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?!

I just shift the blame & say Santa chooses!

About the Xbox - I got one for my DD’s birthday. It had the Kinect sensor & had about 8 games with it. I got it second hand off eBay, we’ve had it a year & it’s absolutely great. All the kids come round to play it & it really tires them out on the sports games! I paid £67 for it! A lot of hospices sell them on as they have new ones frequently donated so got it from one of them. Just a thought for if you get him one in future because they’re so expensive new.

Same. They’re as addictive as heroin. Best to wait until late primary.

Younger kids should learn to use their imagination by playing with physical toys. Mine would make up games for hours with various figures etc.

Any big and expensive presents are always off us and Santa brings the smaller presents. I've heard so many stories of children wanting an Xbox, PlayStation etc. When they haven't received one on Christmas morning, they are questioning whether they have been good enough throughout the year.

Kids are very in the moment and he will be so caught up in the excitement he will forget all about.
DS once asked us for a duck - a real duck. Needless to say we didn’t get it. Now 15 and seems to coped with the disappointment!

We always told ours that we had to pay Santa...!

I always told DS that you will never get everything from your list and you'll probably get things that aren't on it

I also put a pony and a puppy on mine every Christmas 😅

Definitely preempt it though

I really don't get this idea that children are expecting to get everything on their lists.

We've always done it that Santa just gets little bits.

You need to make it clear to him that he will not be getting one, using one of the other posters ideas - as he is likely to be very disappointed on Christmas Day if he's expecting one!

It's an I'd like to have list not a give me this or else list.

Tell him he is too young for a xbox and santa asked mum and dad's advice

You print a letter from Santa, tread on it, post it through the letterbox.
Some think along the lines of dear xxxxx.
Your not on the naught list, but I feel I have to tell you that this year an x box has a Very large wait list, I really tried but we have a 2 or 3 year wait list.
I am sorry.
Santa...
Also print a voucher for an x box delivery Christmas 2027...

Father Christmas comes down the chimney and fills the stocking on your bed with small gifts.
Large presents under the tree are from members of the family.
When did it become Santa who brings everything?
No wonder kids are so materialistic these days.

We have similar in that my 6 year old dd wants a car she can drive around in 🙈They’re a few hundred at least and we’ve nowhere to store it.
I feel a bit sad as she’s asked for one for two years.
Ive just said to her a few times that unfortunately I know she won’t be getting it as santa knows we have nowhere to put it and he can’t get everything on the list (she has everything else on the list though and should be very happy, so i’m thinking she’ll forget!)
But, yes, i’d make it clear to him now that he won’t be getting one until he’s older for example and then he’s not disappointed

tell him Santa doesn't exist.
he probably knows that anyway.

Miserable fucker

I told mine Santa can't break parents rules so if Mum and Dad said you aren't old enough for x box Santa won't go against what parents say

@Lovewilltearusapartagain i have one she could have. Well two actually. It’s a pink mini and was only used once. Have a blue Porsche too

Is an Xbox actually less appropriate / more expensive than a gaming tablet? If it’s a hard no age wise, I’d definitely let him know in one of the ways suggested above, otherwise I’d consider swapping out the Fire tablet for a second hand Xbox (I know last year I got a great deal on a ps4 bundle with games from Cex) if that’s what your son would prefer.

Could Santa leave a note saying he’s not big enough this year?

I remember my boys asking for expensive things, as some richer friends and their cousins got loads of stuff.
I told them that Santa can't bring things that Mom and Dad haven't approved of, because he sends your Dad a bill in the new year, even Santa presents don't come for free.

Wow, are you serious? That’s very kind, but still can’t think where it could go aside from the back garden with a cover over in winter maybe 🙈

@Lovewilltearusapartagain yeah deadly serious. I got them for my grandsons and they never used them. My husband is keen to get rid of them or rather “get these out of my bloody garage!” What area are you in?

My child had a form for asking for impossible/nonexistent/unrealistic things. In the event they complain about not getting a certain item, just brush it off and say maybe next year. Don’t promise anything, who knows what will happen in a year, he might no longer want it then! In my experience the enjoyment of the presents they do get helps them get over any disappointments. And they also don’t care who the presents come from as long as there are some!

Father Christmas brings small gifts (lots of children won't get big presents and therefore it wouldn't be fair for some children to get big gifts from him and not others), big presents are from parents. We told our daughter that we posted the gifts from us to father Christmas who then brought them on Christmas eve and put them under the tree. That way she woke up to small gifts in her bedroom from father Christmas and all the other presents under the tree from us and other family members so it still seemed magical. We also said father Christmas only brings things parents agree with.

I appreciate that we’re quite old at 60 and 65, but goodness me, Christmas expectations for 6 year olds seem a bit mad.