What do people do when their children are given inappropriate toys for birthdays/Christmas?

Leslie - posted on 01/20/2009

I agree with jane and lisa.

We return things just as we do with duplicate items. My daughter is still little so I can do that with ease now since she doesn't remember everything she gets.

There are also toys I won't allow in our house Bratz being one of them (there name describes it perfectly!) but that being said as Rylan gets older I do think I will simply tell her that those aren't a toy I think are appropraite and give her some options of things that are.

I also agree with not mentioning it to the gift giver, still saying thank you with a note and verbally at the time of the party and not asking for a gift receipt. Then later quitely discussing that maybe there is X, Y, or Z that we were wanting instead.

Best of luck, I know its a touchy situation.

Leslie - posted on 01/20/2009

I agree with jane and lisa.

We return things just as we do with duplicate items. My daughter is still little so I can do that with ease now since she doesn't remember everything she gets.

There are also toys I won't allow in our house Bratz being one of them (there name describes it perfectly!) but that being said as Rylan gets older I do think I will simply tell her that those aren't a toy I think are appropraite and give her some options of things that are.

I also agree with not mentioning it to the gift giver, still saying thank you with a note and verbally at the time of the party and not asking for a gift receipt. Then later quitely discussing that maybe there is X, Y, or Z that we were wanting instead.

Best of luck, I know its a touchy situation.

Lisa - posted on 01/20/2009

If I gave a toy that someone felt was inappropriate, I would want them to return it and purchase a more acceptable toy. I know my friends and relatives feel the same, and we have done this in the past. If a receipt is not included, though, we do not ask for one, we would feel bad mentioning the return to the gift giver in most cases. We always make sure to write a nice thank you note.

Ghislaine - posted on 01/20/2009

Colleen, I have never allowed my boys to play with guns and those weird tv stuff. Anyone who thought of a gift for my children knew what was allowed or not so there was no problem and family and friends were very appreciative about me letting them know.



I would disagree about taking the toy and throwing it away. You never know if out of the kindness of their heart, that person used their last $ to show kindness to your child. I do believe that whatever you do will come back to you. I would NEVER want to give a gift to someone for them to throw it away.



I would not give that unwanted gift to another child because if it is not good for my child, It is not good for someone else's child. That's MY personal opinion.

Charmain - posted on 01/20/2009

I don't know what the Bratz dolls are, Haven't got small kids and since I'm in South Africa I don't even know if it's available. When my son was small I let him play with any toy. Children don't think as adults do. To them it's just toys. One thing I did do was teaching him right from wrong. He's a grown man today and has never been violent.

Most important of all is to spend quality time with your children. Make them feel save and listen when they talk to you. Don't criticize them. As long as they feel that they can trust and tell you anything and everything you will be able to control what's going on in their lives.

If you still feel strong about the issue, give people lists of what the children really need.

Dawn - posted on 01/19/2009

so far i've been lucky when it comes to family and gifts...i pretty much just give a list of what i want them to have, which toys they might want and what size and style of clothes. my daughter did recieve a shirt last year for her birthday that i took and gave away when everyone had left. it was very inapropriate for a child to wear. i'm not looking forward to when she starts having school friends over that might not share our values. but i think if i explain to her what things she is not to play with that she will hopefully tell her friends and they will respect that. it's hard i know. i'm having issues with people trying to get me to let my kids celebrate halloween...because it's so cute to let them dress up. but i think it's an evil holiday and i will not let my kids be a part of it. just try your best to explain to your kids why you took the toy away. and try and head that off in the first place by asking the people you invite to the party not to buy certain toys. hope this helps. God Bless:)

Winnie - posted on 12/02/2008

What if you use this as an opportunity to teach you kiddos about giving to other children less fortunate, and having the kids give some of those toys to someone instead of throwing them out?? Not sure tho, it you don't agree with the toy, but it may be a teaching opportunity????

Laura - posted on 12/02/2008

Hi Collee, For family members , I've told them NO BARBIES. If you have family members that you aren't comfortable saying that...then I would take the gift and then either return it or throw it out. My older children got so much "stuff", that if one present was missing they wouldn't notice. With my new little one, we don't allow tv, so if she were to get a Bratz doll , she will probably not know too much about them...again...I will be able to get rid of it. Once she is old enough we will talk about appropriate and inappropriate gifts. That will come when she starts to notice missing gifts...LOL

Jane - posted on 12/02/2008

Wow - that is tough . . . As my kids got older, we talked about why we felt if something was inappropriate, but when they're young - it's more difficult.



I would share my thoughts/restricitions with my relatives when they would ask about what to give the kids, but never told them what they can and cannot give if they did not ask in the first place.



What would the gracious kind thing to do when your child is given a toy that you would never consider getting them? It hasn't been in issue for us, but I would guess, that my child and I would graciously thank them and my child & I would have a little discussion about it afterwards.



I don't know if that helps or not, but it's what I would do . . . God Bless