I (40f) have a daughter who is turning 7 this month. My father (63m) asked what she wants for her birthday, I told him that she’s really into Barbie, and she could use some Ken dolls. He bought a 90s era Barbie and Ken set and told me that it’s a collectible, and wouldn’t appreciate in value if it was opened.
It is not the only doll, but she loves space and her favorite astronaut was on Star Trek.
Here’s where I think I might be the asshole. I told him that things from the 90s weren’t appreciating in value, and the guy that bought it originally would have had a better ROI by just playing with it.
So, AITAH for telling my dad that I wouldn’t keep my kid from playing with this toy?
NTA. Core concept, why would he get a child who wants a doll a doll she can’t play with? Like what’s his thought process? Like the main focus of why he was looking at dolls is she wanted a doll to play with.
Exactly, just buy the doll and save it. Get the 7 year old a gift she can play with.
NTA, it is a Barbie and she is 7. That is his own fault. Maybe if he bought some to play and some to collect that would be a bit different but that clearly isn’t the case.
NTA
He could have gifted her some Barbies to play with in addition to that, but you didn’t ask for a collector’s item.
NTA!!!! I was in your shoes when my now teenage daughter was little and my dad (who didn’t raise me) and his girlfriend gifted my daughter a Barbie toy that “she couldn’t play with.” I stood my ground and said no, and firmly stated that if she wants to play with it she can. Once you give a gift, you don’t get jurisdiction on how the gift is used. They were so upset about it but I didn’t care.
NTA little kids don’t want toys they can’t play with. I understand where dad’s coming from, but he has made a mistake.
kinda funny story now that i’m an adult & have better manners but when i was around the same age i had an aunt gift me one of those collector barbies & told me i should keep it in the box & can’t play with it. my family tells me i looked right at her and went “then i don’t want it”.
NTA – don’t buy children toys they can’t play with, your dad is being weird.
NTA, that generation is all about the “value” something *might* have one day, my grandma has a cabinet full of barbies still in the box and she knows better than to gift them to my daughter bc we play with things. I grew up receiving presents that weren’t actually presents, they were imaginary savings accounts. What’s the fun in that? Have you ever seen Toy Story? Let that toy be played with. 😆
NTA
Some of my gifts I received as a kid from my dad are still stored in his garage. I never got to play with them and they absolutely did not increase in value as they weren’t stored properly anyway. Collectors items should be left to the collectors to squabble over and let the kids play with toys.
Someone in my family did this and the “collectible Barbies” are all safety stored somewhere for 20+ years, occupy no part in childhood memories and are worth $150 max.
“Hey, 7 year old. Would you rather have hours of enjoyment now or enough money for a moderately nice dinner in 30 years?”
Tell your dad that if he wants to give your daughter a financial gift that will appreciate in value, he can gift her stocks or contribute to her college fund. Don’t give a kid a toy and tell them not to play with it.
They’re essentially worthless. I gave my daughter all the Barbies I was never allowed to open and seeing her play with them is so amazing.