dd has just informed me with staggering certainty...

[hatwoman]

... what she'll get for Christmas. It was like a statement of fact. (It was a nintendo ds btw!). Am rather taken aback. I was kind of contemplating getting her one but now I'm not so sure! is it mean not to or is she being manipulative? (she's 6, and as far as I know still believes in FC). Am I going to create genuine disappointment by not doing, or would I be setting the scene for a lifetime of disappointment by getting her one - and failing to teach her "you can't always get what you wa-ant"

Tough one. I'd say if you weren't getting her one, then don't just because she thinks she's getting one. If you do, she could tell you next week that she's having a new bike and the rest of the Argos catalogue.

Sometimes FC can't get everyone everything they want, but he does his best.

DD has told me (she's 2) that she's having a new dolly. She isn't. She's got some perfectly good ones at home and Iv'e already spent out budget.

Tougher with a 6 yo though. Good luck.

what about doing a letter to santa to ask him what she wants then that way she thinks santa will know what she wants.
IMO christmas is also about getting them things you wouldnt really get them usually as they are to expensive we are having to import a power rangers mega zord thats not out in the uk yet and ds has his heart set on it anything to see him happy on christmas morning

if you were intending to get her one anyway then get it, but maybe hide it away atthe back of the tree so that she opens a few smaller pressies first.

then you could accidentally find it as Fc must have put it in the wrong place.

Agree about teh letter to FC. She has to list several things in the letter in the knowledge that IF she is good FC might bring her ONE of the things on the list.

This gives you some leeway!