"I want to give all my Christmas toys to God..

[MollieO]

.. because he doesn't have any. Can we get him some china too?"

Ds is 5 and i have no clue what goes on in his head.

How sweet and funny!

I thought it was a bit odd. I've asked him again tonight and he insists that is what he wants to do.

I asked him how God will collect his presents. Ds thinks that if he leaves his presents under the Christmas tree after Christmas Day rather than unwrapping them then God will pop along and help himself.

He wants the toys he no longer plays with to go to children who don't have toys. It will leave him with about 3 toys I reckon!

So sweet and so lovely - what are you going to do?

I have no idea what to do. I am thinking of doing a Practical Present and leave the details under the tree for ds to read.

Loads more ideas here

A friend of our family had a tradition with his son whereby after Christmas, they would go through the toybox, take out the equivalent of what he'd been given new and take it to the local children's home or children's hospital ward.

He wanted his son to appreciate how lucky he was, and for him to spread the toy-wealth around. I always thought it was a nice thing to do. If your son wants to do something similar, he's a very sweet little boy

Tell him that God made all the people who love him, and they will be buying him presents because they love him. Tell him that it makes God happy to see people showing their love for one another at Christmas.

I think the practical present idea is a great one...it's never too early to teach children that the true meaning of Christmas lies in giving, not recieving. Sounds like your lovely DS knows this already!!!

I like the different charity gifts.

We do have a regular toy clear out after Christmas and his birthday and we take them to the local hospice charity shop. This year though it seems to be different. He only wants one thing for himself - something that costs £20 - and he wants other presents for God. I wonder if he is a bit upset that we didn't do the Operation Christmas Child shoebox this year and it is manifesting itself like this.

Makes perfect sense to me, and something to be encouraged. Every year our dc choose something of theirs to put into the stocking for FC to take away to give to the children who don't have mummies and daddies to buy them presents. We also put a packet of home-made mincepies in each stocking for FC to take to these children.

The dc generally choose toys that they have outgrown or no longer feel particularly interested in (I insist that they be in good condition), but one year dd chose to give away a rather pretty pair of socks!

When I was little my mum would collect stuff we no longer needed - clothes, toys etc - to give to Norwood and GOSH. She would do it in the summer, after we had had our birthdays. Mum tells me that my brother contribution would always be some of his older toys, because the new birthday presents were more interesting, whereas my contribution would always be some of my birthday presents, the older toys being well-loved and the newer ones not yet loved.

I agree with cakeywakey, we have a tradition where before christmas my DD (3.5) sorts through her toys to decide what could be given to a younger child who doesn't have many toys (I share my toys with the babies is how she describes it). We take them to a specific charity shop where the ladies are so lovely as to tell DD that she is very kind for sharing her toys with other children and that Father Christmas will be proud of her.

I like Abbierhodes explanation to him. Could one of his grandparent's have a chat with him as well perhaps (if he's lucky enough to have them, I know not all children do) as they're slightly removed from it and he may explain his thinking more?

Or, if you're churchgoers, perhaps the Sunday School teacher or Vicar/Priest could have a quick word with him so that he can do this lovely thing, but that you're both ok about it. You seem a bit worried

He has two GPs but unfortunately no contact with one of them. I will try Abbiehodes explanation as I don't think my mum would be too impressed to have her present given away.

I'm not really worried but it does strike me as a bit odd when all his friends are doing their Christmas lists for Father Christmas and he isn't interested.

I will have a word with our GP (who is also a paediatric registrar at the local hospital) to find out what are the most suitable toys for the children's ward. I'd happily buy presents suitable to take there (they don't accept secondhand toys).

Bear in mind he might change his mind when he sees them! Get things he will like.

I doubt it. Once he makes up his mind on things he doesn't tend to change. He wanted to give his shoes away on holiday recently - we were visiting a children's centre in a township in South Africa run by a friend where lots of the children didn't have shoes.

He sounds like an absolute little darling! So kind and loving.

I didn't think so at the time when I was arguing with him to keep the only pair of shoes he had on holiday and he was adamant that he didn't need them anymore. I think it had a lot to do with fitting in with his new playmates rather than any altrusitic reason!

I think your son sounds lovely. Am intrigued why he thinks God is in need of a new dinner service, though!