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Christmas Presents, and Managing Expectations!

(8 Posts)
Anne58 Tue 02-Dec-14 09:48:55

Morning all,

I know I've posted this before, but some comments on another thread prompted me to do it again.

It is lovely when children believe in Father Christmas, but as many have rightly pointed out the number of advertisements for plastic tat toys on TV can lead to the misguided belief that they will get everything they ask for.

When it looked as though my boys were starting to expect too much, we told them that now that they were big boys of (insert age), although Father Christmas delivered the presents, Mummy and Daddy had to send him the money.

This worked well, and made them really think about which things they actually wanted. tchsmile

Elegran Tue 02-Dec-14 10:15:28

That was how we played it too, Phoenix They understood the concept - they knew already that Mummy and Daddy bought their birthday presents.

rosequartz Tue 02-Dec-14 10:58:24

We did that too, when they were a bit older and before ......... well you know tchgrin

hildajenniJ Tue 02-Dec-14 11:57:02

My DD has told all her children that Santa Claus brings their Christmas stocking, but mum and dad buy their big present.

grannyactivist Tue 02-Dec-14 12:10:08

When my children were young they had no TV. So no adverts. It worked well for us! tchgrin

Nonnie Tue 02-Dec-14 15:35:40

Father Christmas has always brought the things to fill the stockings but the presents round the tree are always from people.

He still does fill their stockings and they still believe it because they know if they don't believe in FC he won't bring them anything. We even have a stocking opening ritual!

petallus Tue 02-Dec-14 16:57:02

I could easily start believing again. Should I be hopeful?

petallus Tue 02-Dec-14 16:58:17

It might have been FC who sent me some heavily reduced lovely silver and marcasite owl earrings through the post today!