What to do with this dollhouse? Opinions needed.

susanmosley

A great perk of my job is that I get cool stuff.  A family just gave me a great Kidkraft 4 ft tall doll house with all of the wooden pieces and parts.  It is great.  DD is going to LOVE IT.  No doubt.  It is in our garage right now with a sheet hiding it.

Here is the question - originally, we were planning to give it to her at her 3rd birthday in September.  But, i am having second thoughts about that for a variety of reasons.  But if we give it to her this weekend, it is just a random and totally awesome gift.  There aren't really any other events/occasions between now and her birthday.

What do you think - give it now?  or wait?  or other?

Oh, and she "knows" the dollhouse as she has been to the child's house (who passed it on) and comments on it when I mention that I am headed to his house.  So when we give it to her, she will know that it is that boy's that he and his family are sharing with us...we won't be taking the credit

 

gatogrrl

I would just give it to her now.  That's a few months of play she can enjoy -- why wait?  Plus I personally don't think I could keep it a secret for all those months.

Stacyc625

I would just give it to her. But that is me.

Or wait for a rainy day when you are about to rip your hair out. ..... it has rained EVERY single day this entire week here in PA.

susanmosley

gatogrrl:

Plus I personally don't think I could keep it a secret for all those months.

I know!!  DH and I are waaay too excited to see her face!  

Thanks guys!  We are going to have a fun Saturday morning around here!!! 

HarrietNJMommy

I'd give it to her now. She'll be able to start enjoying it.

JOEBunny

I buy the kids things as they need them.  For birthdays, I have them pick out 3 things they really want, one from me, one from DH, and one from a friend who always gets what the kids want.  The rest is just gravy, from the small parties we have.  My parents pay for bigger things like dance or camp or we just save the money.  I would give her the doll house and tell her where it came from, I would also have her "write" or tell me a thank you note to send to the family.

susanmosley

JOEBunny:

I would also have her "write" or tell me a thank you note to send to the family.

Goes without saying in this household.

Thanks for the replies. 

Andrewsgal

I don't know why but I am not a big fan of used toys for gifts, that and I have to shop like the week before birthdays because I can't keep a surprise.

EnglishMajor03

This is a big hang-up of mine.  DH likes to randomly give the girls things throughout the year but I always want to wait for their bday or Christmas.  My reaction is based on my childhood, when my parents didn't have a lot of money and I didn't get anything that wasn't a necessity.  I automatically think the girls are being spoiled by getting things outside of gift-giving occassions.

But you're question is about your DD not the psychologically damanging parts of my youth.

I'd probably give it to her now, explaining that said family was getting rid of it and thought of her, yadda, yadda.  She might also draw a nice picture for the family as a "thank you".