$20 at the Lollipop Tree -- Pre-K Fall Fest

[Purple Cat]

Our adorable preschool has an annual fall fest the weekend before Thanksgiving. They have pick-a-lollipop from the lollipop tree, pick-a-rubber duck from the "pond," take a chance on the cakewalk. "Admission" for me and the children buys us 20 tickets for $20. Of course, we can buy more tickets for $1/ticket.

I'm a single parent of twins. We're very dependent on scholarship to attend this school. I want my children to participate and enjoy the school spirit. But I know that there is no way we can get out of there without massive tears for our 20 tickets. Each small game is $1, and others are more. Each dum dum, then, is $1. My little girl hoards and tends to want a lot of something. I cannot do anything for one that I don't do for the other. I don't feel fiscally responsible buying $20 of lollipops -- nor can I do it and actually feed them. Some people may be really good about their children being extremely upset that they cannot play a game more than once or get only one of something when other people are just playing all evening. They will have pizza or something. But my kids are pretty uninterested in foods.

I generally only take them to things were they can pretty much do something an unlimited number of times. For instance, a children's museum offerred free kiddie train rides on 1 day and charged $2/ride on other days. I only took them for the free day, so they could ride 8 times without it being an issue.

Any thoughts? I feel like I need to support the school and participate, but I'm dreading this and would really rather stay home, especially when its so close to Christmas.

[supervee]

Skip it if your kids won't know or can be distracted. You won't be the only family that has "prior obligations." $20 is a lot for lollipops!

[williamsmommy2002]

I'm not quite sure how old your girls are so take this with a grain of salt. Would they understand that they had a limitled amount of tickets before hand and would you be able to divide them up for different things? Meaning you could say well we have 20 tickets and you are allowed to use 4 of them on lollipops. Lets face it, all the little things are going to be cheap so yopu are not really spending $20 on lollipops, you are giving the money to the school. They are in turn making it possible to get small prizes. I understand not wanting that much candy. Can you keep them away from that activity until you only have a few tickets left?

I understand it's hard to limit our children especially when your money is limited and you feel they should be able to have what they want. Seriously though it is a good life lesson. You can't always give in because they will expect that from others as adults. Yes I know it is hard. If it would be way too hard skip it.

[je309]

I understand that it is hard as well an we have been in a similar situation. I have a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old and when we do things like this for either of their schools, we explain to them that we have X number of tickets and that's it. The fact that they even get to go awesome in their eyes and they appreciate it.

I would think that if your children are preschool age (I'm assuming they must be at least 3) you could do your best to explain that they each have 10 tickets. I can't imagine giving my kids any more than that and 10 turns at something is quite a lot! Taking them only to things where they can do whatever they want as much as they want it great, but not all the time. I agree that this is a good life lesson.

Of course, if you don't want to deal with it, you could always choose not to go! :-)

[octobermom]

I do my best to set up for success say we have 20 tickets (or how ever many you decide) that means 10 games let each girl pick 5. Part of well life is learning to live with some degree of disapointment I agree its nice when we can just say find the ride that goes on forever or the endless box of cookies ect and just not worry but really its not healthy. They are 3 its perfectly normal for then to want more and not understand why they can't but this may be a good chance to start working on this.. At the same time if they aren't ready they aren't and you chooseing to skip this event isn't a bad decession nor one you should feel guility about. Those prices are way crazy. DD has her fall festival today its $2 for her to get in (parents free) food is between .50-$1.00 depending.

Deanna

[eepster]

I agree with the PP that learning about limits is one of lifes leasons we all must have, and that this is an opportunity to start teaching it. However, if you would rather start this leason somewhere more low key with less presure, then it's also fine if you choose to skip this. I would definitly start working on learning to handle disappiontment soon though, since it is keeping you guys from enjoying activities.

[grniys]

Originally Posted by eepster

I agree with the PP that learning about limits is one of lifes leasons we all must have, and that this is an opportunity to start teaching it. However, if you would rather start this leason somewhere more low key with less presure, then it's also fine if you choose to skip this. I would definitly start working on learning to handle disappiontment soon though, since it is keeping you guys from enjoying activities.

That's pretty much exactly what I was going to say.

[cosmos]

I agree that it is a valuable lesson to say "that's all we have", and I like having limits for my kids, it is just realistic. I will tell my kids in the store "we don't have money to buy that...etc...." EXCEPT when it is really true (which happens a lot here in our seasonal economy). That is when I have a very difficult time telling my kids no. I'd skip the carnival and make "no" answers when there is less pressure.