AIBU to ask about the Father Christmas promise

[Tworoads]

My little boy is 5 years old. He is fascinated by all kinds of electronic gadgets, teaching himself how to move around a PC, load apps onto a mobile, work a Sat Nav etc. His favourite outing isn't Smyths or The Entertainer - it's Currys! He is also pouring over cars all the time, recognising manufacturers' logos and chatting about cars, cars, cars all the time.
So we come round to the letter to Father Christmas and he decides he wants a ride on Ford Ranger electric car WITH the touch screen radio built in. They are £400-£500!!!! I have found a different Ford electric car without the touch screen for £200 and might possibly stretch to that but it's not what he wants and the other one is out of the question.
He thinks Father Christmas is magical. He has no idea that he is asking for something so expensive - to him £500 might just as well be £5. He's a lovely little lad. Not spoilt but nevertheless, I have a problem.
How do I satisfy him? What would you do to make a little boy's dreams come true without bankrupting myself?

Santa never brings living things and I always told DD that we sent Santa the money so he could only deliver within our budget. She always got that just fine.

FC only brings the stockings here so expectations are managed. Ds writes a list and he knows that he doesn’t get everything on it. He’s 5 and to be fair his list only consisted of pens, pencils and crayons!

It’s not too late to limit him. This is probably the first Christmas he’s been totally switched on to FC. I think that he’s happy to list things for FC to choose. Chocolate lolly maker is one. Kids Amazon Alexa is another.
He’s not greedy . He’s just daydreaming. (He’d also like to tunnel under the back garden and make an underground den).
I will manage his expectations.

My nephew has asked for that huge Paw Patrol city tower thingie that's in all the toy shops - it's about £150 and a massive ugly lump of plastic!

My sister has told him that Santa only has room in the sleigh for small gifts because he has to fit all the children's gifts in there. So he's getting a new vehicle and some character PJ instead.

She still loved the magic of Santa, and believed until she was 10

Of course she did.

@Furrydogmum

Mummy and or etc Daddy give santa the money to buy the presents, and there isn't enough money to buy that.. Otherwise by 18/and potentially more kids you'll be bankrupt!!!

We send the money to Santa too.

Kids are absolutely fascinated by things that make food/treats - chocolate maker/popcorn maker/Mr Frosty/slushie maker. One of those might be a good substitute and take his mind off the car.

One thing he might love (which I almost got for my own DS but he's getting a bike which I decided is a big enough present) is a toy claw machine. My DS was absolute fascinated by these when he saw one in the shop (he wanted to put all his small toys in it and then try to win them back ).

My children are told presents come from people who buy wrap and send them to father christmas who then delivers them. Father christmas gives them a small gift made by his elves. That way they understand that there is a budget and they also thank the people who actually sent the gifts.

Always told mine that we have to pay Santa for the presents and he orders them with the elves, that’s why everyone has different budgets.

Santa gives a small token gift here. A stocking filler type present. The rest are bought by us but made by the elves and delivered by Santa.

@SequinnedShawl

She still loved the magic of Santa, and believed until she was 10

Of course she did.

Was that really necessary?

I think it’s wonderful that your daughter believed until she was 10. No harm in that at all. Still at primary school. Life gets too serious too soon.
What is a toy claw machine @Gliderx ? Sounds like the sort of gadget he’d love!

It was always Santa that brought stockings here and big presents were from parents.

The list was for Santa and mummy and daddy.

Santa brings stocking - all the little cheap bits.
Family buys proper presents and you talk about the cost. Kids are never to young for No that's too much money. Mummy would have to work x hours to pay for that

@Niconacotaco

I have told my kids that Santa might think they are being greedy, and they run the risk of not get any presents if he thinks they naughty.

Seriously? 😳

@SequinnedShawl

She still loved the magic of Santa, and believed until she was 10

Of course she did.

Why wouldn't she? Mine believed till that age.

I tell DC they won’t get everything on their list, as Santa has so many children to deliver to he can’t deliver lots to all, especially big gifts that weigh down the sleigh or are only available in another country.

I maintain that Santa only brings the stocking gifts (so the little things) and anything big has to be purchased by mummy and daddy. So if he asks for a very expensive item or one we don’t agree with, we tell him it’s too expensive or not suitable for him. Gets Santa off the hook!

Don’t most parents say Santa fills stockings and the under tree gifts are from family?

Everyone has their own way of doing things but I don't like the idea of saying parents pay Santa.

It takes away from the magic I feel.

For mine, I just made it clear what was in the bounds of possibility. I agree with a wish list approach too. They never challenged it. I did make the point that while Santa was magical, he & elves had to make gifts for every child in the world so it had to be fair. While they could easily have picked holes in this (based on extravagant gifts that some friends got), they didn't.

OP, I think you've got this. Sounds like DS will be happy with a few other gifts. If he really wants that car, can it be a birthday present with contributions from GPs etc.

Don’t most parents say Santa fills stockings and the under tree gifts are from family?

We don't really do the stocking thing in Ireland. There are stockings but no real gifts in them - something tiny plus sweets maybe.

Big gifts are from Santa & under the tree.

Many parents don't buy presents for their DC at all in fact. I do, but they are much smaller than Santa's.

Ds1 is 5 and if he asks for something that's too big or expensive then I just say that. I assume he thinks Santa has to pay like everyone else

@SequinnedShawl

She still loved the magic of Santa, and believed until she was 10

Of course she did.

Ummm, I believed until I was I think 12 (didn't have anyone ruin it for me, even my elder siblings still played along for me) so it's not unbelievable to me that a 10 year old does!

@Tworoads

Thanks everyone. There is no other time of the year like it. I'm not sure it would be a good thing to just buy him something so expensive if I had bottomless pockets anyway. There has to be a way of making it a special time without throwing large sums of money at it.

Yes & no.

He has NO concept of how expensive it is, so it's not the same as an older child asking fir something mega expensive!

Lots of age appropriate ways to explain Santa Cant/won't be bringing what he's asked for and tbh with so many different electronic type things out there I'm sure you could find things he'll love.

How about a kit to build a remote car?

Books about cars/brands/manufacturing.

And some bits that are 'younger' because they grow up far too quickly as it is!

We had a dinosaur obsessed one, very much into 'real' facts & adult books about them etc. But we also made a point of getting dinosaur toys to be played with, bedding, cuddly toys etc. & childrens DVD's etc.

We always said elves made toys not electronics. It's too cold at the Pole to make gadgets.

We are always careful that what Father Christmas brings isn't extravagant. He brings one gift and a stocking. Everything else is from someone who needs a thank you card!

@SequinnedShawl

She still loved the magic of Santa, and believed until she was 10

Of course she did.

Some kids have greater imaginations than others, it's sad that people are so bitchy about this

What is a toy claw machine @Gliderx ? Sounds like the sort of gadget he’d love!

Something like this...
www.onbuy.com/gb/kids-candy-grabber-claw-machine-arcade-game~c2305~p27450011/

It's a heap of plastic junk but I know my DS would absolutely adore it. Might try to get one second-hand.

"That's much too big to fit in a stocking, Santa has to bring presents for everyone so he's limited by size and how much things cost. What are some smaller things you'd like to put on the list?"