Do your children write a Christmas list? Or do you get them surprises?

[SmokedMackerel]

Just interested.

We never wrote lists as children, so my DC don't either. We get them a surprise (though one year dd dropped lots of hints about a scooter, so we got her one).

We usually take the DC to see Father Christmas a few days before, then crane to listen to what she wants, and make sure she gets it - luckily she had modest tastes and only said one thing each time!

I don't really like the idea of lists, but can see it makes Christmas shopping easier. But it just seems less fun if you know what you're getting - for the buyer and the recipient.

We have our dd's write a list at Christmas so that they can post it to Santa. They often write a list at birthdays as well but I have just said to my oldest dd who will be 8 soon that maybe she shouldn't write a list and have done surprises to make it more exciting.

Mine have both always wrote lists often 4 pages long and we choose selected items off then and then add a few surprises that way they always get something they want but don't know which ones their getting

DD1 is nearly 7 so she writes her own list

DD2 is 2 so we just get her surprises

We've always had a letter to Santa to work from, but made it very clear it's not an order form!

It's really useful for ideas for gifts from wider family, and we always made sure we didn't buy everything from the list.

We've always had a letter to Santa to work from, but made it very clear it's not an order form!

It's really useful for ideas for gifts from wider family, and we always made sure we didn't buy everything from the list.

Ds loves writing lists so I encourage him to do this. It's the only writing he's interested in doing.

I tell him he can send it to Santa, but Santa may in fact be out of stock of one or all of his wished for toys.

He's always had a surprise too. Even if it's something small, but fun.

DD1 knows that Santa doesn't bring Everything from her list, just a few bits and that her list is more about ideas. But i have to say she has never put anything super expensive on her list

Christmas lists for everyone in my family, adults and children alike. Always have- but then I have 5 siblings, so many to buy for.

But yes, it is a guideline, not an order form, as far as the kids are concerned. They usually get a couple of things from the list and then a few other surprises.

Mind you, DS1's list usually runs something like 'FIFA-whatever-year-it-is; Superdry hoodie/trousers/t-shirt; Hollister hoodie/trousers/t-shirt; expensive electronic item; another expensive electronic item; random other expensive items.

He gets one off the list and a short lecture on how he'll realise how much things cost when he's earning his own money etc etc.

I listen to what DS says rather than try and decipher his scrawls. But I do love the list he meticulously writes (with diagrams just to make sure Father Christmas understands) with my favourite entry being a new "Kwobbike" which would be a quad bike.

Then again, you know your child, just because a present hasn't occurred to them doesn't mean you shouldn't get it. I try and buy the age relevant bits on the "Top 10 toys" list this year, as I'm generally pretty out of touch with what children like these days. He tends not to get "craze" toys like Furbys etc, as I don't like stuff like that and he's more of a boys boy and just wants to build things or race around on things, but those lists can be really helpful.

You can always get really creative with the stocking?

My children wrote lists like 'Actual camper van. A gun that shoots real fire...underwater! A pony with wings. An actual fairy in a cage that I can keep as a pet.'

We then got out the Argos catalogue and they cut out things they liked the look of. Virtually the entire catalogue was cut out, including things like hoovers.

Just thought you'd enjoy that.

building! That's fab.

I'm going to ask my school age dc to write one this year, because I think it could be fun, and helpful with extended family. It is definitely not an order form though!

The only problem I have with lists is that I have so much to buy I try to get it all done before December and have been buying bits all year. When my DC write a list I end up having to watch over them telling them what to write helping them with suggestions like a book, a game, some chocolate etc

I get mine to write a list of a few things they would really like and then get surprises too. I don't buy during the year, so Christmas and birthdays are their chance to get something they really want. I wouldn't like them to be disappointed on the big day cos they changed their bloody mind after I had done the shop so I need it in writing!

I will get the final draft in 2 weeks, the elves need time to make the toys and get organized! So far its things like dominos, a yoyo, a watch and an alarm clock, so nothing too extravagant!

DS (now 9) always writes a list that goes along the following lines;

"Dear FC, please may I have:

1. A 3DS (or whatever it is he wants this year),
2. some other things you think I would like."

So there is plenty of scope there, but I have to come up with 10-15 suggestions for GPs and other family. Fortunately he is easily pleased.

DD (11), on the other hand, starts preparing her 6 page list round about now, and edits it regularly.

Mine don't write lists and we've not actively encouraged any asking. So far they've been happy with surprises. It helps that they don't see adverts (we only use our telly for DVDs) so don't really have much idea of popular stuff etc.

They occasionally flick through a toy catalogue if they see one, but mostly I just go with my instinct to decide what they'd like. I listen out for things that get mentioned more than once (eg for this year there's a smallish playmobil set that she really adores) and we will get that from us. Father Xmas only brings surprises.

Aware this may change as things like peer pressure kick in but currently enjoying deciding myself :o

fuzzpig as usual speaks much sense. We had to try to get a steer from our son in particular as he is v difficult to buy for but for my daughter it would be much better not to encourage asking.

Though every time they express a desire for anything after July I now say, 'Put it on your Christmas list!'

I definitelyt felt like I had to get them nearly all the reasonable things on their Santa letter, but that is totally unnecessary. Don't do it. Learn from my mistakes!

my kids are grown up now but they never did lists (not for our benefit anyway) but what used to happen sometimes was that I would get something I knew they would love & then they would mention that they'd like that thing

I used to be a bit when that happened as my genius went unappreciated

They write a letter to Santa, very, very politely suggesting some things they would like. Santa seems to arrange for various relatives to provide a few of the gifts - which Santa then delivers. But it isn't an order form and there have been years where nothing from the list has arrived because someone was being a bit overambitious.

Mine have always done lists and I buy other stuff as well that I think they'd like or at least find amusing . They're 20 &14 now so it's getting more difficult .