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Original poster

Consequences for child who opened presents early

139 replies

LemonadeRemedy · 27/12/2017 15:22

Just after a bit of perspective on this. My just 9 year old (nt) opened two of his Christmas presents before the big day and then hid them in the hope of not getting found out. He also unwrapped other presents and then used sellotape to tape them together again after having peeped. I'm fucking furious but struggle with knowing how to handle these kinds of issues. Wwyd if this was your child?

OP posts:
Aridane · 27/12/2017 15:23

oh dear, dear - I would have a temporary confiscation of these presents

PotteringAlong · 27/12/2017 15:24

Surely the punishment is that he got no surprises on Christmas Day?

I’d do nothing other than hide them better next year.

Hardwickwhite · 27/12/2017 15:24

Tell him it was a daft thing to do and spoiled the fun and surprise of the day. Then leave it at that. Honestly. He’s the one that spoilt it for himself.

Whizziwig · 27/12/2017 15:25

I wouldn't give any consequences for that! I suspect most children try to peek at some point. I'm impresses they re-wrapped it. Maybe just say you were disappointed as it's nice for everyone to open their presents together.

JoandMax · 27/12/2017 15:25

I would have a talk to them about why they shouldn't do it but I wouldn't punish too harshly - presents and Christmas are so exciting for them and sometimes the temptation is just too much!

I'm 37 and I still have a good feel of any presents under the tree when nobody's looking..........

LadyintheRadiator · 27/12/2017 15:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bigchris · 27/12/2017 15:26

Aw leave him be !

Mamia15 · 27/12/2017 15:27

Hide presents in locked suitcases next time.

georgedawes · 27/12/2017 15:28

Hide them better next time! Surely this is a rite of passage all kids do.

AmysTiara · 27/12/2017 15:28

I'd find a better hiding place next year.

missmapp · 27/12/2017 15:30

Ds1 searched for presents and found them a few weeks before christmas, they went wrapped though ( not that organised). I made it clear how disappointed I was and how it would spoil any Christmas surprises for us all. This seemed to be enough for him to realise how upset I was. He didn't do itagain. I don't think any more consequence is needed. I remember searching for presents as a child, the spoilt surprise was enough of a consequence.

XiCi · 27/12/2017 15:37

Surely we've all done this as a child?
The punishment is Christmas morning being ruined by no surprises.
I doubt he'll do it again but I'd hide them better next year

crunchymint · 27/12/2017 15:53

I would tell him it was a daft thing to do. I did this one year and Xmas was such a disappointment that I never did it again. So I would simply talk to him about it, no punishment necessary.

Rossigigi · 27/12/2017 15:54

I used to do this every year as a child. Strangely my ds's never have.
It's over with now, don't worry about it.

happypoobum · 27/12/2017 15:55

Agree with PP, anything other than pointing out he has no surprises would be dramatic overkill.

What exactly were you planning to do to him? Confused Being "fucking furious" suggests a complete lack of perspective or self control on your part..........

MiltonTheChristmasCockroach · 27/12/2017 15:55

'Consequences' for a 9 year old unwrapping their own presents a couple of days early?

Beat them with a big stick, hose them down with cold water and make them stand outside for an hour.

... or, accept that children will do this -it's a rite of passage - and hide them somewhere better next year.

Floralnomad · 27/12/2017 15:56

Way too far past the time to do anything now , just hide the presents better next year .

Chewbecca · 27/12/2017 15:56

I used to do this. Got away with it.

CheapSausagesAndSpam · 27/12/2017 15:56

Agree with Happy that you seem to have things out of proportion.

Why be "fucking furious" over a bit of silliness. They're his gifts...he ruined his surprise. They're not Pandora's Box and neither do they contain the actual Spirit of Christmas.

sausagerollsrock · 27/12/2017 15:57

I don't think you should have to hide them better. I never peeped at presents as a child but I knew I didn't want to spoil the occasion on which i was supposed to be opening then. As others have said maybe let the fact he's spoilt the suprise for himself, be punishment enough.

Brandnewstart · 27/12/2017 15:58

I used to unwrap them, look at them and tape them back up. I was really good apart from that but who leaves presents under the tree?!
My dp kept mine in the car boot this year as my dad told him all about it Grin. I did tell him I grew out of it by the time I was 14/15 but he wasn't taking any chances...

LizzieSiddal · 27/12/2017 15:59

Confused doesn’t every child do that?

I can still vividly remember searching for presents when I was about 11. I found mine (under my parents bed) a tape recorder. After the initial “yippee”, I felt disappointment that I’d spoilt the surprise for myself. I never did it again.

You don’t need to have any “consequences”. He’s already had them.

monkeywithacowface · 27/12/2017 16:00

I wouldn't do much now although I do think peeping at unwrapped presents isn't quite as bad as opening gifts that have already been wrapped. He ruined it for himself really by taking away the excitement of opening them on Christmas morning. My neighbour's son did the same thing and then spent all of Christmas eve crying because he had no surprises left. Some kids just have no impulse control!

Original poster
LemonadeRemedy · 27/12/2017 16:00

Sorry I should have said we did Christmas Day today due to shared care between me and his dad.. so it only came to light this morning...
The presents weren't hidden, they were under the tree, wrapped and ready for this morning. I explained that it was a silly thing to do and that I'm very disappointed but did not confiscate the presents. The thing that is oissing me off is he keeps making silly comments about it so he clearly doesn't give a shit about what he's done!

OP posts:
pallisers · 27/12/2017 16:02

Another one who thought every child went looking for the christmas presents (usually around age 9 too). My dd1 found them one year and led a tour for the other 2 (only told us recently). My sister did the same when we were around 10. rite of passage, I thought.