How much does Father Christmas give your children?

[bumble79]

Myself and partner have different views on this. Growing up all his presents were from 'Father Christmas'

For us, we had a stocking and maybe a large gift or a few smaller gifts from him and the rest were from parents. This was always a thing.

What is normal?

I don't want Father Christmas to get all the credit 🤣

I'm thinking a stocking and a main present for him and the rest from us?

What do others do??

Tbh I don't put labels/tags on the presents we just wrap them up though he knows when presents have come from grandparents etc x My son is coming up to 7 and still asks santa for stuff. I figure he probably won't believe in a year or two so I'm happy to leave him think they're from santa for however long x

This :-0
We also use the saying 'if you don't believe, you don't receive'.
only one true believer left, shes 7, older two are are 14 and 19.
always been stocking and one main pressie each from Santa, few gifts/ one larger gift from parents each and all tree pressies as labelled from family and friends.
Never worried about getting the 'credit', its about the magic. Sadly they learn all too soon who really doies all the hard work x

It’s a bizarrely selfish attitude to insist that you get credit for presents instead of just letting your children believe in the magic of Santa for a while, IMO.

But like I said in my neck of the woods that doesn’t seem to be the attitude at all!

Interestingly, from my childhood and now into my kids’ I’ve never thought about how/why some kids got more than others. And I’ve never had my own question it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Dd writes a letter to Santa and everything on that list is left in a sack downstairs from him - usually only about 4 things. Everything else is from us.

I've only had 2 experiences of children told everything is from Santa, both negative. One child who couldnt understand why her cousins were left so much more than her, couldnt understand why santa would bring them so many lovely gifts and not her and another who couldnt understand why her mum and dad bought her absolutely nothing when all her friends got presents from parents. I heard her comment a few times on how her parents didnt get her anything and it made me feel quite sad

An over stuffed stocking

Stocking is from Santa and one small wooden gift since that's what the elves make.

Gifts from everyone else are sent to Santa and if they're good Santa brings them on Christmas Eve. If they're really bad he gives them to another child who's parents can't afford gifts.

We don't do it for credit btw it's more just a backup incase we have a year when we can't afford much. We'll always be able to get a stocking and a small wooden gift from Santa.

Also, when we write letters to Santa we don't put what we want as gifts. We ask him how he is and ask about the reindeer and elves and just write a general letter to him, not a grab list 😂

It’s a bizarrely selfish attitude to insist that you get credit for presents instead of just letting your children believe in the magic of Santa for a while, IMO.

My kids do believe in the magic of Santa. They get a small gift from St Nicholas on his Saint's day as I did as a child and then a stocking. They are perfectly happy with that.

Interestingly, from my childhood and now into my kids’ I’ve never thought about how/why some kids got more than others.

And I've seen multiple children, the ones who barely get any presents question why. The worst was the one who ended up in temporary accommodation (with their mum) because of domestic violence. The child had told a teacher, the teacher called social work, police were involved etc. The child's heartbreaking take on the situation was that they'd made the naughty list for getting daddy arrested. For that child and all others in a similar situation, I think my extremely privileged kids can cope with only getting a stocking from Santa.

We don't label our gifts they are in different paper for each child and don't exactly say they are from us but I always try to make sure they have one Santa gift with their stocking. What I worry about is my kids saying they got so many gifts from Santa and other kids don't. I'd rather they be one to say I got a barbie, a doll, Lego set something they asked him for. The cost of it doesn't matter so much, it's the one thing they remember too each year when it's separate with their stocking. It's still magical in my house and they are always surprised with tree gifts that were no where to be seen when they went to sleep. Whether they think Santa delivered them or not it's not confirmed by us anyway.

Stocking from Santa and 2 or 3 (unwrapped) presents under the tree from him too. We get them something small all other presents are from whoever gifted them.

DS will be 3.5 this year so this is the one where the traditions will start. We have decided stocking from santa, left in his room at the foot of his bed and his main present under the tree. Same paper. Everything else under the tree is from us/relatives. He also has a small stocking over the fireplace for chocolate and sweets. I might just leave that one to his imagination!

Growing up all my presents were from FC but DH had just stocking so this seems a good compromise!

FC brings everything, stocking and all downstairs presents, delivery man style. But Mummy chooses some presents for him to bring and we send some money for FC to choose some presents.

We do a big (new) toy collection at church which are then sent to FC (the organization who distribute them) so DC come with me to choose presents to send for other children. Father Christmas is absolutely the magic, but I think it's important that they know that we give to others because we are fortunate enough to be able to.

My children get a stocking and 1 present from Father Christmas, and not the biggest most expensive one, but something else they’ve asked for. It’s partly because the petty part of me doesn’t FC to get all the credit but also a practical issue- if I can’t afford it then they’re not getting it (I do try of course but I don’t crap money) FC doesn’t bring really expensive stuff so they’ll have to think of something else to ask for. I think it keeps it simple. My children have never kicked up a massive fuss about it or questioned it.

We do sockings from Father Christmas. We aim to spend a max of £10 per socking but as they’ve got older has been harder to find items for low prices so can be up to £15.

Every year the sockings all contain a new pair of Christmas socks or pants (brought in the sales), chocolate coins, satsuma, toothbrush and some kind of bubble bath/shower gel. Along with a few other bits and pieces like a pen, notebook etc.

Bigger presents are from us.

Has worked well for us over the years. 😊

Everything we buy comes from FC, it's what happened when DH and I were little. Neither of us had stockings either just a pillowcase of presents.
I didn't realise that some families did stockings from FC and then gave other gifts from parents until DC1 was in school.

pretty much everything from FC, a whole room full - unwrapped and ready to go but not super expensive

most santa things have a RRP around £10 (but I bargain hunt the sales and clearence so averages out more like £2 per item) and more expensive items (RRP £20 or so) tend to be 2nd hand because santa 'recycles' some presents from children who dont need them anymore

anything under the tree that is wrapped and from us or anything 'expensive' (like xbox or bike) is from us too

gifts from family are done in their own way - my parents send the kids a santa sack, my aunt give clothes and books (usually many months later when we see them in person) & DH family keep all the presents from his side at their house

Stocking where never a big deal to me, as a kid I just remember it being fruit and nuts and the last thing you cared about... it was like that for us until recently when I have started doing a bit more (filling them with sweets and silly little things like stickers and bubbles - nothing crazy or expensive though just like small £1 items)

Toiletries, PJs and stuff like that go in the xmas eve box

Growing up, all from FC. We never questioned this and were very happy. Have done exactly the same with my DC, only difference is my eldest, from being tiny, would ask what have you bought me. Er, nothing. Started giving one small gift from us but bloody hell they don’t miss a trick do they.

Everything is from santy

we've always done stockings from Santa and other presents from whoever gave them

children do compare notes and wonder why so and so got a ipad and a bike, and a pony... when they only got something smaller....and it's heartbreaking to think they believe they are missed out or passed over for the "good stuff"

So stockings only from Santa, even if your cousin said Santa brings everything, it's just your Aunt being silly.

Stocking (cheap stretchy men's Christmas sock from Asda) here although DP doesn't really get it as he never had a stocking to open. Their way was just that Santa delivered the presents under the tree and last year he came up with all manner of crap such as meeting Santa on the roof in about mid November to discuss DS's behaviour . So I'm the stocking lead but DP just thinks it is over shadowed by the main presents and doesn't understand the excitement of opening it on the bed early on Christmas morning. The DC are young enough not to really get it although eldest will be 5 this year so he will have more awareness of who has brought what.

No one else buys for my dc so everything under the tree is FC.
As for who gets credit... I can't understand that pov. The credit I get is that magic I created... The look of joy, surprise etc on dc face.
Isn't that credit enough or does it only come in a formal thank you verbally.

It's such a tiny window for them... Tiny.. Then they have the Rest of their entire lives to give you lots of credit... 🙄

I must be one horrible mother.

One present from Santa in this house. We write him a letter on December the first, and he comes back with a present and a letter for my children. And he is very naughty Santa in our house because he doesn't leave the present under the tree but leaves the clues all around the house and child has to find it. I think he likes this part better then the present itself.

Stockings, annuals and one gift from Santa. Usually the frivolous want or a family board game. But he also delivers the other presents which are labelled. This part is slowly changing as the kids get older and are less likely to try to open gifts left under the tree.

Oh and yes to not letting all presents be from Santa. Apparently one year I got very upset as my parents hadn't got me a present.

Stocking is from FC and contains 12 things (one for every day of Christmas) mine are 5 and 2.5 and this year for example they have

1. A lipbalm tube
2. A small care bear toy
3. A sylvanians blind bag
4. Chocolate reindeer
5. A twisty pet bracelet
6. Hot wheels car

Everything else is from us, but FC delivers it.