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??

We don't do stocking but pillowcase usually full of bits she needs over the year and a few treats. Father Christmas brings that and one 'main' present off their letter. The rest is of us and family and they are told that they don't get everything they ask.

I'm english and all my presents were from santa and I did the same for my kids too. Grannies, aunts etc were from them but our presents were all Santa's

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"
In my experience they tend to just talk about what they got for Christmas rather than who gave it.
Which is why I guess DH and I didn't realise others did things differently and also why none of my kids have really questioned why we don't get them a present.

Stockings only (adult dc still enjoy them) I am retired so might be an age thing but I do not understand those who say all the presents are from FC. How do children learn the value of things, the joy you have taken in finding the right thing just for them, the sacrifices made so they can have a good time etc if they just think FC is responsible for everything. Gets my goat and makes me quite upset in a weird way.

Santa gets the main gift and a joint gift for them...everything else is from us.

Stocking from the big man. Presents under the tree from whoever they're from. Stocking done in the morning when they wake up, presents under the tree later with the wider family. I think its important to have the magic of the stocking but also important that children are learning to express their thanks.

@Roystonv
As I said for DH and I it's what was done when we were children, we didn't have stockings as children just some presents from FC some large and some small. Neither of us realised anyone did things differently so naturally we did the same for our children.

I don't share the assumption that this way makes children ungrateful or unappreciative. There are so many opportunities throughout the year to teach the values you mentioned. We play the long game. My older two are 20 and 16 and have told us retrospectively how grateful they are for making the years they believed special.

@Splendidseptember

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... 🙄

All of this.

@Roystonv

Stockings only (adult dc still enjoy them) I am retired so might be an age thing but I do not understand those who say all the presents are from FC. How do children learn the value of things, the joy you have taken in finding the right thing just for them, the sacrifices made so they can have a good time etc if they just think FC is responsible for everything. Gets my goat and makes me quite upset in a weird way.

My children learn the value of things every day. Christmas morning doesn’t need to be a life lesson.

They don’t need to know about the sacrifices of adults on Christmas morning.

Why would you not want your children to have something nice without being lectured to about value and sacrifice?

I don’t need a pat on the back for my time spent picking out presents.

Horses for courses, I guess. I’m just happy to see them enjoy their gifts.

@GiveMeAllTheGin8

I’m in Ireland and it seems to be different here . Stocking and all the presents come from Santa and one present from mum and dad . Obviously all the friends / relatives presents come from them !

Yes, I can concur. What our (Irish) extended family do is usually: Big present, Surprise, Stocking = Santa. Gift from mum and dad. Gift from each set of Grandparents - limited to one Gift from each godparent -again limited to one. (if we let every aunt & uncle get a gift no joke, DS would have about 50 items. So it's a logical line to draw and takes pressure off everyone as well)

Honestly, that actually adds up to loads for a kid. And my aim for Christmas is to have the focus on spending time with family , good food and just chilling so it's the perfect amount.
We also stay home for Christmas and anyone who wants to join us, can. After the Santa years I'd be open to visiting others but for now we've only got maybe 2 or 3 more years of believing and I want to make the most of it.
And anyone trying to pretend Santa left stuff at their house for my kid? I wouldn't have it.

And anyone trying to pretend Santa left stuff at their house for my kid? I wouldn't have it.

My MIL did this one year despite AGES spent explaining it to her. We're no contact now, not because of this obviously! But I could have slapped her. If it had been a genuine mistake fair enough but she did it on purpose because she didn't like being told not to. Asked not to, I should say!

To be clear I never made Christmas a 'life lesson' for my dc but just think it very strange that FC brings all the presents and the two people who love them most in the world appear to give them nothing and that FC gives presents of differing value to each family. Does that not make dc query why they got less than friends etc. However quite happy to accept everyone has their own traditions.

As I said upthread, my dc get gifts from us and from each other, too.

And it genuinely never has come up. Not when I was a child and not with my children.

Of course there’s talk of what everyone got but never comparisons. Perhaps everyone I know has just been lucky that the children involved don’t compare gifts!

@OhCaptain

As I said upthread, my dc get gifts from us and from each other, too.

And it genuinely never has come up. Not when I was a child and not with my children.

Of course there’s talk of what everyone got but never comparisons. Perhaps everyone I know has just been lucky that the children involved don’t compare gifts!

to be honest I didn't have a clue anyone did xmas different to us until I was and adult on these forums, as a child it just never really came up.

I have seen my sons friends brag though - I was quite shocked at his birthday to see a 10 year old flash a new Iphone and Iwatch and then say to another child 'and you don't even have a phone yet', same kid also kept flashing the money in their wallet and their mother bank card (which they had for some reason, I would never give my kid my bank card and I don't even think its legal) to everyone too