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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

do you get the kids anything they want for xmas

151 replies

babyonbord · 08/12/2011 08:47

i don't want to start a massive argument, i appreciate that everyone has different opinions but i am wondering if there are any likeminded people out there when it comes to buying your kids presents at christmas. My feeling is that as long as i can afford it (i understand some people cannot and that's different) the kids will get whatever they ask for regardless of how "overpriced" it is or whether they have 50 similar toys. i remember growing up how horrible it was being dissapointed on christmas day (which only happened when i didn't get the barbie mall i wanted but didn't actually exist) so i've got my ds1 everything he wanted and then some, as far as me and my dh are concerned the kids get what they want as long as it is physically doable regardless of how we feel about the toy.

OP posts:

Bonsoir · 08/12/2011 08:49

I get my DD anything she wants but she has excellent taste

Original poster

babyonbord · 08/12/2011 08:55

i think that may have been the driving force this year most of what my ds asked for are toys that to be honest me and my dh want to play with, i know my dh will be stealing his strawberry smelling lotso bear (he loves the kids smelly toys my youngest has a vanilla scented mickey mouse that my sil bought for him when he was born) and toy story is his favorite all time movie my dh is just a huge kid he's having a major sulk because santa is not bringing him a stocking this year

OP posts:

PresentsRibbonsAndMerrySantas · 08/12/2011 09:00

mmmm yes and no, i do get all most everything they ask for, but i do put my foot down about any real food making toys, ie cake maker, icecream maker, choc coin maker,[but they can make cakes with me] but yes everything else, but they know i won't buy these items. and this comes from someone who always wanted a mr frostie and still remembers never getting one but i do buy all the craft sets etc that i think are crap not really worth the money so not all bad

TheFallenMadonna · 08/12/2011 09:06

My children don't tend to ask for big things I do sometimes wonder whether in fact they are in an agony of resentment that they feel they can't ask for what they want, but I think with DS at least it is really because he likes surprises, as he says.

This year DD has asked for a two wheel scooter (first time!), and she is getting one. Perhaps this will open the floodgates...

senua · 08/12/2011 09:10

Certainly not!
The DC were taught, from a young age, that when relatives asked what they wanted for Christmas the DC should check the price before asking. No way were my DC going to grow up thinking that they "must have" whatever the TV advertisers threw at them and never mind the price because someone else is picking up the tab.
I see it as part of parenting to educate them about advertising and marketing ploys. I know that sounds a bit kill-joy but paying over the odds for plastic that breaks within 24 hours "because it's Christmas" is bonkers.

Rooble · 08/12/2011 09:22

No! I really object to the idea of writing to Santa to ask for stuff, too, because it makes children believe they ought to be given stuff at Christmas whereas in fact I think they ought to realise they're lucky to be given stuff. (makes me sound like a bit of a cow, I'm honestly not - just don't like children with a sense of entitlement).

Obviously it's fine for him to say "oooh it would be really nice if I could have xxxx one day" - we tend to hear and take note, but his list of little pipedreams like that could be so long (and can be so random) that it's just silly.

My parents used to think of stuff that we'd like without consulting us and they always seemed to get it right (possibly we had low expectations!), and that's kind of how I'd like it to be for my DS. Seems to be working so far.....

Original poster

babyonbord · 08/12/2011 09:26

i always wanted a mister frostie and i agree with that i'd rather the kids baked with me (much more fun since i let my ds lick the bowl). As my kids get older they will have to learn the value of money (ie they will be getting a paper round at grandads shop) But kids don't stay kids for very long and while they are young i don't want them to worry about how much things cost (thats my job) If they ever asked for somthing we really couldn't afford then that would be explained to them but if i can afford it even if it means i have to go without then they get it, i wouldn't let them ask relatives for expensive gifts but santa claus will bring them what they want.

OP posts:

molepomandmistletoe · 08/12/2011 09:27

As long as I can afford it I do try my best. This year I have managed it but it's taken me a few months in order to do so.

Once they have written their lists, there is no going back, so I dont go out and get "last minute" gifts just because they have no changed their minds.

stuffthenonsense · 08/12/2011 09:28

No mine dont get whatever they ask for and never have....if its a sensible price, and a reasonably sensible item, appropriate for their development then they get it, IF they have deserved it over the year, after all Santa does have a naughty and nice list. I dont think its good to teach children that they get whatever they ask for, even if that involves putting mummy and daddy into debt, my own opinion on that is that it can create spoilt entitled children that only get worse as they hit teen years....to be honest though i always steer mine toward sensible gift ideas.
I guess i am just a strict and boring mummy.

Rosa · 08/12/2011 09:28

Depends... This year for example top of her list for DD5 is a hula hoop .... then a Nintendo Ds ...You can guess which of the 2 she is getting.....

FestiveFriedaWassailsAgain · 08/12/2011 09:29

Anything within reason here. DD wants a dolly with a cot - she had the same last year so she won't be getting the same again, but she will get other things she wants. We have reinforced that you give FC suggestions and if you are lucky you get some of the things you asked for.

DS had a meltdown the other day because he wants a DS - DD has got one, he saw one in the shop. He won't be getting one yet until they are on a better offer he is 2.11yo!

rubyrubyruby · 08/12/2011 09:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 08/12/2011 09:33

we don't do lists, my DS's don't even know what a Christmas List is...........

upahill · 08/12/2011 09:34

As a rule I did.They are older now (12 and 15 ) and it's now that I am saying 'Hang on a munute!!!! do you know how much you are asking for?' I usually get a kiss and a grin and they say 'yeah of course I do!!!'

(I'm soft!!)

MrsHankey · 08/12/2011 09:35

Mine doesn't get 'whatever he wants'. He will say what he wants & I talk with him about what is a good idea (eg he 'wants' an x-box but we already have a wii, so not getting x-box). I'll explain that 'Santa' would think he was cheeky so he doesn't get his heart set on something I'm not going to get him.

But if something is reasonably priced and he has lots of similar stuff already I'm quite happy to get him the new one he wants.

Hullygully · 08/12/2011 09:35

If it's not total rubbish and too expensive

They know the parameters

senua · 08/12/2011 09:35

Perhaps we have a different way of doing Christmas. Mine used to write a letter to Santa but Santa never brought them gifts (only realised the other day how weird that is!). Gifts come from real people, the stocking comes from Santa.
So the mind-set here is 'you are asking real people to fork out real money'. It is not 'there is some magical being out there with bottomless and unending resources'.

Original poster

babyonbord · 08/12/2011 09:39

yeah i draw the line at ferrari and horse, that would put me in debt lol my dh had a massive tantrum one christmas (his mum was telling me) because he didn't get a puppy, he's still sore about it now i think that's why he wants the kids to get what they want (i just like spoiling my babies) and guess what they will be getting in a couple of years when they are old enough to be excited about it? yup a puppy, that definatly gave him a complex

OP posts:

RumourOfAHurricane · 08/12/2011 09:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

onefatcat · 08/12/2011 09:43

I am sort of with you babyonboard, while my dd is little, Santa is seen as someone who makes dreams come true, so even though she wouldn't expect us to buy her a very expensive big toy, as we explain that they cost a lot and we can't really afford it (white lie), she can ask Santa, and he usually fulfils. I do tend to steer her away from asking for things I don't think are really worth the money though, or that we don't want her to have (subliminal suggestions towards the things i would like her to have), but there is the odd thing she really wants that I have bought, even though I know it's rubbish.

WhoopsyLa · 08/12/2011 09:45

No I don't, my DD asks for things and I then look objectively at it...read reviews and ask around. Take the kids chocolate coin maker...apparenly it's crap and takes ages....another one was a paper maker...I got that and it took 12 hours to make one piece of paper.

I wont buy things that are poorly made or frustrating. my DD understnds hoadvertisers work because I have explined to her....how they make things look better than they often are.

She is 7 and she's getting a DSi with some games, a DesignaDoll, a Squinky playset, a Barbie Salon and Zubber along with sme Zoobles, DVDs, writing and art things.

COCKadoodledooo · 08/12/2011 09:51

It depends what it is.

This year he's getting an expensive Lego set BUT it's a bribe We're attempting to get him to take responsibility for himself and his things, getting out of the house without a shouting match every morning, that sort of thing. It's a big ask, but it's a big present too. I will be gutted if he doesn't make it, but he's got a week left and he's doing brilliantly so far.

He's chosen a reserve present as well, just in case.

Fo0ffysFestiveShmooffery · 08/12/2011 09:53

To a degree, yes.

Original poster

babyonbord · 08/12/2011 09:57

to me while the kids are little i don't want them worrying about how much things cost i want them to have evrything they want while they can, as they get older they will learn the value of money and saving etc but there is plenty of time for that, we got spoilt rotten as children, there was nothing my parents wouldn't do to make us happy but as we got older that changed, and we stopped asking for stupidly expensive stuff and gradually became more excited about buying gifts than getting them, me and my sister started buying my mum and dad gifts from santa when we realised he wasn't real, i think thats called growing up, i remember when i was 18 i spent all my wages on a really expensive gilet my mum had seen and loved she was so chuffed, she cried when i gave it too her. Now my mum gets spoilt rotten every year by the four of us. As a mum now i know how far she went and what she must have gone without to give us everything she did and i want my children to have that even if it means spoiling them for a few years.

OP posts:

SummerRain · 08/12/2011 10:01

pretty much, but then mine haven't gotten to the age of asking for the insanely expensive stuff yet. Although ds1 would have asked for a 3ds except I think he's wise enough to know he'd never get a look in as dp and I would hog it

tbh, most of the toys they went all gooey eyed for I had already seen, decided they'd like and bought for them before they ever saw an ad for them! (obviously I have the mind of a 5/6 year old child )

The only thing I suggested to ds1 he not get was a bike from santa as I was worried he wouldn't be able to use it any time soon (we were snowed and iced in the last two Christmases) but I saw a bike he'd love reduced price in littlewoods and ordered it as a surprise.

That said, mine are only allowed to ask Santa for two items, and they can't both be big things (although this year the top picks were a barbie and an alarm clock so no danger of that!)... other than that they can't 'ask' for anything. They know we'll get them some stuff but they don't know what it'll be

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