Scratch cards for my six year old Post Reply

[maze]

I’ve recently heard from my daughter that her granny buys her scratch cards. I’m pretty shocked by it and wanted to hear if I’m over reacting.

I have my own personal feelings about scratch cards and don’t really know anyone that buys them apart from my MIL, but I’m not looking to start a debate around that or judge anyone. This is just about the children.

Part of me thinks they’re too young to be affected and may actually see the fallacy of them at an early age and get bored. but my daughter seems to really like them and it just feels very wrong.

[Txmom]

Hi. I buy scratch cards for everyone at Xmas as a bit of fun- including the kids. I do explain it’s gambling and they aren’t technically allowed. Maybe have that chat with your daughter and her grandmother and if it’s a fun silly thing every once in a while it’s not such a big concern? My kids have never carried on asking if they could have them outside xmas so it hasn’t been an issue. Evaluate what you are concerned about and articulate that to her granny and maybe you can find a workable solution. Good luck.

[NVP]

Hi,

My mum does exactly the same thing for some family get togethers. We’ll play bingo and the scratch cards are the prize. My six year old gets very excited about them since he won £5 as a prize. I’ve explained that they are less likely to win you money over being able to win anything and that they’re not something that should be used a lot. My mum loves doing it with all of us so I feel like as long as my kids get that they shouldn’t be taken too seriously and that it’s a very rare thing to do then it’s fine. I used to play a game with my grandma where there was some money as a prize when I was a child and I really don’t enjoy gambling so I don’t see much harm
In my kids doing it as long as they are educated about it, it only happens a few times a year and they don’t get too sucked into it. :-)

[commonalities]

It sounds like the posters responding are talking about very irregular instances of this, whereas you sound like you've found out it's happening often in everyday life. If that's the case, and your daughter is I think you said six, then it can have a shaping influence on a child's brain from what I understand. Addiction is complex and I'm not an expert but I would go with your instinct and guard your child from the potential for it to affect her. It may need a delicate conversation with Granny but it sounds like you can handle it. Good luck!

[maze]

Ok thank you, a word has been had and an understanding reached