DS has put something on his Christmas list that we haven’t got for him

[Gingerbreadcottage]

My DS is 6 years old and is wanting an X Box for Christmas. He said he’ll definitely be getting one because he’s told Father Christmas he wants it.

We have bought him a new Amazon fire tablet to replace his old one that’s broken - it’s a bigger screen and suitable for an older child. Now I feel sad that he may be disappointed on Christmas morning.
We’ve got him plenty of other things he’s asked for and a few surprises too.

We don’t feel that he’s old enough for an X Box and would rather wait until he’s maybe 7 or 8 at least.
A few of his friends have one, some have older siblings though.

What can I do?!

It is really difficult because if you say Santa thinks you arent okd enough/elves dont make it etc then sods law thier best friend does get x!

we used to say we had told Santa not to bring pets or big electronics (as Daddy likes to choose the electronics!) seemed to placate them, especially the years their friends got ipads etc.

Make it clear that his ‘ Christmas list’ is a list of ideas… that Santa choses from it and there is no way he can get everything and x boxes are for older boys.

… we never did ‘lists’ for this reason.

mine were allowed to write to Santa- but I explained that Santa had all the kids in the world to give to - so they were encouraged to ask for one small thing…. As he had so much to carry… this they did and they got a stocking of bits too in addition to the small thing they had asked for.

happy for mine to express ‘I would like’ and of course I passed ideas from this onto others and we bought them things that they had mentioned - but I think getting them to write a big list to Santa sets up an expectation that they will get everything and I don’t think this is healthy.

My daughter puts "puppy" on her list every single year and has never and will never receive one... if that makes you feel any better.

I doubt our parents would have given this a second thought. It's just tough! But maybe just prepare him by saying Santa doesn't bring stuff that they're too young for.

Santa only brings stocking presents here and nothing electronic or alive!

When mine were younger we always said santa gave stockings and us the rest, purely because of this!

I encourage mine to write a long list, on the basis that Santa will pick one thing from it, family can also use it for ideas and they won’t get everything on it. Santa also doesn’t buy things that parents object to - so no games consoles until 10 here. And Santa absolutely does not bring live animals!

We've always said Santa brings1 present and he doesn't bring electronics or anything alive and it's always seemed to work well

You need to tell him op. Ignore the poster saying do nothing and let him be disappointed.

explain to him Santa contacted you and said he’s a little too young still but he’s getting him other stuff, special stuff, or whatever you wish, but tell him.

Definitely this, and definitely tell him upfront so he's not disappointed on the day.

My son has had one since he was 5 but we explained that parents get the most expensive presents and not santa

One year, when you couldn't get ps5s for love or money I ended up telling DS there was a shortage of appropriately trained elves to build them, he accepted that 🤣

My son's not getting most of his list. I really wouldn't worry about it. It's not a bad life lesson.

The replacement iPad thing sounds a bit lame tbh

whats the magic there

Just manage his expectations, op.
He’s far too young for an Xbox.

Mine have asked for a hamster, which they’re most definitely not getting. Father Christmas doesn’t bring gifts he doesn’t think are suitable.

They are never too young to learn that you don't always get what you wish for!

Santa doesn't bring electronics or animals.

Christmas lists are suggestions, not orders!

Manage his expectations now.

I think you manage expectations. Santa brings things to make you happy, but it’s not a free for all. You don’t just get something because you demand it. (In our house, Santa only fills the stockings, so they know the gifts all come from us and there are sensible limits - they actually love the stockings the most because they’re completely a surprise).

@Coalplay its not a replacement, but it’s a totally new one, better for his age group and supposedly you can download other games on it like Minecraft which he’s on about a lot lately.

He’s got lots of other things he’s asked for and as I said earlier, quite a few surprises too.

Father christmas doesn't bring anything your mum & dad wouldn't let you have, and you've said he's not old enough for an xbox.

In our house father christmas fills the stockings. There's a vague sense he helps with the logistics of delivering other stuff.

Father Christmas never brought electronics in our house, but I guess if you've bought him a tablet that's out the window.

Do you buy him a present too? If so, give him the tablet, something else from FC, & FC doesn't bring electronics (or animals).

Ah, great minds and all that!

Also the letter to father christmas is to tell him you've been good (with examples if you are older), ask if he can fill your stocking etc

Just tell the wee arse he can meow do with his new pad

kids are daft & prefer to watch people play Fortnite than play it