How to gently let down a four year old :(

[Florathefern]

My DD (4) originally wanted a Pony Cycle for Christmas. As we simply do not have the space, I persuaded her that Santa wouldn't be able to bring one as there just wasn't enough room for it and after a number of months (!) she accepted it and decided she will ask for a Zoomer dog instead. There are two problems -
One is that the reviews for the Zoomer dog are terrible. They don't work, don't charge, break easily, don't respond to children's voices etc, bad aftersales service etc.
The second problem is that presumably due to the above issues, they seem to have stopped selling them and it looks like it was replaced with the Zoomer Chimp.

But she wanted the dog. I asked her if she'd like Georgie the dog who looks pretty ok but she already has two similar type dogs and she doesn't want Georgie. I showed her Zoomer Marshall (Paw Patrol) and she isn't keen. He seems to have limited functions he doesn't appear to roll over etc and she just doesn't want him.

What do I say/do in this situation please? She has her heart set on him and I feel guilty because I have already said no to Pony Cycle........

You've still got time to get her to write a massive list of everything and anything that she would like for Christmas, then say that if she's lucky she'll get something from the list or maybe FC will give a surprise. That way you're guaranteed to get a couple of perfect presents, and also gives you a bit more leeway. Although has it downsides - spaghetti Bolognese and a puppy has appeared on my ds list this year

Mrs - we had a cheesecake on ours once I was going to get one to put under the tree but I forgot, she never noticed.

I never discussed presents beforehand with DC

They did not always get what they wanted, but they have always been excited and happy on Christmas day.

You are overthinking this, and your DD is too involved, you are making a rod for your own back by leading her to believe she gets to totally dictate presents IMO .

flora its hard isn't it, I am a firm believer that mood is what makes xmas or not....my in laws don't change mood gear and they are very up tight anyway, never any music on....drink carefully monitored etc. Mil takes more pleasure in the corners she cut to provide xmas sustenance, so If I said I paid two pounds MORE to get nicer smoked salmon she would cringe at my extravagance.

Op another idea to help manage this perhaps...we did "elf" one year but our own version, she was a lovely cute elf from ikea and we did our own letter and said Elf was coming for only FIVE nights, because you have not had a visit yet and elf needs to know what kind of dc they are getting gifts for as we cant always deliver whats on the list. So elf comes as its young elf, and reports back childs likes and dislikes, but be careful, new elves are VERY NAUHTY AND may get up to mischief...

elf came about 3 years ago - and will probably make a re appearance this year. but it helped again with expectations...and we are not slave to the bloody elf - TBH even five nights of fun was a chore but worth if it for dc reaction....but mine was a talker and thinker too - mine was questioning existence of god by 6!

at spagbol!

A real dog will be asked forcwithout doubt. I've spoken to her about writing a list and Santa will choose the toys he thinks she will like best.

The Zoomer kitty reviews are ok but she is adamant she wants (another!) dig toy. To be fair she plays with her 'dogs' ALL the time.

I think reminding kids of poor Santa choices is harsh tbh. I didn't get a doll that cried because it would be 'noisy'. I wanted the same thing for years. Maybe it would have been noisy/broken easily/one dimensional whatever - I'd have preferred to find out for myself.

There's a puppy version, new, on eBay £25 free postage, purple or pink
Would she be happy with that?
Did she want the £100 version? I would tell her that Santa can't make those anymore but the puppies are so much better

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/272418337933?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=27378760866&rlsatarget=pla-181484363586&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=1006661&device=c&campaignid=620865095&crdt=0

My ILs sound very like yours. The wine is poured (from the right hand side) but the quantity is noted and we will get a 'subtle story' about a neighbour who has 'a problem with alcohol' They won't put on the radio as they don't like music. They will however trot out to listen to piano recitals with friends. It is all very hard going and involves lots of 'listening'.

I can see where you are coming from
Personally I wouldn't want to let my child down but there's no way I would spend £100 on a toy I thought was rubbish
A little white lie about how the expensive one is either not very good, unavailable, or what ever you think she will believe, then buy the puppy version as a compromise

Zoomer is a bit crap my dd got one for her 4th birthday and it wouldn't do what she wanted. He hasn't broken though and my 18 month old loves it. But I wouldn't waste my money personally.

It's the £100 pounds one. The puppy one doesn't walk as far as I can find in the reviews.

Thanks for linking the eBay one. It is a lot to pay for something with terrible reviews. I might persuade her about the Marshall one yet. The idea of writing a list and Santa will bring a few things that he thinks she will prefer from it, is a great idea. Have you guessed this is all completely new to me? :-) Thank you.

I used to get mine to write a list of about 6-8 things then would like
Then tell them Santa will choose 2 or 3 things from the list that are on his sleigh!
They're all teenagers now and I don't think they were ever disappointed on Christmas Day

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/science-technology-engineering-math-stem/c-981/technology/p-18969/chip/

This one looks good, its called Chip but its over £100

*they would like

Home Delivery: Pre Order Now: In Stock 22 Dec to 02 Jan

(I guess it might not be in stock for christmas though) :(

Chip looks great but is £180 pounds! That is outside my budget I'm afraid. If she was older and it was her only present I'd be tempted but it really is too much for me.

Children usually like the toys they get in Christmas Day so I would try not to panic about it, sometimes you just cannot get them what they want no matter how hard you try.

Another thing:

Kids LOVE "Crap" presents

@ op!!

Buy a second hand one- going on eBay £20-30, so not too bad even if it's not a great toy, worth it for the Christmas morning excitement alone.... but then, I bought a hatchimal so what do I know?!?!

I would tell her to put it on her list & that Father Christmas will only pick one thing from it, its his choice.

Well thats what I tell DD.

Buy her a second hand one.

If you can get one for £30 ish then who cares if it's crap or not. She'll love it xmas day.

But I'm soft as shit, and my macho 8 year old son has a Pony cycle for Xmas as he loved it so much And I have literally no space for it either.

Buy the Pony cycle!

Did you buy the medium sized pony cycle? I really don't have any room for her to use it for more than a few steps forward.

Yep the medium one.I have no room, but we have a large block paved area out the front so he can use it there. It's going to be hilarious and I can't wait

Have you got any room for one outside? They hold their value well, so I've justified it that it was £189, but in 6 months when he is bored and I'm fed up of falling over it, it'll still be worth £130 ish, so hasn't cost much..