Father Xmas brings everything ?

[Jemisa]

My 8 & a half year old Gr/daughter Is going to be disappointed this xmas I think,
I asked her if she'd made a list out for Father Xmas yet and she said "I can only think of one thing I want" I thought well this is going to be easy this year, what is it? I said, "An iPad" she said, mmm! I don't think mummy will be able to afford that this year I said, OH! Its ok I'm asking Father Xmas he brings everything you ask for.

How do you explain to your kids why Father Xmas doesn't bring everything they want?

jem

[Bluestone]

I would explain that there are lots and lots of children in the world and that he just doesn't have the time to get absolutely everything ready in time.

I would also explain how crap the Ipad is, and maybe suggest a Samsung tablet instead... :P

At 8, she does not need an ipad.

[Jemisa]

Yes BN we have explained that to her & i've told her mummy has to give FXmas some money to help out.
I agree she's far too young for an iPad or mobile phone, evidently her 12yr old cousin has shown her hers & she's hooked. This year I think is going to be a learning curve for her.

jem

[Euphemia]

The "learning curve" will be a very valuable present for her!

[Zacs-Master]

There are plenty of games and educational apps which would be suitable for her so let's dismiss that argument.

[knowabit]

We tell our kids to write a list, I usually suggest a few thing to go on it!! Then explain to them that Santa has so much to get that they wont get everything they ask for.

[divegirl]

Also, I think it's just not a good present for one so young. A woman I know is buying her 4 year old son a tablet for Christmas as he never leaves her laptop alone :0/ Seriously!!! What ever happened to train sets and the like. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for technology but jeezzz let them be children for a while.

I hope Father Christmas still brings your granddaughter a gift to remember though.... if I remember correctly I received the Lucinda Prior Palmer Show jumping set when I was 8 lol

Lisa x

[Zacs-Master]

Saying an iPad isn't suitable for an 8 year old is like saying a book isn't.

[EvianBaby]

Except most books aren't worth hundreds of pounds and you don't have to be worried about an 8 year old dropping/losing/throwing one.

[sherrardk]

My four year olds play on the old iPad and they have never dropped. I wouldn't buy them one specifically for the though as they are too expensive. There must be lots of alternative (and cheaper) tablets around though?

[nungate]

I used to explain to our daughter that Santa might bring all of the presents, he has to send Mummy and Daddy a bill, otherwise he'd never be able to give presents to every boy and girl - how could he afford ipads for everyone? She accepted this and was always happy with her presents.

[B00]

A tablet can be bought for about £50.00 ish, OK, it won't be top of the range, but hat 8 year old needs top of the range?

I think it's a good idea for a present too. It's ok saying "we didn't have owt like when we were kids" but that's only because they weren't available then innit? ;-)

[bednobs]

mr bednobs is getting a tablet (samsung). they are on a really good offer at the mo (john lewis is doing a price match for tesco AND a £50 cashback from samsung). He is not eight though.

[EvianBaby]

I agree a cheaper one is a good option. Kids don't generally mean to break stuff but it happens and it won't sting as much if its not hundreds of pounds.

[magsmay]

Explain that if Father Xmas brought them everything on their list then nothing would be a surprise -the surprise being what will Father Xmas pick off their list to give them. ? Also Mum and Dad get a bill in January to pay for the toys as Santa can only give free toys to the poor children and those that don't have a mummy or daddy (this worked for my 4 anyway)

[sherrardk]

Thing 2 (4 years old) asked for a laptop but I just said that he was too young to ask for one and he was happy with that (he doesn't need one given that he can't read or write but he is allowed to use one).

[dotty.]

we're selling the kobo arc at work for £159.99 and it's fab, had a proper go on it today and actually found it fascinating, i even got onto garth's website lol the camera is good in it too and it does skype.

[AlwaysConfused]

I do not know an 8 year old that still believes in Father Christmas - your granddaughter is playing a game, trying to get a response! Do not give in

[jan01]

when I was a kid for years I wished for a pony, never got one but got over it .... it's all relative?????

[boxtops]

When we were little, Father Christmas only brought our stockings, no other presents - any other presents came from our family (and said so on the labels, so we could write a letter to them to say thank you).

Ex-OH's parents told him that FC brought everything, so he never thanked anyone for anything, all the presents, regardless of who from, were on his bed on Christmas morning. Seemed very odd to me.

[sherrardk]

My children's presents that are from us are attributed to Father Christmas but presents from anyone else are acknowledged (and thanks duly given - although they only get stuff from two other people).