Pen For My 8-Year Old

[FayeV]

I just googled that Edison Hawaiian.

I can imagine my 11 yr old wanting that one.

Better not show her pics lest she has ideas about getting one.

[cellardoor04]

Perhaps you can start a little pen fund going for the Edison in a jar, and get her a Kakuno or Safari in the meantime? Birthday money, Christmas money, etc. could very well add up quickly, and it'll give her enough time to think of whether she truly wants the pen/will use it. She is 8 after all, when I was 8 my mum could tell you all the stories of how my mind changed every minute

[samba]

If you seriously want to give your 8 yrs daughter a fountain pen,you should try Reform 1745/Pelikano/Pilot ED/Pilot Metropolitan/Lamy Safari.I believe she is not a pen collector and she needs pen just for writing/sketching.

[emerson]

An 'expensive' pen, unappreciated, is a waste. The same pen, appreciated at that age, could feel like a burden for child and paint both.

 

Five children here, all FP users, all started on Pelikanos. Eventually, they found better, and appreciated them all the more.

 

Want and need are two different things.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

Ok. My two cents. I worked retail for several years in the electronics department. I always had parents asking questions around Christmas time.

 

Here was my General answer.

 

How mature and responsible is your child? If they Todd me they were not real responsible and they tended to lose or break things, I showed them the less expensive items and told them why. Otherwise, I showed them the higher quality items.

 

I had several parents come in later, buying the same item again, thanking me for showing them the less expensive items.

[Flippy]

 

You are ten years old?!!

Sorry. Miscalculation.

[Michigan]

I would compliment my daughter on having such good taste. And I would get her the pen.

 

My daughter is seven. The Noodler Ahab in pink did not work, the Pelikan Twist is not really meant for writing. If my kid expresses more interest in FPs, I will get her a Pilot demonstrator (92?) with a 14k nib.

 

As far as costs go, has anyone looked at the expenses for little kids lately? American Girl dolls cost about as much as the Hawaiian Barf. Good luck.

[kapanak]

Let me ask you this: How many parents do you know or have heard off that buy $600 iPads and $900 Smartphones for their preteen children? I don't see $150 as a massive investment as a gift to an eight year-old. However, the matter of getting used to using a fountain pen is a different discussion. The financial matter of the pen value is entirely unrelated, given kids this age receive gifts many times as expensive.

[uemuraw]

The only acceptable substitute is a genuine barfing unicorn. ;-)

 

My boys have Platinum Plaisir pens. I don't let them take the pens out of the house. They have to keep them in a specific drawer. And they use them only when I'm around to supervise. They've followed the rules and still use them about once a week when we sit around a table doodling and writing stuff.

 

They've each asked to take them to school to show their buddies. I let them take Preppies instead. So now they treat the Plaisirs like they're a big deal.

Edited May 24, 2016 by uemuraw