I know it’s crappy plastic trash, but……

I think children should sometimes be given what they ask for. Not always of course. The whole thing about being the same as your friends is very important to a child even if not to an adult. No point in slavishly copying everything but I think some concessions are necessary. I still remember so vividly not having the same clothes or toys as my friends. The reason wasn’t financial either. I was just told “we don’t have/do things like that.”

Let her have a little bit of bright plastic,just a little will satisfy her and then she can play with her wooden toys.
On DD instructions I bought GD a lovely wooden dolls house with wooden furniture and people. Other relations bought the Barbie Plastic castle guess which was played with most.
I find if you let them have a little bit they stop wanting a lot.
I also think it applies to a lot of things. Many years ago I taught a child whose parents were strict vegans. We found that chocolate biscuits and fancy crisps were disappearing from lunch boxes. Unfortunately, we had to spy on who we thought was the culprit, there the child was sitting on the school loo eating all the goodies they had stolen. When we told their mum she let them have a lit bit of something she did not agree with every now and then, the child was happy.

I think when they are under 5 it is less important to be new but at 7 she would know. I had to travel to Berwick from Midlothian to get a 2nd hand Doc McStuffins surgery thing (probably cost half the price in petrol) then on to Livingstone to get another bit. DGD was 4 at the time though 5 now and delighted. DGS2 gets stuff from marketplace and eBay as DD2. can't afford new and he is perfectly happy as long as there is wrapping paper. He is just 4.

I see we have some fun sponges around today. ?

Well each to his own all I can add is my own children had all their toys second hand, presents and all and never knew the difference It was much better to have plenty of (second hand presents) than one new one
But it’s really up to you and if that’s what you want to buy her go ahead she ll love it
Don’t discount new things in charity shops or eBay many children get two or decide it’s not the right thing and we get lots of brand new toys to sell

Good for you, Witzend.
What your granddaughter wants is to be the same as her friends. Yes, peer pressure, but also being part of the gang; no harm in that occasionally.
I refused to buy 'My Little Pony' for my daughter way back because I thought they were dreadful until I spent a wet playtime with a class of seven year olds, watching the girls busy combing , plaiting, jumping and doing all sorts of creative play with their Little Ponies. So she had one next birthday, loved it dearly and played with it for years, and I think it is still somewhere safe, out of sight.
(ps I bought a LOL doll for my almost -step -granddaughter, and I think they are equally awful too, but she was thrilled and it doesn't seem to have harmed her development.)

Well say what you like about plastic but my new Sindy doll bought in 1960, was played with by my daughters along with their own new Sindy dolls and all them were played with by Granddaughter, so we got our moneys worth! They are all in the loft awaiting Grt Grandchildren.
However, I would buy what your daughter wants you to buy.

Oh yes it would have to be new for a birthday - and exactly what they had asked for! Definitely Granny privilege

I have bought some 1970s Sasha vinyl dolls ( anyone remember these?
I've never heard of them - obviously DD couldn't have been aware of them, more's the pity if they are worth a lot now.

We still have a pile of Lego but have a DGN who might be interested.

Sindy sits at the top of the Christmas tree every year, she must be about 45 by now. She does have a lovely new dress which I made for her.

Yes, we still have our Sasha dolls!

I am sure that the main issue is durability and the ability to pass things on (like Fisher-Price). A few people do disapprove of Lego, but most of us are very happy to keep it for many years.
The problem with 'the latest craze' is that it may go to landfill a long time before Lego. But who knows? I bought a Millenium Falcon at a car boot sale over 30 years ago, and it is still treasured.

Interesting about Fisher Price, JenniferEccles.

We still have the little school - and most of the bits - it was a present to dd1 on her 1st birthday.

She’s now 45 and the school lives here for 3 visiting Gdcs to play with.
We also still have some of Dd2’s Barbies (she’s 42) and elder Gdd plays with them every time she visits. They are usually taken into the bath with her!

When mine were young we mainly bough Fisher Price toys on recommendation as they are such strong well made toys.
They did for all of mine and now our grandchildren enjoy playing with them when we have them here.

Yes the toys are made from plastic but they have lasted forty years in some cases, unlike the cheaper alternatives we could have bought.

I do buy wooden toys for the grandchildren but have no regrets about the Fisher Price ones we bought.

Lego sells for a lot of ££ second hand you can by it by the kilo. I doubt you can say the same about Chinese made flimsy doll especially if people think they can only buy new. No it’s not a gender thing, as I said before Sasha dolls sell for a mint have a look at eBay.

She certainly would know, vegansrock. She’s had enough 2nd hand stuff before.,
You would approve of her diet, though - except for eggs from their own chickens, she is vegan. (Veggan)

I wonder why nobody ever calls Lego plastic crap? (Or do they?)
Is that because it does tend to be more a boys’ thing than a girls’? (Yes, I do know girls play with it too.)
Is it only typically girls’ toys that are scorned as plastic crap?

I have bought some 1970s Sasha vinyl dolls ( anyone remember these?

I certainly do remember them, vegansrock! I adore my Sasha dolls. My Great Aunt got me quite a few for birthdays and Christmas's.

I'm actually in some Sasha groups on Facebook. I was amazed to read about how they restring and repair damaged ones. They are worth a lot of money today! However mine are staying with me

Practically everything contains plastic. I doubt we would ever be able to live without it. Of course people will say they avoid all things plastic but they don't. It's impossible.

moralfibres.co.uk/11-surprising-items-that-contain-plastic/

Healthcare uses vast amounts of one use plastics.

I'm sure your GDD will love her doll and I'm glad you have purchased a new one.

I agree with the daughter here. I wonder why you think your DGD will notice or remember that it’s all new? Second hand ones can be like new and unplayed with if you look around. It’s more about you than her, surely. You can always put it in a decorated box with loads of ribbons. Still, that plastic will still be in the ground in 500 years time when we’ve all been wiped out so who cares. I have bought some 1970s Sasha vinyl dolls ( anyone remember these? They were made in England ) and made new outfits for them, some I’ve sold at a good profit on eBay, so second hand is an option for some desirable vintage toys.

Let her have an occasional toy that is new to her!

I have just bought a new steam mop (my old one, bought refurbished very cheaply ten years ago, is now unusable, having fallen over several times due to its topheavy design, and been stuck together with duck tape until it is more tape than plastic handle)

I could have had a refurbished older model at a third of the price, but I ordered a shiny new latest version. It came with a bag of thirteen accessories, most of which I doubt I will never use, but I am more pleased with it than I would have been with another refurbished one. I may even use all those accessories to make my house look shiny and new too!

When I've taken a pile of toys (some wooden) to the charity shop at least the plastic ones can be washed first.

We've got toys from the DC which the DGC played with and had some hand-me-downs from a neighbour which our DGC played with and handed on to someone else.

When I asked the manager of the charity shop if she wanted a pile of wooden bricks she said yes please - her customers buying toys are usually grandparents who want them for when the DGC visit.

There's nothing as good as a brand new toy, a new book, though, for a young child

My niece loves these. Of course it should be a new shiny one for her birthday.

Re wooden toys, all very well when they’re very little - I’ve bought plenty - but when they’re a bit bigger the things they want don’t usually come in wood.

You can recycle the cardboard and plastic that makes up the packaging. Getting new for your birthday means a lot.

You will have to say you could not find one when you were looking so had to buy new to make sure you had it in time for her birthday, I think your GD deserves new, just make sure you up the anti re plastic on something else so you can square it with your conscience.

JaneJudge

Just tell her all the second hand ones had felt tip pen on their bodies and their hair had been cut

??

Just tell her all the second hand ones had felt tip pen on their bodies and their hair had been cut