child is asking for too much off santa

jeni

my six year old picked what she wants off santy from smyths catalogue, she picked two grand worth of stuff, I tried to explain to her that it's too much money and she said it's OK cause santy makes the toys, i then said but he can only carry so much, she seemed ok with this, but thing is she has no concept of money, anyone any tips of how I can teach her about it

GalwayGirl26

Why don't you play a game of shops, and get her to write prices on the items, then draw up play money but make sure her money doesn't cover some if the items? Then explain the situation to her, showing some if the items she can buy?

CarrickMcJoe

Surely if you get some of the toys, she will forget about the rest with the excitement of the day. She's hardly going to be ticking off from a list.

2xj3hplqgsbkym

You can only ask Santa for 2 things and a surprise. That is the rule.

Big Bag of Chips

Yep - The understanding in our house is if you ask for too much Santa thinks you are greedy and mightn't bring anything. But if you only ask for 2 maybe 3 things he'll know you are a nice child and might even bring an extra surprise then! Of course a child is going to pick this, this, this and everything else out of the Smyths catalogue!! But it's up to you to steer her in the right direction.

Also start getting her to pay for things in the shop and get change etc. Milk, bar, bread etc.

At 6 she shouldn't really YET have much of a concept of money - because at 6 she wouldn't really have too much access to money, and anything she needs is bought for her. You could even start by giving her a Euro or 2 pocket money on a Friday, and let her see what she can (or can't!) buy for her money!

The Corinthian

Santa will bring all of the toys, but the government needs to take most of them in 'toy taxes' to pay for the banks.

Might as well get her used to the idea early, as that's what she'll be doing for her adult life...

Gatling

The Corinthian wrote: »

Might as well get her used to the idea early, as that's what she'll be doing for her adult life...

The grinch who stole Christmas

spurious

Santy brings more things to children who have to drink dirty water because there is no tap in their village; to children who are living where there is lots of fighting; to children who have nowhere to live, to children who are very sick; etc..

Santy makes the toys, but only has enough time to make a certain amount of toys for the whole world, now really, all those other children need more toys than you do, don't they?

indigo twist

You could explain to her that it would be greedy to ask for too much, as it would take Santa a long time to make all of those toys for her and he wouldn't have time to make presents for all of the other children in the world. Maybe you could suggest that she makes a list of all the things she wants, and ask Santa to surprise her with any one thing from the list?

As regards teaching her about money, I think pocket money would be a very good idea, if she doesn't get it already. Even €1/€2 a week, and be strict about not buying her many treats etc outside of this. If she wants something, she saves for it. If she spends it on sweets as soon as she gets it, and then asks for something later on in the week, point out to her that she gets pocket money and should put it aside for the things she wants. Set little targets for her - like, "if you save all of your pocket money for X number of weeks, you could use it for a trip to the cinema/the zoo/etc. (If necessary you could just pick an arbitrary amount for her to save if the actual price would be unrealistic for her to save, e.g. if she's only getting a euro a week, it would take her far too long to save for some treats, but you could tell her you can go as soon as she saves €4.)

firestarter51

get rid of the catalogue, worst things to have in the house for young and old, with most shops having websites there is no need for them

RubyGirl

Eve Handsome Peroxide wrote: »

You can only ask Santa for 2 things and a surprise. That is the rule.

Rule in our house aswell, and as previously said once christmas morning comes she will have forgotten about the list. Just keep an ear as to what she really want's. I would'nt even spend €150 on my 6year old let alone €2,000.

freshpopcorn

You can tell her that Santa also has to buy some of the toys because the elves can't make everything.
Tell her that Santa doesn't come to greedy children because being greedy is not nice.
You could get friends/family members to tell her that some of the toys she wants are rubbish/bad.

LynnGrace

Just set up the rule now and stick with it, that Santa brings one big and one small toy, or whatever you decide on. Steer her towards what is the thing she would get most play and enjoyment from. Remind her that Santa has to go to kids all over the world, and he wouldn't be happy with anyone asking for too much.

hoodwinked

my 5 year old is trying to do the same, but then we did the same as children, every ad on tv was "i want that from santa" every page in the catalogs had something circled.

i think as with most children though you know yourself a) what they really really want and b) what you can afford,

this is going to be a tight christmas for us financially so we are preparing for it now buying small bits and pieces (we always buy books so as they are on offer we are picking them up)

as for our child we have told her 1 big thing and 2 small things, so far her "big" thing is a cuddly dolphin soft toy, and her two "Small" things are an elsa dress (which she has been asking for since January and we couldn't get before her birthday in July - have one now luckily) and an elsa wand.

even though the elsa dress is more expensive she considers it small compared to the giant dolphin but it works as we can afford them and she's accepted santa can't buy her everything

cruizer101

spurious wrote: »

Santy brings more things to children who have to drink dirty water because there is no tap in their village; to children who are living where there is lots of fighting; to children who have nowhere to live, to children who are very sick; etc..

Not sure if I would go with this as kids can often see how better off kids end up getting more toys from santa so that might confuse them.

Agree with can only make so many for around the world.

I read in another thread a few years ago that someone suggested saying that if well off parents could give money to santa to get extra presents from him. I think thats the hardest thing about explaining santa, why did other kids get more, especially when its the spoilt little unbehaved gits.

On 2 other notes, what the hell is a kid doing thinkin about santy at this time of year, when I was a kid we startin being asked in December what we wanted. Its that far away I would ignore a kids request at this stage distract them with talk of halloween.

That said for those who like to prepare early Argos 3 for 2 on toys ends tomorrow

hoodwinked

cruizer101 wrote: »

On 2 other notes, what the hell is a kid doing thinkin about santy at this time of year, when I was a kid we startin being asked in December what we wanted. Its that far away I would ignore a kids request at this stage distract them with talk of halloween.

Smyth's started sending out their winter catalog and their winter ads (complete with Frozen Toys) are all over the tv,

also as her birthday and christmas are the only times she gets "big" toys she tends to countdown to one as soon as the other ends.

userofnames123

Lump of coal = sorted. That'll learn them!! Very anti-consumerism our household was. I remember one year dad got me this tacky Argos disco light as Santa present and that was it. Gas enough I saw it in the catalogue later whilst flicking through it during Christmas dinner, it was a grand total of 15 euro.

Big Bag of Chips

cruizer101 wrote: »

... what the hell is a kid doing thinkin about santy at this time of year....

Christmas Eve last year one of mine started ordering for THIS Christmas!!

sh1tstirrer

jeni wrote: »

my six year old picked what she wants off santy from smyths catalogue, she picked two grand worth of stuff, I tried to explain to her that it's too much money and she said it's OK cause santy makes the toys, i then said but he can only carry so much, she seemed ok with this, but thing is she has no concept of money, anyone any tips of how I can teach her about it

Oh dear how did she get her hands on a smyths catalouge? You have a budding diva there time to let her know who's boss.

sh1tstirrer

userofnames123 wrote: »

Lump of coal = sorted. That'll learn them!! Very anti-consumerism our household was. I remember one year dad got me this tacky Argos disco light as Santa present and that was it. Gas enough I saw it in the catalogue later whilst flicking through it during Christmas dinner, it was a grand total of 15 euro.

What a spoilt little fecker you were

pwurple

Burn the blasted smyths catalogue for a start.

Rule in our house is one santa pressie, and a surprise.

2k of stuff is bananas.

Sure they get snowed under with all sorts of things from aunties and uncles and cousins and grandparents as well. Take that list, and let some of those people know a couple of things on it.

jeni

most years I spend 150 max on the kids, I hate seeing people spending thousands every year, thanks for tips xx

Moonbeam

SHe is only 6.
My kids are allowed to ask for what they want but will not get it all:)
They don't tend to ask for much though so I am lucky.
Set a limit 100 euro or what ever you can comfortably afford and pick out th emost wanted presents.

Pablodreamsofnew

Just tell her that Santa has to give toys to every kid in the whole wide world and that each kid gets a limit of 2 toys

Kids will circle everything in Smyths book of they will say to every Ad on tv 'that one' 'want that' (My son does), it doesn't mean you get them everything. Just say 'we'll see' anyway your kid will be so excited at Christmas they won't notice


We never celebrated Christmas growing up or Birthdays!! As my folks were JWs.
I didn't even get a lump of coal poor me

sh1tstirrer

MrsYelnekoff wrote: »

Just tell her that Santa has to give toys to every kid in the whole wide world and that each kid gets a limit of 2 toys

Kids will circle everything in Smyths book of they will say to every Ad on tv 'that one' 'want that' (My son does), it doesn't mean you get them everything. Just say 'we'll see' anyway your kid will be so excited at Christmas they won't notice


We never celebrated Christmas growing up or Birthdays!! As my folks were JWs.
I didn't even get a lump of coal poor me

Since when did santa deliver toys to young goats

Moonbeam

On topic please

deisemum

I loved getting the Smyths catalogues and they could spend some time looking through them. I told them they could make a list for Santa but it would be Santa that would decide what they'd get and that they wouldn't get everything on the list. The list kept changing anyway but I knew what they'd like the most.

We didn't go mad on loads of stuff but as they got older the presents ended up much smaller in size but more expensive. I'd bulk out their presents with the usual, socks, underwear, pyjamas, toiletries, books etc. They were always very happy with what they got.

Boober Fraggle

We cut out toys we want from the catalogue here. Then stick them on a page for our Santa letter. There's only so much will fit on the page, so they have to make decisions before they glue them.

Other things on the list might give ideas to grandparents/godparents etc.

Buona Fortuna

RubyGirl wrote: »

Rule in our house aswell, and as previously said once christmas morning comes she will have forgotten about the list. Just keep an ear as to what she really want's. I would'nt even spend €150 on my 6year old let alone €2,000.

Especially as they might well find the box the toy came in, as fun/interesting/exciting as the €150+ toy itself

lynski

We have to pay Santa. My parents had to pay Santa so we only ever got what we could afford. We also tell the kids he only brings toys that their parents allow. He always brings books and smaller toy and the big one is from us.
Stockings Santa fills with little treats often the most popular presents, and often collected from charity shops in the months before.

ezra_pound

cruizer101 wrote: »

Not sure if I would go with this as kids can often see how better off kids end up getting more toys from santa so that might confuse them.

Agree with can only make so many for around the world.

I read in another thread a few years ago that someone suggested saying that if well off parents could give money to santa to get extra presents from him. I think thats the hardest thing about explaining santa, why did other kids get more, especially when its the spoilt little unbehaved gits.

On 2 other notes, what the hell is a kid doing thinkin about santy at this time of year, when I was a kid we startin being asked in December what we wanted. Its that far away I would ignore a kids request at this stage distract them with talk of halloween.

That said for those who like to prepare early Argos 3 for 2 on toys ends tomorrow

From my own personal experience the people who go absolutely bonkers spending huge amounts of money getting presents for Christmas are not very well off... At all.

I agree that this is remarkably early to be thinking about Xmas. We typically only watch Netflix so our kids are kept relatively safe from advertising most of the time. TV advertising is evil alright.

How Strange

ezra_pound wrote: »

From my own personal experience the people who go absolutely bonkers spending huge amounts of money getting presents for Christmas are not very well off... At all.

I agree that this is remarkably early to be thinking about Xmas. We typically only watch Netflix so our kids are kept relatively safe from advertising most of the time. TV advertising is evil alright.

That's why we're a cbeebies home here.

My son, 3.5, has started asking for toys everytime were out and he sees them so I've started telling him to put them on his Santa list. He'll know straight off that he doesn't get everything he puts on it but it's to tell Santa what he's interested in. He was asking for new toys everyday on holidays and I told him if he got too many toys when it's not Christmas or his birthday that Santa wouldn't visit as he'd think he has enough. I don't know if it really sinks in but we want to start as we mean to go on.

Op if your daughter is 6 then surely she's old enough to understand if you explain to her that Santa only brings 2 or3 things.

Big Bag of Chips

I think your daughter is no different to any other child. I'm guessing the exact phrase used is "I'm getting that for Christmas". I keep saying "Ok" to mine and then when the time comes to write the letters they write 3 things.

And it's never too early for a child to start thinking about Christmas!!

wdmfapq4zs83hv

When I was a kid, I was told my parents had to send the money to Santy for the elves to make all the toys, Therefore I could never ask for something too expensive. For my own kids, who are only todders now, I like the rule of only asking for one small pressie, one big pressie & a surprise

endacl

Gatling wrote: »

The grinch who stole Christmas

Lightweight. Tell her there's no Santa, her parents buy the presents, and she'll get what she deserves. Now that there is some proper ol' skool grinchin'!

Or tell her it's true that Santa can make as many presents as he likes, but Rudolph gets very tired, so he only carries two and a surprise for each child to make sure the reindeer can finish the shift. Things haven't been the same since PETA got involved in midwinter gift distribution.

Sleepy

cruizer101 wrote: »

I read in another thread a few years ago that someone suggested saying that if well off parents could give money to santa to get extra presents from him.I think thats the hardest thing about explaining santa, why did other kids get more, especially when its the spoilt little unbehaved gits.

This!

My step-son's soon to be step-mother has very different ideas on what an appropriate amount of money to spend on her son for his birthday or at Christmas than we do which I'm amazed hasn't caused more problems than it has to date. I'm expecting a melt-down one of these years along the lines of "but X is getting an XBOX 1 AND a Playstation 4 from Santa! and he's only 4!!!"

wolfpawnat

Okay, when I read these threads I realise my son is actually really good. He is 5 and is asking for a few wrestlers and one or two other little snippets and apparently he knows what his little sister should get. But really, kids ask for a thousand things everyday. You don't actually give in and get them all....or do some people :eek:

Get one or two bits you know the child has genuinely had an eye on and maybe one or two other little bits (pending budget) my guy only got one toy last year (a bike) but this year he is going to have about 100e and we will see how many wrestlers and the like we can get for that. Probably 5-6 and then a DVD and nana is getting him transformers, that's it. And maybe a budget of ten euro gift exchange between him and his sister.

cbyrd

I told my girls when they were little that on St Stephen day they start off with hundred of toys on Santy's list.. every time they do something bold or be mean to each other for the year, Santy will knock a present off their list... :pac: so when they got a couple of things off a long list i'd say 'wow... what the flip were yis at??' .. mean... but effective :pac::pac::pac:

uck51js9zml2yt

cbyrd wrote: »

I told my girls when they were little that on St Stephen day they start off with hundred of toys on Santy's list.. every time they do something bold or be mean to each other for the year, Santy will knock a present off their list... :pac: so when they got a couple of things off a long list i'd say 'wow... what the flip were yis at??' .. mean... but effective :pac::pac::pac:

To take it to its extreme...they're so bad, they owe santa toys :cool:

My 4 year old wants a blue scooter....sorted:D

He has enough toys to supply santa with everything he needs. Vincent de Paul are a curse in our house....he passes by and always wants to go into the toy shop. Thankfully when we bring him in we can get good toys cheaply.

lulu1

The child is 6 and should be happy with a few things come christmas but why do i get the feeling that the op might just go overboard

alibride

When is too young to explain money? I don't discuss money matters infront of my kids but when it comes to Santa I tell my 6yr old that we have to pay Santa !! He is very bright and questions everything and big into gadgets so looking for an Xbox or iPad, personally I wouldn't spend any more than €200 on a 6 yr old so I tell him that's too much money. He wants de whole Lego series so rule in our house is 3 things (provided they are not too expensive) I don't think there is any harm in learning de value of money!!

ted1

jeni wrote: »

my six year old picked what she wants off santy from smyths catalogue, she picked two grand worth of stuff, I tried to explain to her that it's too much money and she said it's OK cause santy makes the toys, i then said but he can only carry so much, she seemed ok with this, but thing is she has no concept of money, anyone any tips of how I can teach her about it

Just say NO, your the parent. Tell her that's being greedy, other kids needs toys too.

forgodssake

have never said x amount of toys to my 3 kids its always been Santa has to make toys for every child in the world and making toys costs money. so I tell them not to pick expensive things because they simply won't get it. kids love the excitement of opening a new toy no matter how cheap/expensive it is . when I look back on my Xmas pressies I often say to my da you must be sittin on a goldmine (jokingly) cos we got very little . but watever we got we loved cos we got nothing all yr round! know how ur feeling OP though cos I feel like treating my kids to all the things I never had but then I think to myself there will be no appreciation if I do !

VladToBeHere

The Corinthian wrote: »

Santa will bring all of the toys, but the government needs to take most of them in 'toy taxes' to pay for the banks.

Might as well get her used to the idea early, as that's what she'll be doing for her adult life...

Thank-you, this brightened my day.

Mammycat1

The whole "Santy" lie is ridiculous. Why do people continue with this nonsense. He doesnt exist, dont lie to your children in the first place.

Pablodreamsofnew

Mammycat1 wrote: »

The whole "Santy" lie is ridiculous. Why do people continue with this nonsense. He doesnt exist, dont lie to your children in the first place.

There are so many bad things in the world but I don't think Santa is one of them. It's a fun thing and a little magical fantasy for children to believe in.
Fairies aren't real but we still tell our children stories because it delights them!

It's impossible not to lie to your child if you want to protect them.

Sam Kade

Mammycat1 wrote: »

The whole "Santy" lie is ridiculous. Why do people continue with this nonsense. He doesnt exist, dont lie to your children in the first place.

I found out about the lie at 7 years old no toys for Christmas after that. It never bothered me in the slightest.

I heard about an 11 year old recently that was out in the car with his father one day and he started asking his father about santa. His father left out a roar "where the fcuk do you think the toys come from?" When he realized there was no santy he started bawling his eyes out in the car

ted1

Mammycat1 wrote: »

The whole "Santy" lie is ridiculous. Why do people continue with this nonsense. He doesnt exist, dont lie to your children in the first place.

Really? ( any other response and I'd get a ban)

Pablodreamsofnew

Sam Kade wrote: »

I found out about the lie at 7 years old no toys for Christmas after that. It never bothered me in the slightest.

I heard about an 11 year old recently that was out in the car with his father one day and he started asking his father about santa. His father left out a roar "where the fcuk do you think the toys come from?" When he realized there was no santy he started bawling his eyes out in the car

That poor boy

Sam Kade

MrsYelnekoff wrote: »

That poor boy

11 years old you're joking right? What age do you think santy should stop 15 :eek:

Pablodreamsofnew

Sam Kade wrote: »

11 years old you're joking right? What age do you think santy should stop 15 :eek:

It's the way the father told him and kids grow up way to fast in my opinion. 11 is still young. He was probably going to come to the conclusion himself soon enough. Could he not have one last Christmas believing?