How to handle DD request for Christmas present I can't afford??

[BooHaa]

DD wants one of these carriages she has seen on YouTube, they cost £1200!! DD is 5 and she fully believes in Santa. How on earth do I distract her from wanting this or manage her expectations???

www.onbuy.com/gb/cars-and-trucks/disney-princess-24v-carriage-ride-on-pinkpurple~c2342~p16663510/?exta=gshp&stat=eyJpcCI6MTIzNC45OSwiZHAiOjAsImxpZCI6IjIyMDQzODEyIiwicyI6IjgiLCJ0IjoxNTc0OTQ4NzAwLCJibWMiOiIwLjAifQ==&lid=22043812&gclid=CjwKCAiA_f3uBRAmEiwAzPuaMw9cKSyEOLvYOL6A51wlwxWYkB5N6bf4OyIB75TKmZh7kN808VujtxoCbiIQAvD_BwE

Barbourella I think it’s lovely for kids to have a bit of magic and wonder in their lives while they’re still young enough to believe in it. The world will be queuing up to stamp on their little fingers soon enough. Make-believe figures like Santa, the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy are comforting traditions that children remember all their lives . The real world is full of amazingly stunning things of course but a little bit of magic and suspension of disbelief is wonderful imo.

Trebla
Oh dear...

I was talking about you and me.. As in, we both know you are talking nonsense - and your point is hypocritical. HTH

I grew up with santa brings stocking stuff only and delivers the rest

My kids - santa brings one LITTLE present - which led to Santa being quite confused when faced with a 4 year old stating he wanted a lollipop for christmas (and nothing else)- think it's the only time I've seen a Santa say they are pretty confident they can manage a lollipop

OP. Those American clips are just product placement/paid promotional videos to make kids want to buy this stuff. It is an ad.

Stick to CBeebies. Youtube is full of rubbish. BBC is funded by license fee, anything else you watch that you arent handing money over for will have advertising in some form. If you cant see it on first glance look closer.

So...on the one hand I'm feeling pretty positive now with my armoury of reasons of why santa cannot bring that carriage.

On the other hand, I've been exposed for the massive-carbon-footprint-making, neglectful-Youtube-enabling and false-magic-making mother of a spoilt and stupid child that I am

@Trebla
I've never flown in my life and therefore as a family we have never travelled abroad. My conscience is very clear.

MIC-DROP

This is why 'Santa' only ever did stockings in our house

Just say no

Apologies OP not saying you are neglectful but just hoping to help you avoid this sort of problem coming up again. As kids get older the stuff they are targeted with on youtube only gets MORE expensive and unreal.

I understand how hard it is to be in this situation, i wouldnt want to risk spoiling the magic either. She's young enough you can give her easy excuses this year, it'll be ok.

We used to say that Santa had a limited budget and had to spend the money wisely depending on the needs of all the children in the world.

When DS was about 7, in game, he really wanted a little square Pokemon silver thingy. He already has the bigger [crystal?] one. I recall saying "but darling Santa knows you have xxx, and he also knows some children have no pokemon device at all so I think you are already lucky and shouldn't expect more". DD was - little think, yep ok, get that.

Man on shop cauggt my eye and nearly cracked because I'd bought a DS (yes that's what it was) the day before.

£1200 on a barbie truck - er no. Wouldn't have done it. Bought ds a car for his 18th. It was less than that!!!!

@theEnglishInpatient I'd rather be a hypocrite that is trying to change my behaviour than one who doesn't consider it. The fact is none of us can live impact free. We can only strive to reduce our impact in any way that we can. Concious consumerism and conditioning our children to be environmentally mindful are two big ways we can do this.

You highlighting the fact I have a phone is a trite and silly response...

Apols for typos.

@boohaa

I'm pleased to hear it.

However here's your mike I think you dropped it prematurely as there is so much more you can do.

I think it's time for the santa isn't real talk and that the magic of Christmas isn't in presents.

I don't think you're breaking the innocence of a child if they find out.

DS asked for the moon (aged 2). The elves found a more manageable size. You can ask Father Christmas for generalitiies not specifics and he will give you a present which fits your family's space and lifestyle. E.g. not impractical like a real live elephant but maybe a toy version.

Find something of the same style but in your budget. Barbie one, ride on one which is cheaper? Second hand?

As well as the things other posters have mentioned, Father Christmas did sometimes let us know that he'd had a look at a much-desired piece of tat on DD's wishlist, he thought it wasn't nearly as good as it looked in the advert but had found something MUCH better that would be a great surprise that he had chosen specially for DD... I used to really enjoy writing letters from Santa!!

It's sad to me that it 'breaks your heart' that you can't afford/don't want to buy her every insanely huge, overpriced piece of plastic tat she wants. That's really not something to aspire to.

It doesn't really matter what reason you give her as long as you listen and take her request very very seriously and give her a very serious and thoughtful response, then she will probably be satisfied

eg that Santa has a budget etc

I’ve always told my kids that they can’t ask for anything with a plug as there’s no electronics department in the North Pole.

Have you got a fireplace? I’ve told dd(4) that lots of stuff is a no go because it won’t fit down the chimney or there isn’t room on his sleigh. It’s quite cute watching her eye up the fireplace when an advert comes on for something she might like

I’ll get stricter on the rules as her comprehension gets better but this is the first year she’s really ‘got it’ so I don’t really want to dampen the spirit just yet - she hasn’t asked for anything costing a bomb though.

I think my family live in a parallel universe.

As lots of posters have said, my DD's little ones get maybe 2 cheap presents from Santa.

Any big, expensive presents come from Mum and Dad or family.

Your DD, at 5 is old enough to understand that Santa doesn't bring expensive gifts.

@Trebla

Always good to do a little research when someone criticises others. I think me buying a plastic toy with no other discussion surrounding the rest of my lifestyle and awareness does not give you the right to start spouting out superiority. A quick search shows you have Four kids, emigrated to New Zealand from the UK (just, some air miles to arrange that! ), used to take regular holidays to Ibiza and don't just run your house but also a second office building within 'your grounds' . I'm going to guess your holidays that required you to take au pairs with you were not a short journey away.

If you want to compare, you've done more harm to this world already than many od us ever will in our lifetime.

check these out on Pinterest
You have plenty of time to get started!

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/741123682399439610/

I’m sure I’d make a small fortune sending letter from Santa explaining why kids aren’t getting a particular toy

"you have FOUR kids, emigrated to New Zealand from the UK (just wow*, some air miles... "

Father Christmas only brings the stocking presents and mummy can't afford this. Try again darling.

My kids are adults now but I (and everyone else I knew with kids) said no, simple. They got to make a list and they knew they might get a few things on the list but not all and nothing that cost more than I had. I had a rule of never getting into debt fo Xmas so the kids got what I could afford, as adults they say they never felt deprived.