Would You Get Your Kid a Toy Knowing the Child Is Too Advanced and Beyond It?

Updated on December 11, 2011
✩.!. asks from Boulder, CO
16 answers

My 4 year old dd wants an Alphie for Christmas. She already knows her ABC's and 123's and is doing beginning reading. Everytime she sees "Alphie" in an ad or at the store she says she really hopes Santa brings her this toy. It is $29.99 right now - so kind of a higher item, but we could afford it if we chose too. I think it would be silly to get it for her, but my husband so - if it is what she wants get it.

What are your thoughts... pass on it? Or get it to appease her wish?

Thanks.

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Just because she knows her letters and numbers, and is doing early reading doesn't mean she won't enjoy it. Doesn't it have games she could play, and at different levels? That would be fun and educational. Look at amazon for specifics and reviews to help you decide :)

4 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Yes for the same reason I enjoy playing with their games, sometimes the age doesn't matter. :)

I mean really, don't you think a 42 year old would be too old to play with Weebles? Apparently not.

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V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I wouldn't get something like that to be the "highlight of her Christmas" type of item... but if it was within the budget then I probably would. Have you gone into a store where they had them and let her pick it up and mess around with it? I would do that before I bought it. See what she thinks of it in real life, not just a commercial where they make a stump look like the best thing in the world.

Yes, I have bought things "below" my kids' "level". Often those things are less expensive than the things that ARE on their level, lol... Priced a yo-you lately? My kids are way past learning to yo-yo, but they still enjoy it from time to time. Use the same logic... although I tend to be more hesitant with electronic toys in general... because they can be so limiting in what the kids actually do with them. Which is why I suggest letting your daughter test one hands-on in a store somewhere before committing....

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C.C.

answers from Houston on

Never can get too much practice...besides it has alot of options for learning using the basics of ABC's And 123"s....$29.99 is not that high of an item!

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B.E.

answers from New York on

My son has expressed interest in a few items that are definitely too young for him and I'm not going to get them. He'll probably play with the toys on Christmas day and then forget about them.

Sometimes the ads on TV make a particular item seem so much more exciting than it really is. One thing he REALLY wants for Christmas is the new Imaginext Batcave. The ads have been running ad nauseam on TV. However, he already received the older version for Christmas last year. There's no way I'm buying him the new one because of the few design changes.

Good luck with your decision - kind of a tough choice!

2 moms found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

I would get it since she asked for it. She can still have fun playing with it, even though she knows her letters and colors etc. It is for kids 3 and up so it's not like a baby toy.

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E.S.

answers from Dayton on

That's a toughie...
All I can tell you is that my In-Laws are constantly giving my children gifts that they are way beyond. And they get played w/ very little, if at all.
But they are not toys they have asked for either...
If she really, really wants it, I'd probably get it for her. ;)

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J.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

yes if its what she wants....the look of excitement is worth it, then sell in on cl when shes done with it

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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

Take her to the store and let her play with it. See if it is really going to be too easy for her. I wouldn't want to spend that much money on a toy that will collect dust. Don't start buying to appease her at THIS age, or you'll be really up the creek in her teens!
D.
Mom of 8 children ages 27, 25, 23, 21, 19, 16, 14, 12

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L.A.

answers from Austin on

We gave our daughter things that were a bit advanced and she was given things that were way advanced.. She usually figured them out eventually.

She just grew into them..

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D.C.

answers from Honolulu on

I don't know what Alphie is but my daughter always plays with toys above her age level. Girls are smart! ; )

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Ask her why she wants the toy and see if her expectations for the toy is realistic (maybe she thinks it does something that it doesnt?) and if they are realistic, I'd get it for her. If she wants it, she wants it! It's like me being into the Twilight series. It's too "young" for me but I like it ;)

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S.V.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son got an Alphie last year when he was 3, he is now 4 and he still plays with it-he also knows his ABC's and #'s but there is more to it, it does music and matching, shapes, and you can buy more cards for it (which we havent yet) I hear you though, my son wants this stupid Monster Lab candy maker that got horrible reviews, but my hubby got it for him anyways for Christmas too.......I'd go for it, I worried about the Alphie too but he loved it, and since he doesnt play with it much now, I can take it on car rides or to the doctor to keep him busy. At least its not some crazy overpriced $100 toy :0)

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R.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son received Alphie last holiday season when he was not quite 3 years old. He will be 4 years old in March and is still playing with it at least once a month. I highly recommend this toy.

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M.G.

answers from Seattle on

I've been in your shoes before and what I've done is get something similar but at the same level or a bit beyond where the child is.

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

i wouldnt because my daughter is too smart for it. i know it would get used for a few days then not again. so i told family not to get it for her. my 4 year old is getting a ds this year because its something to last her because she can get harder games.

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