Oh bollocks, the 5 year old just found his "Santa" gift.

[Mrsfrumble]

The plan was for each child to have one big toy each and their stockings from Santa, and a few smaller things from us parents. This morning DH took the children into his office and DS found the big Lego set which was to be his Santa toy hidden under DH's desk.

How do we explain this one?? DS is already extremely skeptical about Santa, but I've done my best to convince him that he's real, mainly because I don't want my children to be the ones who spoil it for other children by telling the truth at school. We're not going to buy him another big present at this stage, obviously. Any suggestions?

[AtSea1979]

Obviously? It's not exactly 10pm on Xmas eve, plenty of time to return and choose something else.

[HanSolo]

It's for his cousin, and waiting to be wrapped?

When he says he likes it, on Christmas day, you can be enthusiastic about FC bringing him one because he liked it so much?

[interrobang]

I'd swop it at the shops. Definitely.

[GoooRooo]

Tell him it's for a friend/nephew etc.

Just coincidence that Santa brings him the same one.

[Tiggeryoubastard]

Or let Santa bring his other presents.

[Mrsfrumble]

DH bought months ago on sale, so it can't be returned or exchanged. And told DS it was for him when he found it . I wasn't there at the time. I should just make DH deal with it, shouldn't I?

[Thurlow]

Father Christmas has a LOT of presents to deliver on Christmas Eve. So sometimes he has to deliver them early, and your DS just happened to be one of those people.

[BahHumbugs]

Save it for his birthday & head to Argos at 10.00 sharp tomorrow before the crowds on a quiet Sunday!

[whiteagle]

Santa only does stockings in our house - everthing else is from real people. Maybe time for a new more realistic tradition?

[GoooRooo]

Just give the bigger toy from you and the others from Santa then?

[Mrsfrumble]

Ooh, I like that one Thurlow. Santa uses Daddy's office as a storage area!

In general, how long do we have to keep up the whole Santa pretence? I've remembered to buy different wrapping paper for "his" presents, but in general I'm not cut out for maintaining the charade. We don't have an elf and I forgot to get the children to dictate letters.

[notapizzaeater]

Our DS (Aspie) was very logical about Santa so we had to tell him that mummy and daddy bought and wrapped the presents as Santa is soooooo busy and then they get collected and want brings them back on Xmas eve if you've been good.

[emsyj]

DD1 found the giant dolls house we'd bought for her and DD2 jointly - so I told her it was for DD2's birthday, put it away for then (she's 3 in Feb) and then bought all new stuff for Christmas.

[emsyj]

Oh, and I had the new stuff delivered to my DMum's house just to be safe!!

[nickelbabe]

Yeah.
You might find it's a good idea to start a new tradition that santa brings smaller presents in a stocking of goodies and the big presents are from people (ie you)

Say that Santa thinks that as they're getting older, it's time he started to learn value of things, and that starts by him bringing smaller items so that parents (amd other family and friends) can buy the bigger things.

[Rosa]

Just change tactic .. The Lego set is from Mum and Dad - if he really wanted it then fine that it comes from you and then go and get something else. he is 5 so surely you should find something he likes and not spend a fortune and say thats from Santa.

[Mrsfrumble]

DS is November born, so saving it for his birthday isn't practical. The logistics of how Santa manages Christmas Eve is already a big issue for DS (not ASD, but shares a lot of traits) so a "daddy helping Santa out" explanation might work best.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[anneyaramis]

Santa is just the postman, my kids have always known that it's from us. He stores and delivers. When they started to doubt I just said they could believe as they wished. We didn't have a big discussion and they are looking forward to making it exciting for DS3.

I guess I wouldn't encounter your issue with the presents being from us but I would do as previously suggested and give one of the other presents from Santa if necessary. I would also prob twitch and get more stuff but that is because I lack self control

[toughday]

In our house Santa is a very busy man so mummy sometimes helps Santa out and gets some things for him and then she magics them to Santa for him to wrap and bring at Christmas. Has got me out of a few tough spots with my crap hiding places and the children are happy with the explanation

[Thurlow]

If you think that tactic might work, could you build it up a bit by looking at how many kids, how many houses etc Santa has to visit? It just might add a bit more realism for him and he might go for it. Even the wrapping paper - think how long it would take Santa to wrap all the presents as well!

Santa always brings a lot of toys early, and he often doesn't wrap them. Because he'd rather make sure everyone gets their present, even if it means delivering them early.

Silly daddy just forgot to hide it properly.

[IamTheWhoreofBabylon]

My DD has found a present
I told her I was lookin after them for a work mate and she said it looked lovely and could she have one
I said we would have a look around /ask work mate where she got it
Explains the present and sets them up for getting one

[Cuppaand2biscuits]

I took my children to visit Santa early December and what they asked him for is what Santa will bring for them. One present each. Every thing else is given to the children from who ever has gifted it to them. They are 2 and 5, 5 year old understands because we go and choose presents for other people we love and deliver them ourselves.

[Wolpertinger]

Some kids figure out Santa quicker than others. 7 is average - so a sceptical 5 year old isn't that unusual.

Stick big present under tree, Santa brings smaller presents, keep your fingers crossed whether you can keep it going another year.

[VoldemortsBaubles]

Have you got ds any other gifts of similar size? 5 year olds have no idea what things cost and instead think "big" just means the actual size rather than price. Could you just swap which gift Santa brings. Alternatively swap all of your dcs gifts from Santa to one that was going to be from you of lesser value.

[PatriciaHolm]

Santa isn't obligatory you know. ;-) ours haven't believed since 6ish; I find the whole idea rather odd, and my very logical DS was questioning the whole thing from 5. So I would have taken the opportunity to explain the whole Santa fantasy, but it may be a bit late now!