What does Father Christmas bring?

[InsanelyTired]

Hello, sorry if this has been done before, I've scrolled through a lot.
My two DC's will be 4 & 2 by December so feel it's the first year we can really start thinking about what Christmas mornings will look like in our house.
I wanted to know what Santa brings, is it a stocking at the end of the bed and then a few under the tree etc? Growing up we didn't have Stockings & absolutely everything under the tree was from FC and not my parents. I know a lot of people want children to know some stuff does come from parents, so just curious what other families do?

Also as a side note if doing stockings in bedrooms, are these still little stocking fillers like hair bands etc? Or bigger toys that have been asked for?

We do one present from FC (normally something up to about £30). This is left with the stocking just outside the bedroom door.
Everything under the tree is from us (or relatives).

Just to add, stockings have smaller items in - book, socks, chocolate, small Lego set etc.

We do stockings and one thing under the tree. The one under the tree is the one thing that they've really asked for. It's not necessarily the biggest or most expensive.

Just stockings for us. I'd say they're small-medium stockings. Last year they were filled with small things like chocolate money, new gloves, those Lanka kade wooden animals, some new trains for the train set etc. Small things that sort of matched or complimented the proper tree gifts (which are just from friends and family). I love the magic of Father Christmas but I don't want to play it up so much that the kids are devastated when they learn he isn't real, and I don't want him taking all the credit either haha. My kids are 2 and 4 as well btw.

Dd writes a list to Santa and he brings that left in a sack downstairs under the tree. Everything else is from us (or friends/family)

I so wish I had thought this through from the beginning so you are doing the right thing. I'm somewhat beyond all this with my two but if I had my time again I would probably have either one present from FC and the rest labelled from parents or a small reusable sack from FC with a few presents in.

In terms of stockings if I was going to start with them I would include mainly practical things which can be bought year after year like PJ's, toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, underwear, book, couple of satsuma's and chocolate or sweets. This basically then becomes a nil cost because largely speaking you would buy these things through the year anyway but could be themed products while little and maybe progress to brands you know an older child would like but you wouldn't ordinarily buy. You can end up spending a huge amount of money on the contents of stockings as children get older and they get out of the small toys, colouring book, pens etc phase and you end up buying stuff they don't really need just so they still have a stocking or spending a small fortune on things they will use.

Stockings are from FC but everything else under the tree is from family/friends - otherwise they can't say thank you to people! We always had to remember to wrap everything in the stockings in different paper but they don't believe now so it makes life easier this year!

Things in the stockings are usually small things - chocolates, bathbombs, torches etc.

Something they Want
Something they Need
Something to Wear
Something to Read.

Want is a smallish gift off the santa list. Need is usually toiletries and stationary, wear is pyjamas and read is pretty obvious. With a few silly things to bulk it out.

Stockings are from Father Christmas. They’re reasonably large though and have one thing they’ve asked him for and lots of little things.
Presents under the tree come from us and others.

My mum made the concept of Father Christmas really magical and I'll never forget the thrill of waking up and finding the big pile of presents at the end of the bed. But as an older child I also remember her getting in a massive huff when I asked why her and dad hadn't given us anything! It's tricky. I did stockings (sweets/chocs and bits and bobs that ended up as useless clutter under the bed), main presents from FC, then one other present from me and exH of around £30. Difficult on a budget of £100 each for three children (especially when lots of their friends were getting three or four times that). Yougest now 13 which makes it easier but I do miss the magic of them racing downstairs to see if FC has been!

Stocking full of crap and tat (hair stuff, choc coins, pound shop specials) from FC, with one or two bigger things that they have asked him for. Rest from us and friends and family. I think it's good that they learn they don't get everything they ask for. Also think its easier when they don't believe, not so heartbreaking - as it's not such a big lie to begin with.

Stockings are from Santa with small gifts, underwear, chocolate coins and one main gift that might have been asked for on the list.
We/family give everything else. Fat man in red isn't taking the credit for my hard work!

When they're little they don't give a shit who gave what, but as they get older it's less about Santa and more about what family gives them. They start to realize that real people are making the effort and also when the Santa bubble pops it is less of a big deal I think.

Stockings and one present from FC, which tends to be the most wanted item on the list. Rest from family. Stockings done v cheaply from pound shop, B&M, supermarket, with bath bombs/ bubbles, toothbrush, stationery, Xmas socks, chocs/ sweets, stress ball, mini puzzle etc.

Stockings only from Santa. It also means there's no feeling put out when Santa brings one friend an iPhone and another a toothbrush. Tree presents come from the person that pays for them, so they can be appropriately thanked.

Everything from me and dh is from Santa and is put in a pillow case at the end of his bed, apart from a board game which is under the tree.
Presents from relatives are under the tree from the people who gave them

I'm also making sure my 5 year old focuses on giving this year as well. She keeps talking about what she wants from FC etc. I've given her an exercise book that she can write her list in, but it's also for her card list and to put down what she thinks her friends and family may like.
I've been explaining how nice the feeling is to give somebody a gift, particularly when you've put real thought into what they may like.

One present from fc wrapped in different wrapping paper and everything else from us or family etc. I think it's important that they know we have to work hard to get them gifts and that they don't just magically appear.

Stocking hung up on the fireplace and a family gift which has been either a board game or DVD.

Everything else is from who gave/sent it.

Stockings from Father Christmas only here and the rest labeled around the tree. Stockings have relatively low cost items in, but I put quite a lot in them - they are the most exciting part of the day!

Interesting to see that not all presents are from FC, as that's what I grew up with. I remember sitting at the top of the stairs with my brother every Christmas morning as my dad would go downstairs and check that FC had been. So exciting! I have yet to have children but am expecting no.1... these type of threads make me super excited for a few years down the line so I can share the magic of Christmas with a little one!

PS. I will sound like an ungrateful brat here but I did once ask my parents why they didn't buy me any presents for Christmas and why it was only FC. I'd heard on the playground that other kids get presents off their parents. My parents did say gave money to FC!
So it makes sense with the PPs that have a bit of a mix!

@ktsc89, one thing we also did for ours was buy each an expensive bauble with their name and year on for their first Christmas. My eldest daughter is now 15 and she still loves to put her bauble up when we decorate the tree. Those baubles have become very special.

Stockings only from FC, we always said that FC just did stockings and if they wanted a big present then FC would let us know. They were encouraged to ask for little things as well, like special pjs, treat chocolate, games etc that he would put in their stockings. We do big stockings as they love them and I pick things up as I see them!

DD will be 1 in December so I've been thinking a lot about this.

I like the idea of a stocking or sack under the tree from Santa and other gifts being from parents, family, etc and DD will do thank you cards for those.

DH thinks all presents from us should be from Santa. I don't agree because:

1. Why should Santa get all the glory and DH & I not get a thank you?
2. DD will then think she has no presents from us, but will see us giving others presents (her cousins in particular)

I'll probably win because I'll annoy DH until he gives in to my way on this!

Such a lovely idea for the bauble @NellyJames , something I will remember for the first Christmas 2021!