’re both teleworking full time and I feel like the kids were suffering