Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jester David" data-source="post: 6348513" data-attributes="member: 37579">The thing the kid earned by 5 minutes of "please mommy, please" will have measurably less value than something that was saved for over the course of several weeks, earned through extra chores, or was the centerpiece of a gift day. Yeah, there maybe some some kids blow away by the impulse purchase they saw while waiting in line to checkout. But it's more than likely to be replaced by the next impulse purchase. Ditto being a stocking stuffer. I've enjoyed some stocking stuffers a lot, but they're really a garnish for the real presents. They're the opening act for a band you really want to see. They get glanced at then put aside. It's transient. Immemorable. Forgettable. Even at age four my son doesn't really appreciate the Hotwheels cars I grab at the supermarket as a token "you behaved super well" purchase, but the Rescue Bot he earned several months back for having dry nights is still beloved. Because it was hard earned. The comparative dollar value is lost on him as money is still a vague concept, but he treasures the earned toy. Especially when D&D is best aimed at kids 12+. At 12 if you're still going "mom mom mom please mom mom" in the store your parents deserve a smack upside the head. Ya tell the kid to stop whining and go mow some lawns/shovel some sidewalks. At that age I wanted a Super Nintendo. $200 back in the day ($340 now). I'd have scowled if I'd been handed a $13 present ($20 back in the early '90s) from my parents. I work in an elementary school. Most of the brats... I mean students... are hooked on their electronics and are used to a big $50+ video game purchase for a birthday or Christmas. A $40-60 gift is about right price wise. It's a centerpiece gift but within the budget of the kid if they're willing to save for a month or two. If you're spending $50 on a gift, someone is going to skip right over the starter box and go direct to the PHB. Getting both is extravagant.</blockquote>

Verification