What do you do when child asks for something from Father Christmas you don’t want them to have?

[Sunnydaysarethebestdays]

daughter is getting a gaming console from parents for Christmas.
parent has suggested that child asks Father Christmas for a game but instead they are adamant they’d like Father Christmas to give them something else (plastic tat) that you know they won’t play with once the novelty wears off but it’s £60 so a lot of money to waste.
any advice greatly received as not sure how to get out of this one.

if the child is so young as to believe in Santa does she actually need a gaming console? I would be tempted to completly rethink the plan if attempts to make her come to your way of thinking are failing

Well first of all it's a Wish list, not a shopping list or list of demands!

Father Christmas gives them some of the things they ask for but they don't get everything and usually they get a few surprises too because sometimes father Christmas knows better than they do what they might really like.

Father Christmas only brings the stocking at our house, but "main presents" are a mixture of things we think she should have (quality toys with some longevity, craft kits, educational toys and books) and things she wants (brightly coloured plastic tat and baby dolls mostly).

Anything I actively don't want her to have (games consoles would be one, along with anything that makes a terrible noise) she won't get.

"Santa can't always get everything"

I get the dc to put a variety of things on their lists, and then Father Christmas chooses from that!

How old is the child? It sounds like they’d prefer the plastic tat to a gaming console- who’s idea was that?

So many children in the world, they can’t get everything or other children would get nothing.

It depends how much she really wants something but I still clearly remember not getting a Victoria Plum doll ( early 80s) and I knew it was because my mother didn't approve of it. Yes you can't get everything but it's presents for your daughter and if that's what she wants, why would you get her something you want her to have rather than something she wants?

Particularly when it’s a games console for what sounds like a fairly young child.

What is the tat?
I remember when dd16 was about 4 or 5 she wanted Pig goes Pop really badly. I thought it was the greatest load of shite but I got it for her anyway. She was delighted with it and played with it non stop. I still thought it was shite but she was happy and it didn’t cost a fortune. She still talks about the Christmas morning and Pig goes Pop.

We say that Santa checks with Mummy and Daddy - this helps for things like a puppy, a sibling!! We also explain that Santa doesn’t bring big presents as he brings presents to children all round the world. I know some families make “big” presents from Santa but then children compare what Santa brought them.

Tell him he should behave better next year! And then he can have one.

The cold hard truth - that Santa doesn’t exist?

They don't get it. Ours don't get half of what they put down. It's a wish list and we pick one or two things ( and if relatives ask use as a guide).

Santa can't possibly give everyone everything they would like/ask for. He only has one sleigh to fit it in (even if it is a magic one) and the elves have a limit on the number of presents they can make/buy/wrap. So you make a list of a few things you would really like Santa to bring and if you are lucky you might get a couple of those but he has to be fair to all the children.

Can you get plastic tat second hand? Facebook market place/ebay?

One year DD wanted Doggy Doo and the next she wanted Gooie Loouie so I dutifully made a huge song and dance about how disgusting they were and we wouldn't be having them in our house. Dutifully bought them, wrapped in Santa paper and stuck right behind the tree so they were the last things unwrapped. Her reaction to actually receiving them was worth the toys price several times over - and our faux shock at Santa bringing it for her had her in full on belly giggles.

She's 15 now, Christmas has long since lost that sort of magic but those remain some of my favourite memories of her childhood

If the toy is truly tat, get it second hand and clean it up and present it wrapped but premade or in a gift box if the original box ist available - you only have a few Christmases where they really believe in magic.

DD only ever got her stocking and her one preset from Santa, everything else was from family and friends so her list was always very specific.

Christmas list is a wish list and it’s a mistake to buy everything on it!

There’s always a few things I ignore because they are inappropriate or poor value or too expensive or simply
because to get everything on the list, even if I could afford it, would be spoiling my child. Some items i might keep in mind for a birthday later in the year.

This. Buy the tat.

Santa only brings what he chooses to bring from DC’s wish list. Yes, they questioned it occasionally, but we just said that he must have had a good reason why. 😂

If the tat is inoffensive but just not worth £60, I'd look for a second hand version that someone else's kid got last Christmas and played with for 5 minutes. If it's something loud or messy, I'd just not get it.

Also curious about a child who is old enough to want a games console, but young enough to believe in santa. If they're older, maybe "Santa's not real and I'm not spending £60 on that" is fine. If they're younger, I'd embrace the plastic tat and put off the games console, as they probably aren't that bothered about it if there are no games they want.

Are you absolutely sure she won't play with it? My dd is 27 and still remembers with joy the Barbie horse and carriage her grandfather scoured the North of England for as I gritted my teeth.......🤣

I can't tell you the joy DD got out of her Barbie Dreamhouse, Camper Van, all the tat.

She's a black-wearing feminist now. I think Barbie was a great role model

Tat is a £120 sylvanian house of which she has one already but would like another one do that the sylvanians don’t have to share. DD is nearly 10! She realises it’s a lot of money but hopes the elves can make it for her.
parents are getting the gaming console as that’s what she would really like (we’ve managed to get a second hand one for £100), and I’d rather get the credit god that than FC.
thank you for all the helpful replies, I’ll conjure up something based on the suggestions 😀.

She needs to give Santa a list of ideas, then him and the elves will hopefully get something off the list