Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

Posted by DiamondGirl

I dont have kids or nieces and nephews yet so I can't say.

I don't see anything wrong with a Santa wish list...but throwing a hissy fit over not getting what you want at 14...is just

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

I must be out of the loop.

My newphew and neice never give me a christmas list. When I was a kid, my lits was for my parents, and we went for broke I would never want to receive a list and then be *expected* to get them something specifically off that list, or something insanely expensive.

A gift is a gift for a reason and I have not problem NOT giving a gift if the person doesn't deserve it

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

I made a wish list for my children this year (they are 1 and 3) for Chanukah. I sort of did it for the opposite reason though, I really do not want my parents or in-laws going crazy and trying to out do each other as they tend to do The wish list will hopefully reign them in.
Additionally, the wish list prevents the phone calls I will get the day prior asking what the kids "want"

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

I also have a lot of kids to buy for around the holidays... for my close nieces and nephews, they write a list to Santa, and then the parents fill us in as to what they want and we work it out amongst the family members.. they are yougn though. I personally feel a list is nice, but I think that it should just be looked at as a "wish list" and not that the child will expect to receive everything..

I find them to be helpful to get an idea..

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

Well it is a grey area but personally I don't have problems with a "wish" list per se - as long as that is what it is a "wish" not a mandatory list. It makes it so much easier to shop for nieces and nephews and for the grandparents if I can give them a list or get a list of things that they would like. Now I DO have a problem if it is expected that those items are the ONLY thing I can give or I'm told exactly what to buy off a list. But having a wish list is helpful b/c there are so many toys out there that it helps so you don't give or get 10 of the same toy.

I think for people to expect things on the list is greedy. They are gifts - and so kids should be thankful for what they are given - and shouldn't expect that certain things will definitely be given to them.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

I think a list is great.. growing up we always made a list and I get one from my nephews and my other brother and I split it.. it makes it so much easier to get them what they want or like... sure my nephew had some very creative things on his list one year my brothers and I were in stitches over it.. and yes I think it is easier for the parents they don't have to run out an return crazy amounts of toys anymore and considering all the return policies are awful it is much easier this way...

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

Message edited 11/9/2009 4:21:13 PM.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

Oh man I was literally JUST talking to a co-worker about the commercialization of Christmas.

I like that kids make lists. I wish everyone had a list. It's not that I'm lazy, but when I buy gifts for people, I like KNOWING it's something they really want & will get use out of. I am encouraging my daughter to make a list for Santa of what she wants & just like last year, it will be shared with the grandparents & anyone who asks. It just makes it easier.

With that said, what I don't like is what you pointed out- when kids expect EVERYTHING on the lists no matter how expensive they are or how much is listed. I've already explained to my daughter that Santa has lots of kids to bring presents too & he can only bring so many things (read: mommy has lots of people to buy for on a limited budget ). She'll get a few things on her list from Santa & she'll get gifts from her grandparents, but she may not get everything she asked for & she needs to be grateful for what she does get & not be upset over not getting everything.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

Just to clarify, I don't have a problem with wish lists - in fact DH and I even make a short list for each other to have some options.

But just as mentioned above, WISH lists are fine. The "shopping" lists or lists where if they don't get something on the list, or heaven forbid they get something that wasn't ON the list (eek even clothes!) and they flip out??? And then the parents don't even say anything like, oh be nice or be appreciative of anything you get, etc. THAT's what gets to me.

I love to buy something that I think a kid will like and enjoy. And I even ask the parents. But if we can't get something from the list or didn't get a chance to ask before we shopped, well I just feel like kids should know to be appreciative anyway. How hard is that?

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

When we were little we didn't make lists. My parents had 4 kids and limited funds. We might have gotten 1 or 2 things that we asked our parents for, but whatever we got we appreciated.

My niece and nephews make lists. My little nephew (7) expects everything off his list and pouts when he doesn't get something. It's so incredibly annoying that I have threatened to take back his gifts in the past two years. He does the same thing for birthdays too.

My DD has only had 1 christmas but I didn't give a list to anyone. I just asked that if they got clothes they got something bigger that she could wear in the spring/summer b/c her birthday is in Jan.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

I used to make a wish list as a child too. I'd get very specific in them and my parents still laugh about that. However, it was just a wish list. I never expected to receive everything on that list and I certainly didn't know who was getting me what.

My children can make lists too. I'd prefer it so that I can relay to grandparents/relatives who are asking what they want. I will ensure they will never become bratty about it.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

When we were little, we used to make picture collages of the things we wanted from Santa. We would cut pictures out of the Toys R Us Big Book of everything we wanted.

My parents used the list so they knew what we wanted. I am almost positive that they did not give it to our extended family as I never got anything on my list from them.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

I was super organized as a kid. I broke my list into categories. No joke, I had a book list, a clothes list, a music list, etc.

We never expected to get everything on our lists growing up though. We circled what we wanted in the Sears Wish Book, but didn't expect to get all of it. My brother and I also have birthdays in February, so whatever we didn't get for Christmas we would usually carry over to our birthdays.

I think as long as it is treated as a "wish" list and not a shopping list, the Dear Santa lists are half the fun of the holidays for children.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

All the Xmas catalogs are pouring in and my kids have been circling stuff like crazy. I can't wait to pull out the Xmas decorations bc I know I put my DD's wish list in there from last year (she was 4) She literally had 40 pages of cut out stuff. It was so funny....I told her quite a few times that she wasn't getting everything on the list (LOL, I don't even know if I got her anything on "the list") I was at my SIL's house this weekend and my 9 year old nephew had circled up the Target catalog. As far as if my kids are getting everything they circle or expect everything, I'd say no on both counts. I don't care if they circle everything or 3 things, doesn't mean they are getting them. I will always use my judgement on what they are given whether I think they will really enjoy it and if it's something that is worth the money. I think they are very appreciative, they never whine about what they don't have. As far as other people's kids --my nephew who was circling those items in the catalog, he will probably get many of them. He's an only child who is definitely indulged. I don't care - he's a nice kid who will always say thank you when he gets a gift from us. I have another niece & nephew who last year literally said "That's it?" when they got some pretty nice gifts from us last year on Xmas eve. They get a bounty from "Santa" and my SIL's family on Xmas day so ours wasn't up to snuff. I guess they are those kind of kids - it is very off putting. I felt like giving both of them a kick in the butt. If one of their parents said something to them, it would have been less so but no one even reprimanded them for the bratty behavior. Luckily, they are the exception within my circle of gift recipients. If my kids ever acted like that, I'd pluck the gifts right out of their hands and there would be h*ll to pay. I am definitely not raising spoiled, ungrateful kids. I grew up like you, happy with what I got. But I remember making lists from the Sears catalog as a kid - I'd fold a looseleaf page in 4 columns to put details like sizes, colors, etc. I don't think it ever made it to my parent's hands though.

As far as gift giving, I like to know what to buy all my nieces & nephews and our familes ask us about the kids as well. But none of the kids have a checklist of who is giving them which item.

Message edited 11/9/2009 7:43:25 PM.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

i see nothing wrong with lists! in fact, i love them. it makes it so much easier to buy for people, especially kids.

we always had a HUGE pile of gifts on christmas day and i loved every one of them! they weren't necessarily expensive, but it was so much fun to see that pile and unwrap them. i can't wait to spoil my children the same way. and i always spend whatever i can on my nieces.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

I was allowed to wish away for Hannukah. But I only got one big thing on my list. I will be doing the same for my DD. And once she is old enough, I will let her pick a second thing off her list and pick another toy to donate to a child in need.

Like my parents would say-we could want everything, but we weren't getting it! My nephew on the other hand-it is bad if he doesn't get everything on the list.

And I don't agree with telling people what they will buy you. Suggesting things you would like is one thing. Demanding it and throwing yourself-a complete other.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

we wrote wish lists out for christmas.....we didn't get it all and didn't even realize the things we didn't get. I will do the same for my children.

I would hope I don't raise a bratty kid who isn't thankful for what they *did* get.

I would love if I got lists lol It would make my christmas shopping so much easier. Usually my sister and I tell each other what we'd like.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

My kids don't make lists they just say they want Santa to bring them every flipping commercial they see on TV. Ahhh the holidays!!

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

All my kids make them. They don't hand them out to family only stay home. It is a huge help. Alot of family members will call and ask what they should get and I give them ideas from these lists. As for circling things in the catalogs and advertisments. My kids have been doing this for years. They love it. I know they know they can't possible get everything, but its the fun of it.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

i don't see a problem with a "wish list" to make our life easier when shopping. it doesn't mean they are going to get EVERY item on the list. as a kid, i used to write a letter to Santa & maybe get 1 or 2 things on the list and we were happy with that. it was the excitement of waking up Christmas morning & opening gifts with family that made it special

however, i must admit when my nephew was younger, i was constantly meeting trucks at toys r us & felt like i disappointe him if i didn't get what he wante. flash forward 12 yrs later, um sorry he is not getting everything he wants. i simply can't afford to get $100 gifts anymore.

Message edited 11/9/2009 10:37:34 PM.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

I am totally dating myself here....but I used to circle toys out of the Consumers Catalog when I was a kid......

I love wish lists......I would have NO CLUE what to get my nieces/nephews otherwise. I don't want to get them something they have already, too. I want to get them something they will love and get use out of, also.

Re: How do you feel about kids' Christmas lists?

I'd love it if my niece gave me a wish list. I never know what to get her!