Who decides what the kids get for christmas?

Lukehandypants

Had a conversation with a friend regarding how they buy Christmas presents for their kids.

I asked if they ask the kids what they want for christmas and he said no they just get what he thinks the kids would want.


I would be the opposite, I ask the kids what they want and they usually get it if unless it's too expensive or outrageous.


Interested in hearing other thoughts.

Jawgap

Santa, of course

branie2

And the kids

The_Valeyard

Angela Merkel

UCDVet

Most adults don't know what they want; it seems unlikely that children will be able to pick the gifts they'll like best.

Looking back, I can remember wanting a lot of REALLY STUPID things. Sometimes, I got them, and was quickly disappointed.

eviltwin

My kids tell me what they want

The Strawman Argument

UCDVet wrote: »

Most adults don't know what they want; it seems unlikely that children will be able to pick the gifts they'll like best.

Looking back, I can remember wanting a lot of REALLY STUPID things. Sometimes, I got them, and was quickly disappointed.

Definitely a very good point but I'd add that sometimes if a kid REALLY wants some stupid thing, you're just gonna have to get it so they don't write off everything else they get as being crappy compromises.


Personally, if I had a kid I'd prolly get them a mixture of things they asked for and things which seem really fun to me that I could imagine the kid liking a lot (that way if they don't like something I'd get to keep it ).

Sir Osis of Liver.

Local credit union usually decides.

catallus

Kids shouldn't get any presents as far as I'm concerned.

Mass and prayer would be more in their line. Rumination on their sinfulness would quickly put paid to any ideas of presents!

eviltwin

catallus wrote: »

Kids shouldn't get any presents as far as I'm concerned.

Mass and prayer would be more in their line. Rumination on their sinfulness would quickly put paid to any ideas of presents!

Well you are just full of Christmas spirit aren't you? I really hope you aren't a parent.

nc19

My bank account decides.........

DEFTLEFTHAND

catallus wrote: »

Kids shouldn't get any presents as far as I'm concerned.

Mass and prayer would be more in their line. Rumination on their sinfulness would quickly put paid to any ideas of presents!

Well said son, these scumbags could do with a bit of Mass. 90% in this rock of a country are confirmed and clean full made members.


I love the way big weird beards try to protest during Communion, what a bunch of weird beard cranks,

catallus

eviltwin wrote: »

Well you are just full of Christmas spirit aren't you?

I am! The annual reminder of the birth of our Redeemer is the spirit we're talking about, is it not?

eviltwin wrote: »

I really hope you aren't a parent.

I might stretch to giving them a copy of the New Testament so they can become more knowledgeable about Christmas. Being a parent brings responsibility!

Vision of Disorder

A combination of television and peer pressure makes the decision.

eviltwin

catallus wrote: »

I am! The annual reminder of the birth of our Redeemer is the spirit we're talking about, is it not?



I might stretch to giving them a copy of the New Testament so they can become more knowledgeable about Christmas. Being a parent brings responsibility!

That's the spirit !

DoYouEvenLift

Ask them to write their letters to Santa and put them in an envelope and tell them you'll send it, then just open and read the letters. Easiest and best way to do it. Or else take them to one of those fake Santa's and hear what they ask for.

Jawgap

catallus wrote: »

I am! The annual reminder of the birth of our Redeemer is the spirit we're talking about, is it not?



I might stretch to giving them a copy of the New Testament so they can become more knowledgeable about Christmas. Being a parent brings responsibility!

I've told my kids they're Jewish and as such they don't celebrate 'the Holidays' -

......they also think the ice cream man plays his chimes to let everyone know he is out of ice cream so no need to coming running out.

shruikan2553

catallus wrote: »

I am! The annual reminder of the birth of our Redeemer is the spirit we're talking about, is it not?



I might stretch to giving them a copy of the New Testament so they can become more knowledgeable about Christmas. Being a parent brings responsibility!

Make them sleep outside for the night too, if it was good enough for their lord its good enough for them. Did the three wise men bring an iPad, a xbox and a Frozen DVD? Did they ****.

Jawgap

Being serious.....

When my kids were younger they wrote out their list and letter and stuck up the chimney (scientifically proven to be the quickest way to get a message to the big guy) - this was mostly to get them to draw line under what they wanted and prevent further changes of mind.

I'd retrieve the list and see what was on it. Then get them a combination of what was on the list (not everything and certainly not anything too off-the-wall), stuff I'd heard them talk about during the year and a 'surprise.'

My kids are now in their late teens and it's funny - they still insist that stuff is wrapped and placed under the tree, even though they know pretty much what they are getting - and they always insist on getting the 'surprise' - which doesn't have to be anything huge just something with a bit of thought that they wouldn't ordinarily expect.

namloc1980

eviltwin wrote: »

That's the spirit !

The Holy Spirit of course.

Lukehandypants

I'm wondering if how u decide weather or not ur kids decide or u decide what they are having is directly connected to what your parents did with regards to this weather they let u chose or they choose.

I always pitied the kids that had their parents choose their Christmas presents they always ended up with the Irish made wooden toys that their parents saw on the late late toy show and not the cool battery operated plastic space ships I asked for.

Antar Bolaeisk

We were always instructed to put down a surprise when writing our letters, you'd request a few small things but the surprise would generally be the big thing (remember getting some lego mindstorms one Christmas which was pretty much the best present ever and I would never have thought to ask for it).

Guy:Incognito

catallus wrote: »

I might stretch to giving them a copy of the New Testament so they can become more knowledgeable about Christmas. Being a parent brings responsibility!

Why don't they already have a copy? Worst parent ever.

Kim Kardashi Un

Saw a short video recently where some kids are asked to write their letter to Santa and list all the things they want. It didn't take them long to list all the toys and stuff they wanted.

Then they were asked to write a second letter to their parents asking them what they wanted from their parents. No toys etc. as Santa was taking care of that. After a bit of thinking, the kids started their letters and they were full of things like. I want to see Dad more, I want to play more games with my parents. I went all the family to go to the zoo etc.

When they sealed up both letters, they were told they could only send one of the letters (i.e. to choose what they really wanted) The kids chose the letter to their parents.

The parents got the letters and read what their kids had written and inevitably get a bit of a reality check. Nothing wrong with some presents at all but they really shouldn't be a quick and easy way to fill a need that goes a deeper.

eviltwin

Jawgap wrote: »

I've told my kids they're Jewish and as such they don't celebrate 'the Holidays' -

......they also think the ice cream man plays his chimes to let everyone know he is out of ice cream so no need to coming running out.

Growing up we were told the ice cream van music was the boogey man.

braddun

santas little helper

--LOS--

I think if you don't get the kids some of what they want (once its a reasonable request and within your means) then wtf is the point?

cloud493

I tell her to write a list I can post to santa. I take said list to shops, and get whats on it, financial considerations aside.

darkpagandeath

When did Christmas change from a religious festival to must buy iPhone 6 and all that ? It's beyond a joke these days.

martingriff

Jawgap wrote: »

Being serious.....

When my kids were younger they wrote out their list and letter and stuck up the chimney (scientifically proven to be the quickest way to get a message to the big guy) - this was mostly to get them to draw line under what they wanted and prevent further changes of mind.

I'd retrieve the list and see what was on it. Then get them a combination of what was on the list (not everything and certainly not anything too off-the-wall), stuff I'd heard them talk about during the year and a 'surprise.'

My kids are now in their late teens and it's funny - they still insist that stuff is wrapped and placed under the tree, even though they know pretty much what they are getting - and they always insist on getting the 'surprise' - which doesn't have to be anything huge just something with a bit of thought that they wouldn't ordinarily expect.

I am 34 and like my present wrapped even if it was me who got it

RonanP77

We always asked Santy for 1 big present, 1 smaller thing and a surprise. Our daughter does the same. We pick something we think would be fun but educational as the surprise. We get her a book from us as well.

biko

They always get socks.

cloud493

biko wrote: »

They always get socks.

I wish I got socks

anncoates

They make a list of stuff they want and Santa picks a few things from the list

They'd usually get surprise stuff as well though that you pick yourself but it'd dead cert stuff you know they like

Venus In Furs

--LOS-- wrote: »

I think if you don't get the kids some of what they want (once its a reasonable request and within your means) then wtf is the point?

A surprise in addition to some stuff they want gives them an extra thrill on Christmas morning I guess - that is, if you know it's something they'd like. I remember my mother picked out a surprise for me of a Sindy living-room set that I hadn't asked for, and it was my favourite present that year. Same with someone who posted earlier about getting Lego Mindstorm.

darkpagandeath wrote: »

When did Christmas change from a religious festival to must buy iPhone 6 and all that ? It's beyond a joke these days.

Getting presents for Christmas? Oh that's been around for decades.

myshirt

Santa is going to regret threatening kids with a bag of coal... I'd be glad of a bag this year!

cassid

My five year old santa on Thursday that we wanted a bird that could talk and a small cage for him to sleep at night. Its the first we heard of this and was not written on his santa letter so naturally he won't be getting it but come Christmas morning, they get so excited they forgot.

Lisha

cassid wrote: »

My five year old santa on Thursday that we wanted a bird that could talk and a small cage for him to sleep at night. Its the first we heard of this and was not written on his santa letter so naturally he won't be getting it but come Christmas morning, they get so excited they forgot.

Is that the digi bird? It's only €12ish from smyths . Or did s/he mean a real bird?

The Strawman Argument

Was wrapping the gifts the done thing at most places? I asked Santa one year if he'd wrap my gifts one year, he said he would but I only mentioned it to my parents on Christmas Eve; I still get grief over it for being so awkward. Because it was the only wrapping paper in the house and we needed some for my cousins' that evening, my parents wouldn't let me tear it open either; they removed it from the gifts for me really carefully so they could reuse it. I was only about 5 or 6 but the whole thing was really suspicious.

Lisha

That's funny re the wrapping. Santa does not wrap here and that's not changing.
My 7 year old son was asking why santa did not wrap his presents and I sais that santa might have to give him less if he had to wrap them . Son seemed happy to continue getting his unwrapped gifts in the giant gift sack.
I hate wrapping