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Original poster

Santa is going to disappoint my kids

30 replies

ridingsixwhitehorses · 12/12/2016 20:28

My kids, aged 6 and 4, were each allowed to ask santa for three things. In their three both kids asked santa for a skateboard. DH and I are keen not to get them a skateboard - they have scooters and bikes and we have tumbles a plenty but we are not ready to let them on skateboards yet especially as in the park we are looking after their toddler brother rather than running alongside. We don't wrap them in cotton wool - far from it - but skateboard just a bit too... wobbly, for us at this stage.

They are both getting the other two things on their lists.

Should santa send them a note saying that he and the elves decided skateboards are for over 7s? Or just ignore it and hope they don't remember/care? Can't get for their birthdays as they are both in Dec too.

OP posts:
makeitpink · 12/12/2016 20:31

Can you get them skate boards but encourage them to sit on them first whilst they get used to the motion?

makeitpink · 12/12/2016 20:31

Also helmets, knee & elbow pads are your friends here!!

Waltermittythesequel · 12/12/2016 20:32

I think you're being a bit ridiculous precious.

It's a skateboard. They would wear helmets and pads and probably be interested for about 30 seconds.

Not sure why it takes two of you to walk a toddler in the park, either.

Dozer · 12/12/2016 20:32

Just tell them you have vetoed that one and that parents can do that!

PoloZolo · 12/12/2016 20:33

Can't you explain Santa does buy everything on the list? I guess it might be hard to do that now though as you only let them put three items down, it would have been easier if there was a massive long list.

I think it's best to explain now before the big day, otherwise they will have their hopes up and then be let down on Christmas Day. You could suggest they give Santa a few more ideas instead

SuePerkins · 12/12/2016 20:33

Or buy the skateboards and elbow and knees pads and good helmets?
Fwiw my son (6) longed for a skateboard for ages, finally bought one in a charity shop for £1, had one go and hated it and went back to his scooter.

fruitpastille · 12/12/2016 20:33

Santa doesn't bring everything he's asked for - the list is just to give him ideas!

PoloZolo · 12/12/2016 20:34

Doesn't*

ineedamoreadultieradult · 12/12/2016 20:37

2 out of 3 is a good hit rate for a Santa list. It should be a list of suggestions not demands. Maybe have the Santa can't bring everything on the list chat. In my experience skateboards very rarely get played on anyway so I wouldn't worry too much.

Floralnomad · 12/12/2016 20:38

Agree with everything said by waltermitty , it's a skateboard not swimming with sharks and the fact you've got a toddler shouldn't stop your other DC doing what they want . If they find they can't balance on them they will be a 10 minute wonder anyway .

SatsukiKusakabe · 12/12/2016 21:07

My ds wanted a skateboard last year age 4 and I wasn't sure about it, but he really wanted it so I got him a mini one - about 3 quarter size of s regular skateboard for about a fiver in Tesco. He was thrilled to get it on the day, played with it a lot in the house, had a little go out, no accidents but got frustrated with it and went back to scooting. So I would suggest getting them, they'll be fun on the day and really no big deal.

SisterViktorine · 12/12/2016 21:12

I would say get them the little (fake) penny board ones. They are only about 15 quid.

They will mostly scoot round the house on their bums on them. They might have a bit of a go outside, but IME they are a short lived wonder. If they do fall off, wearing a helmet it will be no worse than falling off bike or scooter.

SitsOnFence · 13/12/2016 07:07

I feel your pain, OP. Mine are going to be disappointed too. They asked for hover boards Hmm

Like you, mine only ask for up to 3 things, know they are only suggestions, and only ask for inexpensive things; so have generally got them. This year, however, thanks to some bloody youtuber who claims Father Christmas bought her a hover board, they decided to try their luck and asked for one each Shock

I have told them that it's incredibly unlikely, but they will be disappointed nonetheless. The only other things on their lists were spy door alarms (both), and numicon(!) (DD), which they will get. Plus other surprises that I know they'll love. They do usually deal with disappointment well, but I can't help feeling a bit sad that they won't get the surprise they are hoping for.

Caroian · 13/12/2016 09:54

Two out of three is good going. If they are honestly "disappointed" by that then I think you may need to work a bit more on gratitude and appreciation (sorry, don't mean to sound harsh!) Chances are, of course, that in the excitement of getting the other things they have requested plus other bits that come with Christmas, they won't actually think about it all that much.

I wouldn't buy one at this age not for safety, but because skateboarding is actually quite difficult and there is a good chance it will be a flash in the pan. But that is a personal opinion.

Chelazla · 13/12/2016 17:00

I'd buy the skateboard! 4 and 6 is plenty old enough! Kids fall over all the time! They'll be fine!!!

ImYourMama · 13/12/2016 17:06

This is a good lesson in 'you don't get everything you want all the time'- they've got 2/3 requests and should be very grateful and content with that. Stop feeling guilty OP, they're very fortunate. Smile

spiker · 13/12/2016 23:19

I totally understand your concerns. We put the skateboarding request off for ages due to (a) safety - DS2 believes he is immortal - and (b) kids in local skate park smoke weed openly (they are perfectly nice and relaxed though Smile). We caved at about 8 I think. DS2 is now 10, was addicted from day 1 and is very impressive.

So - are they risk-taking thrill seekers with a death wish like DS2? If so I'd delay purchase personally. If they have some inkling of their own mortality then little cheap ones are ok at that age - may well be swiftly discarded in favour of scooters. But I do agree with others - santa gets a wish list, not a shopping list, and 2 out of 3 is pretty good.

Pikmin · 13/12/2016 23:25

How about those little finger toy skateboard things, as real ones wouldn't fit in a stocking?

MrsAmaretto · 14/12/2016 00:00

My son who is 6 wanted to put it on his list too! I said no, he had a scooter and a bike and was too young for one yet. There wasn't a problem.

He also Wanted that £299 Nerf Gun go kart. Again I vetoed that - told him it was far too expensive for a Santa gift but if he really wanted it I'd ask everyone who gives him pressies to give him money towards it instead. He decided against that route.......

MelchettsTinslyMoustache · 14/12/2016 01:32

Good grief, they're skateboards not Pitt bull terriers Xmas Grin
DS was desperate for one at about 6 (he had a daredevil friend who used to live in the skate park with his older brothers- I think DS thought it would be as easy as he made it look!)
Anyway Father Christmas dutifully delivered, including the safety gear, and all was good and happy. After about four attempts at standing on it, the skateboard was demoted to a bum board. Several years later it's most exciting episode has been being a part in human hungry hippos Xmas Grin

SitsOnFence · 14/12/2016 09:51

I've just remembered that this won't be my children's first Christmas disappointment, as they've been begging me and DH for a trampoline for about 2 years now. The difference being that we've pretty much extinguished any glimmer of hope on that front (too many hcp friends with too many horror stories).

We did nearly cave and get them one last Christmas, but ended up getting them a swing-set instead. I know they would have preferred a trampoline, but they were so happy and grateful that you wouldn't have known it. I do think it helps when it's a shared disappointment (e.g. not a case of 1 child getting what they really wanted, whilst another doesn't). Ironically, DD did manage to trip over her own foot and fracture her elbow quite badly just a few months later, so it does go to show that shit happens anyway you can't protect them from injury.

I think we might revisit our decision next Christmas, now our youngest is 6, but by following the RoSPA advice and finding a local trampolining club so they can learn to use it safely. They do other dangerous sports (skiing, rock climbing, rollerskating, gymnastics, riding, etc), but all in a controlled way. Are there any local skateboarding clubs that your DC could attend riding?

NiceFalafels · 14/12/2016 09:55

Tell them 'I wonder which things santa is bringing you? He doesn't get everything off a child's xmas list'

Vintagebeads · 14/12/2016 16:32

Fgs its totally your choice if you want to wait a year or two for skateboards,I can't believe your even explaining yourself, for your house its another year or two...I am sure they will survive until then Wink
Santa in our house gets the list and they get something off the list,they know it will be something but not what.
Although DS putting 86 quid goalkeeper gloves is optimist even for him.Grin

AppleAndBlackberry · 14/12/2016 16:37

I would tell them they're too young for skateboards and Santa won't bring them anything that Mummy and Daddy don't want them to have. That way they won't be disappointed in the day.

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 14/12/2016 16:46

Having seen both my boys and one Dd try and skateboard I wouldn't say they are too young. They will barely be able to make it move for a very long time anyway. I'd get them the smaller sized ones and just do it. Get knee and elbow pads too but tbh I'd be surprised if they actually get enough momentum to fall off