So how do you explain why Billy down the road got a XBox off Father Xmas....

[paddlinglikemad]

and all our DS1 (5) got was a Playstation 1 off Ebay (obviously this hasn't happened yet am just planning ahead for post Xmas!!).

explain that parents have to pay for the presents after all santa just delivers them

he will love it.
would a 5 year old know the difference?

It won't come up with a 5 year old, they shouldn't be that commercially aware

you say Father Christmas knows best which present you will have the most fun with over the next year and he knows that you will have the most fun with the Playstation

he isn't that aware I don't think ....he actually asked for a Playstation like the one the CM had.which is what he is getting..just that some of his classmates are very up on the whole Xbox/Wii/Nintendo thing am can see DS being very proud of his Playstation, telling his mates and them laughing at him (or p'hraps am being too sensitive) just wanted a stock answer ready ..thanks for the suggestions

I've never heard of kids asking that question. If one of mine had, I'd've either

a) shrugged, murmured 'I don;t know' and left it at that
b) told that that santa wasn't real and money don't grow on trees

Tell his mates that the PS1 is a classic and very collectable these days.

ps1 games are much more suitable for young children anyway (well the ones aimed at young children)

LOL at MadoldcatLady ...DH just says to say 'thats what you asked for, thats what he brought you..' but then think am setting us up for a HUGE list next year ...[me thinks am thinking toooo much!

Children don't usually bother about this. In our house only stockings came from Father Christmas. They knew other children had bigger things from him but it never bothered them and didn't stop them believing in Father Christmas.