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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:
pallisers · 27/12/2017 16:03

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!

In fairness, why should he? It was a bit of fun to him - not a major crime. Tell him to stop with the comments because you aren't happy and let it go. Next year hide them so he can't get at them.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 27/12/2017 16:04

I find mine are full of bravado when they come back from their dad.

One of them did this but I discovered before we opened them.

I stole it back and he got it with his other presents.

I would never have done it as a child so it's reassuring reading through this, that it's a normal thing to do

Original poster
LemonadeRemedy · 27/12/2017 16:04

It's just not something I would've ever done. I was furious but didn't shout out lose my rag over it, it just wound me up.

OP posts:
treeofhearts · 27/12/2017 16:06

I'd take them away tbh. At 9 he should know better. They'd be confiscated for a good long time until he learned a lesson from it.

LadyintheRadiator · 27/12/2017 16:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

reallybadidea · 27/12/2017 16:08

Why do people say consequences when they mean punishment?!

CheapSausagesAndSpam · 27/12/2017 16:09

OP my kids do and say things I'd never have done as a child all the time! They're not me!

LizzieSiddal · 27/12/2017 16:09

If he’s jist come back from his dads, maybe you’re both s bit all over the place. He’s being silly by keep talking about it, but he’s 9, and 9 year olds can be rather silly. Just tell him to stop talking about it then change the subject.

BenLui · 27/12/2017 16:09

Focus on why you are actually upset.

You are upset because you didn’t get to see his face when he opened them.

After all the careful saving, shopping and wrapping you didn’t get that moment when you see their delight.

He didn’t necessarily spoil things for himself, he spoiled them for you.

It’s not unreasonable to be a bit disappointed about that. (Furious might be pushing it)

That’s the discussion I’d be having with him next time he makes a silly comment.

Don’t do a whole huge emotional guilt trip though.

Next time don’t put them out until just before.

LadyintheRadiator · 27/12/2017 16:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fffion · 27/12/2017 16:16

Haven’t we all done this as a child?

It’s part of the #magic, surely?

speakout · 27/12/2017 16:20

I don;t punish.

suzy2b · 27/12/2017 16:21

granddaughter 9 still believes in santa no presents on show until christmas morning after santa has delivered them

HermioneAndTheSniffle · 27/12/2017 16:22

I would never leave presents under the tree and expect the child to not even try to look at what is inside.
The temptation is so so strong.

I doubt I would have been able to restrain myself as a child and nor would I expect a child to be able to do so.

As for what to do. Nothing.
I would remind him that, by doing so, he missed on the pleasure of getting the surprise on Christmas Day.
Whilst acknowledg8ng for myself that he still got the pleasure of the surprise, just a few days earlier.

And next year, maybe just hide the presents until the day??

froshiechipandbrickie · 27/12/2017 16:23

I do think that there should be consequences / punishment. (They’re not necessarily the same imo, btw.)

Doing nothing / condoning it wouldn’t be right imo.
What about encouraging him to learn a little self control and consider other people’s feelings? Or the fact that he opened presents that weren’t even his?

But I’d be hesitant to take away the presents because that might spoil your whole family’s Christmas...

oliveinacampervan · 27/12/2017 16:23

Just tell him he was a cheeky little twat, and hide them better next time.

He is a 9 year old boy FGS. They do this shit; little imps all of them! Grin

No need to punish him or give him 'consequences.' As has been said, he just spoiled it for himself.

Loonoonow · 27/12/2017 16:24

A friends GC crept into the living room on Christmas Eve and ripped open every single parcel under the tree. I understand they are being shipped to Van Diemen's land. That'll learn em.

brizzledrizzle · 27/12/2017 16:33

Nothing because, as PP have said, it spoils the surprise on Xmas Day.

April229 · 27/12/2017 16:33

Fucking furious doesn’t seem very festive or jolly OP, maybe concentrate on making it a fun Christmas for your children?

Oliveinacampervan · 27/12/2017 16:34

@Loonoonow

A friends GC crept into the living room on Christmas Eve and ripped open every single parcel under the tree. I understand they are being shipped to Van Diemen's land. That'll learn em.

Evil little shits! Shock

#joking

Well, I guess if Santa insists on coming early, he's just asking for trouble! Grin

pallisers · 27/12/2017 16:35

I'd take them away tbh. At 9 he should know better. They'd be confiscated for a good long time until he learned a lesson from it.

crikey.

Caroian · 27/12/2017 16:35

I don't really agree that kids have "spoiled it for themselves" as many kids don't find the surprise that exciting - and they still have the item after all. But by the same token, what damage have they really done?

I remember my mum catching me "finding" presents she had hidden when I was similar age. I think they were actually birthday presents. She gave me "the look" at the time but there was no punishment, When my birthday arrived a couple of days later, the gift that I had seen wasn't included. She did then give it to me a couple of days after that but did it with no ceremony, and the gift was not wrapped. We had a brief conversation about how much nicer it would have been to have received it like my other gifts. I had worked that out for myself and never did it again.

Believeitornot · 27/12/2017 16:36

He’s 9....

It’s hardly crime of the century. He’s probably making silly comments for a reaction.

What’s the deeper feeling behind this? My ds was snooping around for presents and on reflection what bothered me was I didn’t want him to end up being dishonest etc etc - an extrapolation from my messed up childhood.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 27/12/2017 16:36

Oh let him be, he's a child, he couldn't help himself. The only person he spoiled it for, is himself. Next year, hide them, but this year, let it go. 😄

Lashalicious · 27/12/2017 16:40

I peeked once when I was around that age. My older brothers and I were giving all the presents a good going over like JoandMax looking for gaps between the tape and pressing the paper to see if it was thin enough to make out the wording on the box underneath...that was fun. However one year it went further than that and we each actually opened a present to look then taped it back. Mine was a purse. I killed the joy I would have felt on Christmas morning by opening it on the sly like that. I felt terribly guilty about it and when I opened it the next morning, of course there was no surprise and that plus my guilt was enough punishment. I never did it again. Just give your dc a mild talking to so he understands but I don’t think it has to be a major thing.