Do You Refuse to Buy Toys Your Kids Ask for but Won't Play With?

Hmm.. That's a tough one. We also have a 3.5 year old, but unlike your daughter, the toys he asks for are things he plays with ALL DAY long. So we don't mind buying more and more Thomas the train, for example, or his latest obsession is with Star Wars... Because he's home all day and plays with his toys all the time. I think I agree with you... if she's not playing with the WEbkinz, why buy them?
I think if I were in your shoes, I'd try introducing her to something new. Crafts are great, but she also should be playing with things that will allow her to act out stories and pretend play... Does she have a kitchen? Does she play with dolls? I'm not sure what girls this age are into, but I bet if you put up a new post, you'll get loads of good suggestions.

The only time I buy my daughter toys are for holidays that gifts are usually given. I do not waste my money on things that won't get played with unless it doesn't cost a lot. My daughter and all of her friends are obsessed with owning webkinz and don't play with them. They aren't expensive so I don't see why I would deny her one when it makes her sooooo happy. I think kids should get a few gifts that they really really want and then some that are more practical to what they will actually make use of. Think back to when you were a kid, didn't you ever just "have to have something"? So I think that the cost of the item comes into play for your question.

I try to let my kids have that one thing they really want even though I am pretty sure they will not play with, at least for very long. But they are stuck to holidays and birthdays, nothing in between. if they want something, they have to pay for it. As for denying, one of my girls loves any stuffed animals, including Webkinz. She has a few and tons of regular stuffed animals. I refuse to buy her more simply because they are everywhere and played with only once in a while. Let the aunt buy them and you can get the craft stuff.

My 8yo can use his own money to buy webkinz in between gifting occasions. I've had him do the math: x webkinz = x dollars = some cool toy you can't buy because you spent all the money on webkinz.

He doesn't get an allowance, but he earns money for things like snow shoveling and yard work and gets money for his birthday. Being able to say "spend your own money" has really helped with the asking - even if it takes him forever to save up.

He does play with his Webkinz, actually, and all his stuffed animals - it's just, there's a limit to how many stuffed animals the house can hold. He got one from us for xmas, and that was it!

Hi Nicole,
I 100% refuse to buy something when I know the kids (boys, 10 & 8) will not play with it! When we have birthdays and family ask I tell them not to buy XYZ because they will waste their money. If they choose to buy then I don't feel bad. We do have Webkinz (4 each kid - all gifts) and the stuffed animals have been ignored to the point that I have now given them to the little sister (older kids hate when I give their stuff away) with the explaination of since you don't play with this anymore. I also tell them that if they have more then the "money they earn" will not goes as far becuase they have more to take care of.
I think because I have been honest with the boys that money is tight they are starting to understand. That or when I started giving things that aren't being played with away they started taking me serious!....lol
Good Luck and Here is to standing your ground!

In most cases, I do the exact same thing. Everything looks exciting on tv and she wants it all, but I know her well enough to know she won't play with it. We went through the same thing last year. My daughter wanted nothing but puppies (stuffed, of course). She got nearly 15 different puppies. She played with them alot early on, then stopped. This year, she says "I want more puppies." I told her Santa would not be bringing them because she hardly plays with hers now.

Here's where I caved: she asked for that Learn to Swim Puppy for months. The reviews were horrible, parents didn't like it, but their kids liked it. I was skeptical, but being the one consistent gift she really wanted, I said, we have to get it for her. She's used it twice and it's currently on her closet floor! Moral-I'm sticking to buying what I'm pretty certain she will play with. I don't blame you at all for not buying anymore. Maybe have her start earning an allowance and if she wants to use her own hard earned cash for it, then let her do it.