Not Getting Wished for Toy from Santa? How to Explain?

Santa has so many boys and girls to provide gifts for that otherwise wouldn't have a Christmas at all... not even Christmas cookies! So he can't get everything each child wants in order to be fair to everyone... but he does hope that what he does get, will be loved and appreciated!

We had this problem this year and last year. There was a meltdown last Xmas when she didn't get what she wanted! And this year she asked for several things that were over $1000!! She said she'd ask SANTA for them because she knew we couldn't afford them.

Last year she was mad that some kids she knew got what she wanted and she didn't get one. She said it wasn't fair.

I ended up telling her that we give Santa the money to buy certain gifts because Santa can't make everything in his workshop. I also told her that Santa knows what the rules are in each house and he won't bring anything that's against the rules.

She bought it, but I think we're getting close to the truth about Santa. We might only get one more year.

I tell my 4 yo that she can ask for specific toys but Santa likes to surprise her; it's up to him on what he'll bring. What she asks for is suppose to give him an idea.

Santa only delivers one present per child in our house, so my kids have one thing in mind that they specifically ask santa for (so you know that's on the top of the list). Other presents come from mom and dad, grandparents, etc. but there's no expectation to receive all items on list - more that it's suggestions.

I tell my boys that Santa brings them one special toy and he knows that whatever he gets them they will be happy with or he may not be back next year.

We get our girls to make a list of about 3-4 items to ask Santa for and tell them he'll only bring ONE special gift. Then hubby and I choose which one they get. Mine are still young enough that I can 'guide' them a little in their requests though.

I usually try to get one gift from the wish list. I always told them when asked that Santa saw another little boy or girl that did not have a gift so he gave that gift to that little boy or girl. We usually had a day before Christmas that we talked about others that do not have anything so it usually worked out.

Last year my 3 year old wanted that Barbie house she heard about at daycare...$300---yeah RIGHT!!!!

It was the perfect opportunity to set the Christmas tone and explain "Santa does not always bring what you ask for, sometimes he has a better idea, but the important thing is to be thankful and happy for what you get....." A couple days after Christmas when my daughter did NOT get the Barbie house, and we never mentioned it, she declared, "Mom! I didn't get the Barbie house, and I still feel happy!!!!" Then this year, her younger brother was pointing at a Chuck the Truck thing on TV, and she said to him, "Now remember, Santa does not always bring what you want." Luckily she accidentally wants something cheap this year, so they'll each get what they wanted. :)

It's not easy, but think about it, in this economy, MOST kids aren't getting what they want from Santa! BTW I am TOTALLY stealing emrld444's copyright and house rules things going forward-genius!

.We started off by explaining that Santa tries to give all children that believe in Santa Clause a gift, so he cannot always afford expensive gifts or everything we want..

That is why, Santa does not give grown ups Cars or houses.. Because he then could not afford to give all of the other gifts.. Our daughter always understood this from the beginning..Saved a lot of explaining.

the elves couldnt make enough their tools broke down :) dont you just love broke santas

I tell my boys that Santa will email me and I have to OK the gifts that he brings for them. My boys know I keep in touch with Santa through email.

I tell my kids that although they ask for things on the list santa cannot bring everything they ask for because he has lot's of boys and girls to get presents for and deliver them , and there just isn't enough time for him to do all of that. So with that in there minds already , if there is something on the list that I think is either too expensive or not suitable , then I remind them that he probably won't be able to bring all of this. So far we haven't had kids that are really disappointed on Christmas morning.

My daughter had some things on her list she basically already has and doesnt play with. She asked for that baby doll that walks, I know its different because she walks, but she has a million baby dolls that do things, and she never plays with them. I got her the walking dog she wanted instead. I wasnt going to get her both. If she says anything, I will just say Santa didnt have room in his bag for ALL the stuff she wanted and she should be grateful. I have never gotten her everything and honestly, she has never said a word about it. But dont feel bad, Im sure they are getting enough, and other family members will get them stuff too. Your house will be over run by toys once again.

This year I just had our kids circle things they liked in the Toys R Us magazine and of course they circled almost every single item. I didn't have them make an official wish list. We're tight on money so I just made a list of items I would like to get them and only getting the items I can find for a good price. This way they are going to be totally surprised no matter what they get and doesn't leave room for disappointment.

Santa only brings one or two gifts per child in our house. If my child asks for something I know they will not get due to expense, I tell them right than that Santa will not be bringing that.

Ah, a real life lesson starting NOW! What an opportunity. :) I have said that we were going to donate some of her (6 year old) gifts to kids who needed it more. She got to be involved in the giving, and she did get less. However, it was beautiful how she handled it and truly "got" the experience of Christmas.

Maybe this could somehow tie into the suggestions below of telling the kids that Santa has to buy for kids all over the world. If your children get to have that giving experience (even their old toys their done with) to others, maybe they would agree that it would be alright if they didn't get everything on their list from Santa, if that means that other kids got toys from Santa too.

This is a tough one. My daughter is 3 1/2 now and everytime she watches Dora she sees the commercial and wants close to everything. She then asks me if Santa can bring her that particular toy. So in my best efforts to spare her dissappointment I tell her that Santa has to buy presents for kids all over the world, and I don't think he can afford to get all the presents she wants, but I'm sure he'll get her some that were on her list.
I hope this helps, your children a little bit older and I think they can understand this concept even better.

i say
we send our lists to santa and then it is up to him to decide what we really need. i said, santa keeps track of who has what and how much and he needs to be fair to all children. of someone has a lot of toys already he will still send some but not as much as someone who doesn't have much toys. i also talk about poorer countries and explain situation there.
mine are 6, and their lists should be sent to bill gates ?(i mean, really), so i told them when we were sealing the envelopes to be hopefully that we get one or two things from our lists. so my kids said: yeah i hope he chooses this and this (2 out of like a list of 15 things). so that was great.

They have yet to see Santa thye know him klike him becasue they know he brings prestns but for sitting on his lap taking a picture & telling Santa what they wish for is a no go for all 3 of them.I will not hassel with it if we happen to see him they will wave HI but thats it.So they will write many letters to him mail man doesn't mind if there is no postage.So to expalinto them that they may have not received all of their wishes I just simply say that you can write or tell Santa but often times he is only able to get a few of your wishes he has many children to give presents to around the world & if we ask for too much there is no room on his sleigh they laugh & are very happy with what they received they do quiz me on everthing it is now 2 children ages 7 & 4 so I have to keep up on my answers.It is the spirits of Christmas that lives in their hearts I want to keep that for them as long as I can they have a sibling that isn't 2 yet & for my 7 year old to stop believing is fine i'll tell him the truth later but for now the JOY of Santa i'll keep.
The hard questions is how does Santa come down our chimney we have no fireplace I told him that mommy will leave tthe door unlocked & when he leaves he locks it.How can Santa eat all these cookies well he packs them up in his bag takes them to the North Pole to share.Why can't we see him I tell them because your sleeping you don't know whats going on when your asleep.Do reindeers really fly yes they sure they are very strong.It is endless questions to endless answers I don't like to fib but this is just one of those things that is a must

Santa brings one present to our house. It is the one special thing that my son wants. Everything else comes from Mommy and Daddy. Call me selfish, but I spend a lot of time picking things out for my son, and I don't want him to think that some jolly fat man did it! Anyways, that one present ALSO has to be pre-approved by Mommy and Daddy before he can ask Santa for it. We have always told him that Santa won't bring anything that Mommy and Daddy say no to (that's how my parents got away with not getting me a puppy 5 years in a row!), so he needs to pick something that we say OK to.

Because it hasn't been a problem in the past, maybe explain to your children that because Santa has got so many little boys and girls to make things for this year, he is only able to get them each one gift. If that one gift is reasonable, but you don't currently have it, maybe take back another present to be able to get that one from Santa. Good luck...we are also pinching pennies this year...I get it! :)

I tell mine that the economy is terrible right now and even Santa is having trouble this year. Or sometimes, Santa cannot find what you're wanting this year... Maybe next year?

My kids put a bunch of things on their list to Santa. I tell them, "you know, santa won't bring you everything on this list, he will choose what he wants to give you.". That way you have a big range to choose from and how can they argue santa picking from the list???? good luck!!!

I usually show my son pictures of different toys and have him pick out his favorite that I know I can afford and that Santa will bring. He circles what he wants and then I choose whether it is from us or from Santa. I only have him choose stuff under a certain amount.