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Letter to Santa - do you get everything on the list?

58 replies

Iggi999 · 20/11/2015 21:48

Ds (8) has just written his letter to Santa. He wants various DS games, a musical instrument, an Xbox one and a (new season) football strip.
How the heck do I buy all this. Have got him quite a bit so far, but mostly toys - minecraft things etc.
Obviously I can't buy what I can't afford. What I'm asking really is, how do you explain to a younger child (who still strongly believes) that he might not get everything, and does this lead to disappointment on Christmas morning instead of joy? I guess we've been lucky so far as his wishes have been in line with what we can afford!

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hels71 · 20/11/2015 21:53

My DD is also 8. I guide her requests slightly! She also sends a letter to Santa via Grandad (who sees him on the railway he works on!) Santa then writes back ensuring the letter hints very heavily at what might appear and what might not...

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BondJayneBond · 20/11/2015 22:07

We have told DS1 (4 years) that Santa only gets children a few toys each (limited room on the sleigh), so if there are too many things on the Letter, Santa won't be able to get him everything. Especially if it's something really big and / or expensive.

We told DS1 that's why it's important to just put down things he really really wants, and not just copy an entire toy catalogue as his Christmas list.

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CharleyDavidson · 20/11/2015 22:10

We always wrote it as a wish list rather than a shopping list and explained that it was to give FC an idea of what they would like. He might get some or all of the things on the list, and might get some surprises.

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Nearlyadoctor · 20/11/2015 22:19

Dd8 wrote her lists at the weekend - she always writes 2. One is to Santa and generally smaller things, books/ smallish Lego/ Playmobil sets, Ds games, colouring, chocolate etc ( has to fit in her sack) and then her second list is for a tree present. The first list is posted to Santa ( via Royal Mail so she gets a reply).
The 2nd normally has 4 or 5 biggish presents on, of which we possibly buy a couple and then gp's etc also buy off.
She also still strongly believes but also appreciates as it's the bank of mum and dad so to speak buying the bigger presents that she won't necessarily get everything and therefore puts in order of most wanted. ( even that's no guarantee though)

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Nearlyadoctor · 20/11/2015 22:20

As with Charley it is also only a 'wish' list in both cases.

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OiWithThePoodlesAlready · 20/11/2015 22:25

My dd only has two things on hers this year so I've got both of those, plus some other stuff she'll like.

Last year I wore myself out getting everything on her list (even making things that I couldn't buy) then by the time it got to Christmas day she'd forgotten what she'd asked for! Bloody child.

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Snoopadoop · 20/11/2015 22:30

I've told my DS that Santa does his very best, but he can't bring everything, he has to carry presents on his sleigh for other children too.

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sallyst123 · 20/11/2015 22:39

The kids, (9,7,6) do write a list (usually heavily guided by myself )
To be honest though whenever Xmas day has came I don't think they have even remember what that ask for. They are so excited that He came & there are presents they are happy & I'm sure yours will be too

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Makemineacabsauv · 20/11/2015 22:51

Depends what's on the list... The year dd asked for a real, live penguin to live in the bath she didn't get her wish, but the year she asked for cheese and a spoon she got the lot!! This year with 'I' in front of everything apart from the MAC and Benefit make up (iMac, iPod iPhone 6s in gold etc) she is in penguin territory!!!

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Iggi999 · 20/11/2015 23:06

Thanks you for the replies!
Have just added it up and it would come to about £490 for what's on the list.
In the past it was a lot easier to make him happy, his tastes are more sophisticated now though not sophisticated enough to realise it all comes from mum and dad

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Cookingongas · 20/11/2015 23:13

Mine write three things and know they'll get one.
I've always told them that Father Christmas brings their big present if choice and stocking crap- the rest come from us or family. When the theory was questioned last year I relied heavily on the film Fred Claus to emphasise the truth Wink

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Kitella · 20/11/2015 23:20

My DDs are allowed to ask for three things and yes, they do get those.

However, FC has a £20 limit per item, as he only brings the sack - big presents are bought by us!

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Littlemousewithcloggson · 20/11/2015 23:33

We write down everything they would like they see/hear about it. When it's writing letter time, we split it into big, medium and little. Big is over £40, medium £10-40 and small under £10.(although I don't necessary explain that to the little people)
They write a wish list to santa with one big thing, 2 medium things and as many as the small things they want. I tell them that santa will bring at least 1 of the main 3 things and some small things. Makes them concentrate on the main things they really want. This year they will be getting all 3 from him as the combined amount is around £75 but if it was any more they wouldn't!

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callmekitten · 21/11/2015 03:06

We have always tried to get DD's most wanted item (although one year we weren't able to) along with some of the other things on her list and a few other things that Santa "thinks she will like".

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Redglitter · 21/11/2015 04:11

We used to.only get to ask Santa for one thing, the big present, & that was it. My brothers carried that tradition on now with his children.

One of my friends works as Santa at a shopping mall and has been horrified at some of the requests. He's great though he takes his cue from the parents as to how to answer the requests

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RockySpeed · 21/11/2015 06:00

My two write wish lists which are stuck on the wall to add to as and when, when writing to FC they choose one thing from their lists to ask for as he can only fit one pressie per child on his sleigh! Smile

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Artfooldodger · 21/11/2015 06:11

We've told ds aged 7, who believes totally, that mummy and daddy have to send Father Christmas the money to buy the gifts that he requests. This is why all children get differing amounts from him - not only do you need to be good, but it depends on what your parents can afford too.

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lavendersun · 21/11/2015 06:20

I don't, DD (9) still writes a letter, adorned with watercolour paintings Grin, creating the thing is always a big thing for her - think afternoon on a rainy November day.

I have always bought some of the things on there, but never all of them. She never asks for much but half of the things on there would be a one minute wonder.

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Pobspits · 21/11/2015 06:31

I try and influence their lists in the first place!

Tbh though ds (nearly 9) and dd (5.5) have never really asked for anything too expensive. This year it's various books, Star Wars toys and a football strip for ds.

Having said that I always say remember you probably won't always get everything. I also suspect they've forgotten the list by Christmas!!

Oh and there's a limit to 5 things

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Sirzy · 21/11/2015 06:39

The list is only to give Santa ideas.

That said he will get everything in his list this year as he only asked for 3 things which weren't expeinsive

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SitsOnFence · 21/11/2015 06:46

DC only ask Father Christmas for one thing, which, so far anyway, he's always been able to provide. The ground rules are that it mustn't be alive and mustn't be too expensive for Father Christmas to manufacture, as that would be greedy. They are also aware that Father Christmas and his elves do the bulk of their present making in the 11 months before they receive their letters, so by the time their letter has been recieved, most of their presents are already wrapped and sitting in the top of Mummy's wardrobe awaiting delivery.

They also get one present from DH and I which can vary in cost, depending on what they want. They usually float a few ideas for this and know they may or may not get it.

All other tree and stocking gifts on Christmas Day come from Father Christmas, with wider family gifts exchanged on Boxing Day when everyone decends on our house.

If your son hasn't already posted his letter, could you give him a highlighter pen and explain that he needs to choose just one thing he really wants, to make it easier for Father Christmas? If this is going back on what you've told him in previous years, could you say that due to the current refugee crisis it's important for the rest of us to be a little more modest in our requests this year, in order that those in most need can be helped? You could point to all the shoebox type schemes and say "look, it's so hard this year that everyone is having to pitch in to help, let's do our bit by not overwhelming Father Christmas with lots of requests"

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AwfulBeryl · 21/11/2015 06:51

Nope, my dts want (between them) a tablet that doubles up as a time machine, a very big laser, some where cool to do experiments, a real sword, storm trooper outfits, light sabres and lego.
The big FC will be getting them the storm trooper costumes, light sabres and lego.
We are getting them science kits and super hero stuff.
They know that they don't get everything they ask for, they haven't even done the official list yet so it all could change.

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GlowWine · 21/11/2015 06:52

Lists here are definitely wish lists. Last year my then 7 year old copied a whole page out of the Argos catalogue Xmas Shock... This year she's a bit more selective but will definitely not get everything. Now with her, we're not sure if she still believes or if she's acting... But anyway only one present comes from father Christmas. The 11 year old has a list of 4 achievable things, so she will get those from us and the grandparents.

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Enjolrass · 21/11/2015 07:16

Ds and dd did their last week.

Dd (11) is easy. She only does one because ds (4) is worried she won't get anything and it upset him.

last year we told ds to pick 5 things to put on it and got him them.

This year we told him it was a wish list. However both mine are fully aware that whole Santa helps find and brings the presents....mum and dad pay.

Ds birthday is in February so anything he doesn't get, he gets then.

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Enjolrass · 21/11/2015 07:18

Last year my then 7 year old copied a whole page out of the Argos catalogue

when dd was about 4 my mum passes her the Argos catalogue and said 'pick what you want for Christmas out of there' , 10 minutes later dd had circles the whole you section Grin

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