Santa gifts vs parent gifts - how to explain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Santa fills stocking and we have a big red sack that I put Santa gifts in. Its probably half of what my kids get. I don't think too much about it, just fit the bigger items in the sack and then wrap the rest from mom and dad.

I am careful not to wrap the Santa gifts in the same paper though! One roll that stays hidden is used for Santa gifts only.

Ooh yes. I have special Santa wrapping paper. Before my kids could read their names, they could figure out their presents from the wrapping paper. Usually the dollar tree stuff with Spider-Man, Disney Princess and it tears really easy for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Santa brings all the gifts. We did say something about how we have to pay Santa somewhat so that they don’t wonder why poorer kids didn’t get nice gifts.

Christmas is magical. If the kid asks Santa for an iPad, why would Santa bring a whistle and then the parents give an iPad??

This is why we ask Santa for small gifts. Santa has an entire planet to give to, we can't be selfish and ask for big, expensive things.

[Anonymous]

1 small gift from Santa + stocking fillers

[Anonymous]

I am surprised at all of the stockings only (or and 1 gift) from Santa. In our house Santa brings everything, especially the big ticket items that “mom and dad would never buy”.

[Anonymous]

Santa filled the stockings and brought other gifts too, but didn’t wrap. Anything oversized or irregular shaped, that might be hard to wrap, was from Santa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised at all of the stockings only (or and 1 gift) from Santa. In our house Santa brings everything, especially the big ticket items that “mom and dad would never buy”.

Lol, same

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much everyone for your input and suggestions! I think (for now) we’ve settled on:

Santa fills stockings (wrapper in “Santa only” tissue paper so different from other wrapped gifts) and he brings one big unwrapped gift which is something she has asked for. That may change as we’re not at the writing a list to Santa stage, but maybe next year she writes a list and he brings one of those things.

Then, the rest of gifts are from mom and dad
We are not religious so our main theme around Christmas is gift giving and thanking others (she’s drawn cards and helped package gift cards/cash for teachers, mailman, FedEx driver etc). Will adjust role of Santa as needed in coming years!

Hope you all and your kiddos have a great holiday!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Santa brings ONE larger gift. It is sometimes wrapped in plain brown paper but if it's really big, say a play kitchen, it is not wrapped and comes preassembled for immediate enjoyment.
Family presents are more numerous and wrapped.
Stocking are from mom and dad.

Signed,
I figured out Santa bc he used my mom’s wrapping paper and had her handwriting

haha yes- Santa had my dad's handwriting and I totally recognized the wrapping paper! I think I was around 7, maybe 8. My 6yo asks a ton of questions this year and it wouldn't surprise me if he has this figured out soon.

But we usually do one larger gift from Santa plus stockings. We're doing one smaller shared gift from Santa this year as well. And then a couple things from the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised at all of the stockings only (or and 1 gift) from Santa. In our house Santa brings everything, especially the big ticket items that “mom and dad would never buy”.

One reason we don't take this approach is that we live in a very socioeconomically diverse area. Our school and church have toy drives, etc. and it makes it hard to explain why there are needy families if Santa is bringing everything....

[Anonymous]

In our house (and my house growing up), santa brings a couple big gifts and sometimes those gifts aren't even wrapped (it depends), and then there are wrapped gifts under the tree that say they are from mom and dad or whoever. So santa gets a couple big ticket items usually and then in our house sometimes there is one group gift with the siblings for example from santa that is kind of a surprise gift from him. Then a few from parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised at all of the stockings only (or and 1 gift) from Santa. In our house Santa brings everything, especially the big ticket items that “mom and dad would never buy”.

One reason we don't take this approach is that we live in a very socioeconomically diverse area. Our school and church have toy drives, etc. and it makes it hard to explain why there are needy families if Santa is bringing everything....

Hmm, never thought of that. Do your kids still get excited about Santa? We tend to do very small gifts from family and focus on together time and not presents (1 gift per gift giver, even grandparents) and Santa is all about the gifts. Our oldest is in K so haven’t dealt with comparisons yet. Not sure my kid even knows dollar amounts of items and is probably more excited for a $20 squishmallow than her more expensive gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised at all of the stockings only (or and 1 gift) from Santa. In our house Santa brings everything, especially the big ticket items that “mom and dad would never buy”.

One reason we don't take this approach is that we live in a very socioeconomically diverse area. Our school and church have toy drives, etc. and it makes it hard to explain why there are needy families if Santa is bringing everything....

Hmm, never thought of that. Do your kids still get excited about Santa? We tend to do very small gifts from family and focus on together time and not presents (1 gift per gift giver, even grandparents) and Santa is all about the gifts. Our oldest is in K so haven’t dealt with comparisons yet. Not sure my kid even knows dollar amounts of items and is probably more excited for a $20 squishmallow than her more expensive gifts.

I grew up in a Santa-only-brings-stockings household and I actually can't remember a time I genuinely believed in Santa (I'm the youngest so that may also play a role). I still have always adored Christmas and exchanging gifts and time spent with family; Santa isn't really necessary for the magic in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised at all of the stockings only (or and 1 gift) from Santa. In our house Santa brings everything, especially the big ticket items that “mom and dad would never buy”.

One reason we don't take this approach is that we live in a very socioeconomically diverse area. Our school and church have toy drives, etc. and it makes it hard to explain why there are needy families if Santa is bringing everything....

Hmm, never thought of that. Do your kids still get excited about Santa? We tend to do very small gifts from family and focus on together time and not presents (1 gift per gift giver, even grandparents) and Santa is all about the gifts. Our oldest is in K so haven’t dealt with comparisons yet. Not sure my kid even knows dollar amounts of items and is probably more excited for a $20 squishmallow than her more expensive gifts.

My oldest is in 1st grade and they don't really get the value of money. She's at a title 1 school. The very poor kids are still receiving nice Christmas parents. Their parents shop facebook marketplace (where everything is like new for $5), or they save all year to spend $200 on their kid. At our school, the poor kids are mostly Hispanic and have large extended families. There's a lot of emphasis on huge family meals and the religious aspect of Church.

When kids are asking for Play stations and new cars for Christmas, they're older and they don't believe in santa anymore anyways.

Something I'd like to shut down is that my inlaws (even aunts and uncles!) all label their gifts from "santa". Wtf. My kids kept asking over and over why santa had left them gifts at their house and why santa didn't go to their other grandparent's house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised at all of the stockings only (or and 1 gift) from Santa. In our house Santa brings everything, especially the big ticket items that “mom and dad would never buy”.

One reason we don't take this approach is that we live in a very socioeconomically diverse area. Our school and church have toy drives, etc. and it makes it hard to explain why there are needy families if Santa is bringing everything....

Hmm, never thought of that. Do your kids still get excited about Santa? We tend to do very small gifts from family and focus on together time and not presents (1 gift per gift giver, even grandparents) and Santa is all about the gifts. Our oldest is in K so haven’t dealt with comparisons yet. Not sure my kid even knows dollar amounts of items and is probably more excited for a $20 squishmallow than her more expensive gifts.

Well, I'm not going to dictate that the grandparents and aunts/uncles don't give gifts, so that's a difference right there. My kids get plenty of stuff- too much probably. It's just not all from Santa. Usually one bigger gift and stocking stuffers, which my 6yo probably gets the most excited about.

WHen I was a kid gifts were mostly from Santa except for a book and PJs from my parents, and I still caught on by second grade. Can't always control these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised at all of the stockings only (or and 1 gift) from Santa. In our house Santa brings everything, especially the big ticket items that “mom and dad would never buy”.

One reason we don't take this approach is that we live in a very socioeconomically diverse area. Our school and church have toy drives, etc. and it makes it hard to explain why there are needy families if Santa is bringing everything....

Hmm, never thought of that. Do your kids still get excited about Santa? We tend to do very small gifts from family and focus on together time and not presents (1 gift per gift giver, even grandparents) and Santa is all about the gifts. Our oldest is in K so haven’t dealt with comparisons yet. Not sure my kid even knows dollar amounts of items and is probably more excited for a $20 squishmallow than her more expensive gifts.

I think you just need to pick something and be consistent. Sooner or later they'll find out Santa does things differently in other households anyway.