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?!

Will inbox you

@Lovewilltearusapartagain ok 👍🏻

I am sure kids have written how they want a dog etc and they don’t get it. Just simply say Santa has only enough space for a few toys for each child . Is this a modern day thing that parents need to get everything that’s on the Santa list

Write a letter from Santa explaining that he won’t be getting it. You can makevip a story about elves getting the letters mixed up. You can give him the letter before Xmas, or on Xmas.

I reckon, as PPs have said, that it's a good idea to get him used to the idea that he won't get an Xbox now so that there isn't great disappointment on Xmas morning. Father Christmas only brings small gifts for the stocking in our house- we told DS he doesn't bring tech of any kind (very difficult to get the bits you need to make an Xbox at the North Pole) or live animals (too scary for them on the sleigh and they might distract Santa while driving).

If he brings everything in your house, I like PP's idea of letting Santa take the heat 😆 maybe just say something like we don't think you're quite old enough for an Xbox yet, and we happen to know that Santa doesn't bring gifts that parents won't be happy with, but he's very good at thinking of other things you'll love, even if it's not on your list!

You don't think he's old enough. Santa doesn't bring things for kids that their parents don't want them to have. Otherwise my daughter might have gotten a "real motorcycle you can ride on the street," when she started asking for one when she was 3.

My DS (now adult) wanted a Spider-Man outfit for ages - until Christmas Eve, when he suddenly wanted a Batman outfit instead! We told him that Santa had already loaded his sleigh so it was too late, and he was perfectly happy with that explanation.

I think all children should know that santa doesn't bring everything on a wishlist. Even if you could theoretically afford to fulfil every wish that would be a mistake due to cultivating a sense of entitlement. I've been santa for 15 years now and have never got more than about 75% of wishlist items. Some stupidly expensive things come back on the list year after year but I'm not spending that amount and now we are in teenage years they can get a job and save for it themselves.

I asked for a drum set and a puppy for years and years. I was never disappointed on Christmas morning, I was always so happy and excited with what I did get! I remember my parents telling me I wasn't allowed a drum set or a puppy every year. Don't overthink it, manage his expectations now, just pick one line something like "santa doesn't bring x boxes to kids under 8". When he does eventually get one it'll mean so much more to him! The year I got a puppy was the best year ever and the biggest surprise!

He’s 6 - he’ll get over it and it’s a good life lesson!

honestly an Xbox would be ridiculous present for a 6 year old - pls don’t fall into the materialistic hype!

I'm so glad my parents went down the 'Father Christmas is just a delivery guy' narrative. It allowed me to believe in the magic, but also gave them the opportunity to explain that not all children get what they want because not all mums and dads can always afford. I also always knew what my grandparents and extended family had bought me and could show gratitude.

I know your situation doesn't sound like it is financial, but I think it's funny how adults trip over themselves, thinking of more and more lies to come up with, to appease their children.

This is a good life lesson that you can't always get what you want.

You will have to prepare him that he won't be getting it though. Maybe next time there is something unrealistic on the list, you nip it in the bud there and then.

I hope you didn't get every other thing off the list too, as you are setting yourself up for future Christmases.

Put a letter from santa

This is why we never gave gifts from FC, he’s just the delivery guy.

Not quite the point of the thread, but I find the idea of Father Christmas as 'just the delivery guy' really sad. It just seems to take away all the magic if it's no different to someone from Amazon delivering parcels or Tesco bringing the shopping. I do realize, though, that everyone has to do it in a way that works for them.

This is what I do. I've never understood and in fact hated this idea that some imaginary guy gets all the credit for gifts loving family members buy.

Too late this year but next year OP just say Santa does stocking fillers only!

Father Christmas doesn't bring everything on the list. Mummy and daddy also send Father Christmas the money for him to help him make the toys because the elves work really hard so that's why there are some boys and girls who get more or less and why we sometimes give toys to appeals for little boys and girls who won't get as much. A Christmas list is not a ransom demand. We also limit the amount of items to a handful on list so it doesn't get ridiculous. If there's ever anything inappropriate agewise or just too expensive we say that it's better if mummy and daddy buy that another time maybe for a birthday or special treat one day. It's easy to get carried away to make it 'magical' for them but there needs to be a practical way of making it work for you and your bank account/parenting ethics its difficult because you want to give your kids the world and see them so happy but it doesn't hurt them to not always get everything they want at Christmas. I didn't die because I never got the mr.freeze I asked for as a child.....my mum bought me one in my twenties after seeing it in a charity shop as a cheeky gift though ha ha. He will be fine with what you have got him

Honestly, my youngest is almost 6. He has a switch, a PlayStation, both the Xboxes and a Wii. He doesn’t go on ANY of them! He also has a child’s fire and an iPad… he just watches you tube, old sitcoms and game shows on either the tv or my phone!! Total waste of money (most of these were either gifted through family or preloved and sourced from marketplace). Like every year he will play with the boxes or his game show themed board games?!! X don’t stress about it!

Don't get him an x box or PS until he's 11 - these are very addictive and cause so much poor behaviour and arguments

This is why it's better to have Santa fill a stocking with small things, and have the wrapped 'big' presents be from you.

However, seeing as you've made this rod for your back, you're going to have to explain to him that Santa doesn't get everything off the list, just a few things, and that you have to pay for the gifts, even though Santa brings them, so there is a budget.

My 6 year old out diamond ring on their list! I have ignored this and suspect they won't remember/be too distracted with the things we have got to care. We have had to say about big electronics to our eldest though and as Santa in our house only does little stuff just said it wasn't the kind of thing Santa brings

We have always said the elves make toys not tech. It's too cold to build at the Pole!

A 6 year old doesn’t need an Xbox. Way too young.

By coincidence we've had exactly the same request from my 7yo. I went for "You're too young for an X-box and Santa's elves don't make stuff like that in the North Pole anyway. Mummy and Daddy will get it for you when you're old enough."