What to Do About a 7 Year Old Who Opened Christmas Presents....

Updated on December 26, 2010
J.C. asks from Las Vegas, NV
42 answers

I have a dilemma that I can't seem to find just the right solution to and I need some advice! I have 3 sons, my middle son is 7 1/2. Recently my middle son found some Christmas presents and opened 5 of the presents that were his. Apparently he had studied the boxes at the store and had pretty much figured out what they were, even with the wrapping. He opened them, shredded the boxes into tiny pieces and was playing with the toys underneath his bed. He knew what he did was wrong. When asked why he opened the presents, he explained that he couldn't sleep, had a headache (which is an excuse he uses often, usually when he doesn't have a headache) and just decided to open them. He shows very little remorse for his actions.

Of course, we took the toys away. Now what do we do? I should mention that these toys amount to approximately $60 (a total of 5 presents), but we do have other gifts that we've purchased for him for Christmas. We have toyed with several options, such as:

1) Giving the toys to our older son, who chose NOT to open any gifts. He would LOVE the toys and this would be a “reward” for not disobeying. However, I don’t know if I want to deal with the fight that would come because I know at some point in time my middle son would play with these toys.

2) Give the toys to a hospital or charity. Of course, these toys are brand new, but they no longer have packaging.

I have had suggestions to give them to our middle son, but at a later date. You should know that he has a very long memory and would not forget where these toys came from. Maybe 3-4 years down the road, but anytime within the next year or two and the kid would remember EXACTLY where they came from.

My biggest issue is that I want him to learn his lesson. I want him to learn that what he did was wrong and he had no right to do so. Threatening with Santa doesn’t work at all…. It doesn’t seem to phase him either. Suggestions? Ideas?

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So What Happened?

First of all, I have to mention that yes, my son does have Autism. He is VERY HIGH FUNCTIONING and almost no one knows that he has Autism. The reason that I didn't mention that he has Autism is because he immediately gets labeled when people know that and also, people tend to discount virtually every behavior due to this. While there are many people in the world with disabilities, we hold our son to a higher standard. We make allowances when necessary and this was not a necessary situation. He is fully capable of controlling himself, when he chooses to. For example, at church he was permitted to run around rooms, sit wherever he wanted and do anything he wanted, provided he was quiet. Well, I started teaching his class, and within 2 weeks he was sitting and acting exactly like the other child his age. He turns it on and off like a switch, whenever it works for him. He has learned to tell new people immediately that he has Autism, what it means and work that to his every advantage. Yet, he desperately wants to be treated like everyone else. I know that I’m not a perfect parent, but at the same time, I know that I’m also doing an excellent job. The lengths we have made since his diagnosis have been years ahead of what all the experts predicted.

I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and opinions regarding the gifts. Truthfully, we haven’t made our final decision as to what to do. At 3 separate times, without any discussion or prompting, he has come to me and apologized for opening the gifts. I am grateful to see that he shows some remorse. I know he is a child, that he is 7, and that he is curious. I get that. But also, we are not a family where the children walk all over the parents. We are strict and loving, and really look for the natural consequences. We stress to our boys that good choices have good consequences, and bad choices have bad consequences.

Christmas morning our son had other gifts under the tree, which he opened and was thrilled with (until he opened the gift that had socks in it). There was a mini-meltdown over seeing the socks, but I had also told him and his older brother that they were getting them for months in advance. He calmed himself down, then proceeded to open several other gifts and was quite happy. He has not said a word about the toys that he originally opened and taken away. For now, they are put away. I’m not going to press the issue. I did like the suggestion to talk about The Grinch. Dr. Seuss is his favorite author, so I did mention that those gifts didn’t belong to him. I asked him what his consequence should be and he didn’t have any suggestions. Like I said, for now, they’re put away. We will not be giving them to his brother. We’ll see how the next days and weeks go. I’m not willing to throw them in the trash and ultimately, I do want him to have these toys that he wanted so badly. In the meantime, he’s playing with the other toys he received and hasn’t missed or mentioned the original ones. We didn’t buy him any additional toys, and our boys didn’t count presents. We just got up and opened them and enjoyed all of our boys excitement over their gifts.

Thank you again for your suggestions and ideas. Again, I want to stress that I didn’t mention his Autism because we don’t treat him any differently from our other sons. He is required to conduct himself in an honorable way, with kindness and respect for others. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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K.B.

answers from Tulsa on

They had his name on them. They are his.
Christmas morning he should find those unwrapped gifts under the tree.
I do not understand why he should lose his gifts because he did this.
And giving to his siblings is guaranteed to cause problems.
If you make a mistake, do you want to learn a lesson this harshly?

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R.S.

answers from Sacramento on

Just put them under the tree unwrapped and he will have less presents to actually open on Christmas morning. Next year, I would keep the presents well-hidden. Or wrap up some boring gifts in place of the others he didn't open yet--things like socks, underwear, a box of cereal. then maybe talk to him about how it would have been more fun for him to open "cool" presents like his brothers.

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R.F.

answers from Dallas on

What if you kept the toys (since you know he wanted them and that they can be shared with his brother), and just not offer any more presents on Christmas morning. When he sees his brothers open up their present and are all excited, he will see that he missed out on the family experience.

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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Let the presents he opened be his gifts. No more on xmas day. When the other kids are opening theirs give him the ones he played with already. He will quickly learn how much fun it is to be surprised with a present.

Don't give the toys to his brothers...I don't like that idea at all. too punitive-he is still very young and made a really bad decision. Just let him suffer the outcome.

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S.S.

answers from Eau Claire on

Maybe you could go WITH him to drop off the toys to a charity. Then he would really remember!

7 moms found this helpful

L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Those are some harsh punishments, I think. Hey, I was a Christmas sneak as a child, too. One year I dug around my mom and dad's bedroom to find the key to our motor home, where my parents would put our gifts and wrap them. I found that key and when they weren't at home, with my heart pounding so hard, I opened that motor home door and checked everything out. Then I quickly locked it back up and put the key back. That was the worst Christmas ever for me because of the guilt of looking, but also because I knew every single thing that was under the tree for me. I told my parents about it when I was an adult and we all had a good laugh.

So my vote would be to cut the kid some slack and next year find a better hiding place! Wrap up those presents again and put them under the tree. I seriously think that giving the toys away or to your other children is going overboard and actually a teeny bit cruel.

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R.G.

answers from Dallas on

This coming from a grown child who at the same age, unwrapped all her gifts, tried to wrap them back up and for the last 30 years has swore that she didn't do it...I say let it go. It's not a big deal. Kids do this kind of thing all the time, the anticipation can just be too much and they can't help themselves. Seriously, I did it and I wasn't a bad kid. Now my family likes to bring it up every year, it's like it's own little Christmas tradition. And every year I continue to deny it. It's kinda funny and one day your situation will be funny too. Merry Christmas!

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

I'd just settle for natural consequences on this one. He won't get to open his presents with his siblings on Christmas. Period. He'll get a taste of what Christmas morning MIGHT have been like, had he been able to wait.

But the gifts were for him, right? Should they not be for him now because he didn't open them at the "correct" time? Sure, he spoiled your surprise moment, and it would have been fun for you to watch him open his gifts. You are disappointed that he took "your" tradition away from you. But Christmas morning is really more for the kids than the parents.

So talking to him is one thing, and explaining why you are disappointed, and allowing him to sit and watch everyone else open gifts will probably bring home the message that he spoiled some of his own fun. I'd even make him in charge of handing gifts around to others, perhaps.

But punishing by taking the toys away? I just can't go there… especially because he never in his wildest imaginings would have guessed at such a severe punishment. The shaming, the guilting, the humiliation he's probably already received would have turned me cold as a child (I know because this was how my mom rolled), and I would have felt so emotionally flat and hopeless, I doubt that I would have showed the amount of remorse that might have satisfied her. I've watched this same hopeless lack of affect in many other children over the years, too.

Sometimes we are inclined to punish because we think we are supposed to or our kids will run all over us. In my own experience, there are sane and effective ways to teach children with almost no punishment. I hope you'll look into the lovely book, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Faber and Mazlish.

The book is loaded with real-life examples of how parents made a positive, empathetic connection with their children, while making their own needs and requirements clear. By the time you finish each chapter, you'll be equipped to put the lessons to work in your own family. I can't recommend this gem highly enough.

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M.V.

answers from New York on

Sometimes the anticipation of Christmas is just too much for a child! Please, in the spirit of the season, don't be too harsh on your little boy. Yes, he should have known better, but he gave in to temptation. These things happen. I understand your disappointment, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive him. Just bundle up the gifts for now and hold them till Christmas. I really don't think he was doing it to upset you and there was no malice behind it - the only thing he is guilty of is not being able to control his impulses. Donating the gifts to a charity or giving them to his brother both seem a little harsh to me.

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M.R.

answers from Phoenix on

Wow, such harsh consequences and recommendations - he's just 7!!! Please show a little compassion for his complete lack of maturity.

I was a notorious gift sneaker and peeker and opener then re-closer of the Christmas gifts under the tree, or finding the gifts hidden elsewhere....and I knew what everyone was getting and where it was hidden. I can't imagine being punished severely for that.

Your son sounds more extreme, with trying to hide the evidence by destroying the boxes, but sounds like he's learned to cover his tracks already, so that says something right there.

My recommendation, take the toys away, which you have already, don't repackage them, don't wrap them, put them out under the tree - as he has already ruined the surprise and give them back Christmas morning.

I would tell him how sad it made you to find that he 'stole' the toys. I think this will give him a forum to open up and talk about why he just can't wait.

Is he impulsive in other ways as well? He can't keep little trusts or secrets with his peers? Do you trust him in general or is this an ongoing behavior?

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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

We expect good behavior from our kids and this would not be tolerated in our family..... Yes, he is ONLY 7, but you can't use that as an excuse to ignore this behavior! You even said, he is not remorseful.

I would ask him if he would like to go with you to donate them. If he doesn't want to, then you take them. Either to a shelter of some sort, or whatever your town has that excepts donations. We have a battered womens shelter here and another home for pregnant mothers and their newborns, and we also have a childrens home for kids aged 7+ that are in the "system".

I think I would MAYBE give him the rest of the presents IF he shows some remorse after donating these toys. Otherwise, he just doesn't get any presents from you guys/santa this year. MOM- I'm sure he'll still be getting stuff from Godparents and grandparents so CALM DOWN! He won't be entirely empty handed!

We need to teach our children while they are young! Not give excuses for them all the time!

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K.S.

answers from Columbus on

I'm really torn on this one. Yes, at 7 he knows that what he did was wrong, but I also think that 7 yr old still have some impulse control issues. Meaning, they know all the while that what they are doing is wrong & they shouldn't be doing it, but the fun of opening the presents NOW far outweighs the trouble they could get into LATER. I also don't think that Christmas is the time for punishments. You intended to give him these gifts and he did get them, just not at the correct time. Someone mentioned having a talk with him about the FEELINGS involved with what he did. I know with my son (7), it makes him think more when I can talk about feelings & how his actions can hurt others. My guess is that you got all the boys the same number of gifts or close to it. This would just mean that he doesn't get to open as many as his siblings. I would also keep the gifts off to the side & he can't have them until later Christmas Day. As I said earlier, you already intended to give them to him, he really just spoiled a surprise.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Hmmm -at 7, he really should know better, so if nothing you're doing is phasing him -maybe you need to step up your overall discipline strategy. For this, I would keep the toys until after the New Year. I would give him one a week back for every week of good behavior. He would have to sit there and watch his other siblings open their gifts, knowing he had opened his already. Are the other gifts you've purchased supposed to be from you or Santa? If they're from Santa, I would put them out, but if they're from you, I would let him know they were going back to the store because of what he did. If none of this getting through to him, and he's always like that, I would consider taking him to a counselor.

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J.D.

answers from Boca Raton on

You already took them and He probably already thinks Christmas is cancelled for him so play it out and just rewrap them but give them to him last. Or you could always let him just watch everyone open their gifts.
but it's Christmas...it's not a day for punishment.

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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

Christmas "sneak" to find out what you have is one thing. Unwrapping, opening, shredding, and playing with is something else.

Donate all of them. No "santa" presents (if he believes - he was naughty, after all). None of the other presents he didn't open (unless they're clothes, etc - you know, the "boring" necessities-LOL). Let him know that those presents are being given away to sick/needy children, because he didn't appreciate what he had, and because he knowingly broke the rules. From what you describe about things not phasing him, sounds like he's being a tough cookie and thinks he can play games. This will be a lesson he won't forget.

Like one of the other moms said, he'll get presents from other family members- no one ever died from lack of Christmas presents ;)

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F.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Let him keep the toys he unwrapped. Don't present him with others. It's not necessary to punish his CURIOSITY. Also, I didn't know he had autism until I read Alexis' post. So, again, let him keep them. Explain to him he should be patient and look forward to surprises. :o). As for you, next time place them out of his reach. Unfortunately, you have to take drastic measures like hiding things from him because he will be determined to satisfy his curiosity. :o)

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T.C.

answers from Chicago on

Tough situation indeed. First, why was he able to find the presents? You have to remember that he wouldn't have opened them if he couldn't find them. I'm not saying it's your fault, but preventing the temptation is part of our job. Also, I think a lot of kids his age would be tempted to open the gifts...it's like dangling a carrot in front of him. Take them away, re-wrap them and let him open them again on Christmas. Then explain to him Christmas morning that it probably wasn't as exciting for him to open them because he already knew what they are. You can return or donate some of the gifts that he did not open & say that Santa didn't leave him as many presents because his disobeyed...but that might be a little harsh.

P.S. Ooh, I like the idea of not re-wrapping them...just put them under the tree opened as they are....he will then realize how he ruined his fun & that's the best way to teach him a lesson.

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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

WOW, What I would do is give those to toys for tots, actually make him drop them in the box. and only give him the presents you have remaining. Like one mom said peaking, we've all done it, but your little one went a little to far. Christmas morning when his siblings have more to open than him, it will hit him and I doubt that he will do it again. J.

Updated

WOW, What I would do is give those to toys for tots, actually make him drop them in the box. and only give him the presents you have remaining. Like one mom said peaking, we've all done it, but your little one went a little to far. Christmas morning when his siblings have more to open than him, it will hit him and I doubt that he will do it again. J.

Updated

WOW, What I would do is give those to toys for tots, actually make him drop them in the box. and only give him the presents you have remaining. Like one mom said peaking, we've all done it, but your little one went a little to far. Christmas morning when his siblings have more to open than him, it will hit him and I doubt that he will do it again. J.

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D.M.

answers from Denver on

He's 7. He opened them because he was excited and had enough autonomy (as a 7 year old should) that when the anticipation got too big, it took charge. He probably doesn't have the emotional vocabulary to explain.

Try sitting him down, asking him what HE thinks you should do (you might be surprised with what he says, and if what he says is unacceptable, you can tell him that).

I think having taken them away for part of the day is enough punishment. Seven isn't a little kid, but it's still awfully young.

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G.R.

answers from Dallas on

I will take away the toys and put in the tree without wrapping in christmas morning .
he is not going to have fun opening the presents christmas morning ...he is only 7 y/o

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K.A.

answers from Grand Junction on

My sister and I did this one year and that was the one year Santa didn't come. Even tho we were at the age were we didn't necessarily believe, it hurt bad. BUT we learned a lesson. I say donate. There are tons of kids with no presents for Christmas.

Good Luck. That is tough.

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R.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Oh my god, you are being way too serious about this. Give him all the presents you were originally going to give him. His consequence will be that there will be no surprise.

Lots of kids sneak a look at their presents -- it's not a crime. It's kind of cute, actually. When my kids were little I discovered that my oldest knew where I hid them and was showing his younger siblings all their presents. I told him if he did that, there would be no surprise on Xmas morning and it wouldn't be as fun for them. I'm pretty sure he stopped.

Anyway, Christmas was still fun for the whole family.

Lighten up and enjoy the day.

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L.U.

answers from Seattle on

My mother had to hide gifts from 5 kids. She made it very clear that if we looked for and found the gifts (even if they were wrapped!) that she would return them.
I say, return the gifts. Don't give them to older brother because that will cause some issues between the brothers. Older one shouldn't be rewarded for behaving...that's just to be expected, right?
I am surprised your 7 year old was so naughty!!!!lol
L.

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L.L.

answers from Hartford on

Boy I really had to think about this one. My 1st reaction was to say make him donate the toys. Then I thought.... Just put them under the tree unwrapped on Christmas and return the unopened toys that you still have for him. This way he'll see that he ruined the excitement of opening gifts on Christmas morning. I would just put those open gifts out for him and nothing else. Good Luck :)

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J.P.

answers from Boise on

Were the toys labeled to him? If not, you could give them to a sibling, he won't know that they were supposed to go to him, just that he was rude to open them. If they were labeled to him, I think that they need to be donated. You don't want to reward one son with the other's toys. That could cause problems between the two of them.

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J.S.

answers from Sioux Falls on

When we were little, my brother & I got into our presents ONCE. Our mom returned them all, and got us different stuff. We laugh about it now...but I think it must have been really h*** o* our mom!

When we Christmas shop for our kids, I think we try to find things that they will really like. And I am guessing you did great with this, if your son could identify his gifts just by the packaging! I think you are right that he should not receive those gifts at all.

I would not give them to his brother, as many other people have said, for the same reasons. Donating them to a charity is a good idea. Something to keep in mind though...what have you done as a family regarding donations in the past? If you have regularly donated old toys, clothes, ect, or bought new to donate as a family, I think it would be good for him to be involved. If you have not done much with your son up to this point, I don't think this would be a good place to start. If he sees donating as a punishment, or if it means (to him) that he is losing out on something he wants, it may set him up to be resistant to donating in the future. Since I don't know what you have done in the past, this may be totally irrelevant, but it is a thought to consider.

Good luck in your decision and I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I think no toys at all on Christmas would be pretty harsh.
Since he couldn't wait, perhaps you should give him one gift a day starting Christmas day and it'll be a wait of 5 days for him to have all his gifts where as his brothers will have all their gifts on Christmas.
You need to explain why opening gifts before their time is wrong. It's fun to anticipate up till the important day, but he also robbed you of seeing his surprise/delight in their opening at the right time. Gift giving is not just about receiving loot, it's also about making the giver feel good, too.
He should know he hurt your feelings, and his not being sorry about that makes it worse. He should know you always love him, but you are very disappointed with the choice he made. You should give him some opportunities during the year so he can give things to other people so he has a better idea of what you are talking about.

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C.F.

answers from Boston on

What I would do is: Make him go with me to a Childrens Hospital (or a Toys for Tots center ) and Him Give his to toys over.... to children that deserve them. And tell him there is a HUGE possibility there wont be any other gifts under the tree for him Christmas morning..... Santa gives to the good little boys and girls. but of course I'm a sap and there would be gifts for him. Good Luck

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

i would ABSOLUTELY donate the toys, unless he has some sort of mental impairment(which i'm assuming he doesn't b/c you didn't mention it), it is TOTALLY not even almost age appropriate for him to have done that. if he ever wants to have those specific toys, he should have to use his allowance or birthday money he gets later in year, etc. to go buy them new from the store again. i would not give them to one of the other children(unless they were labeled to more than one of your children), and i certainly would not save them to give to your 7yo. my kids are 1, 4, and 7 - i'd do the same thing if my 4yo or 7yo pulled a stunt like that. and i also wouldn't buy extra gifts to make up for it, let him have the remainder of what you were already planning to give him. and this is not what you are asking for, and i hope i don't offend you, but you mention he has very little remorse for what he did, and it seems to be a MAJOR impulse control issue combined with a pretty smart way of "covering up"(shredding the evidence) his crime - you also mention that he often uses excuses(the headache) for bad behavior - have you ever had him evaluated for issues that pertain to impulse control, such as ADD, ADHD, or asperger's syndrome? anyways, hope i didn't cross a line, but i have a 7yo with high functioning autism, and just thought i'd throw that out there. with definitive and immediate consequences, your little boy will learn his lesson. good luck!

edited to add: additionally, i'd go ahead and take the toys today or tomorrow, let him know the punishment, and then i'd drop the issue. i wouldn't say things like "if you hadn't done what you did..." or "don't you wish you were opening more presents?" on Christmas morning. that is a day that should be good memories for all of you, deal with and resolve the issue NOW, and let it rest.

and i am all about having the kids see their gifts under the tree. i put all of our gifts out the day i put the tree up(weekend before thanksgiving), the kids read tags to see whose was whose, and they know to leave them alone - part of the fun is putting the gifts out, i'm one to teach self control, not to prevent them from making bad choices(as in not setting gifts out until after bedtime on Christmas Eve).

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J.F.

answers from Philadelphia on

Take them way and I guess re wrap them for Christmas. This is a tough one I would be so mad!

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L.M.

answers from Dover on

I would take them for now. Don't rewrap them and don't let him have them until after Christmas and at least after Christmas break is over. You bought them for him but he won't have the excitement of having them over Christmas and those are less he has to open (for a child that age, it can be quite the punishment).

You could also allow the others to play with them over the break. When he bulks..."well, if you hadn't opened them early you too could be playing with them".

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A.G.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with Sarah. I would make him go with you to donate all of the toys he opened. A seven year old should know better.

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

id go with a charity or hospital, from what you are describing he needs that lesson, plus he still has other presents to open still. Im so sorry, this is a horrible situation, but you cant let him have them, this will teach nothing but to encourage bad behavior. I think giving them to the other son(although he is being good) will cause a rift between the boys, and there is a possibility that your other boy will take the gifts back. I would definitely have your son there with you when you give them away.

I have a 7 year old, and she definitely knows better, my two year old opened a present the other day, but i feel she is still too young to understand (it wasnt even her present) About your kids finding the presents, i guess your like me, all mommy daddy presents,,,,go under the tree as we find time to wrap them, santas presents are hidden until xmas morning.

let me be clear, i still think he should have some gifts on xmas, just not the ones he opened. If he doesnt learn the proper lesson this time he will repeat similar behavior in the future. He is 7, that is old enough to know better.

edited again* just had another thought, hold onto the presents, or donate half and hold onto half, and he can earn them back with good behavior, good grades, and chores completed. welllllllll after xmas is over

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L.A.

answers from Austin on

7 years old.. he needs to fess up and apologize to all of you for doing this. He totally is in trouble..

Have him go with you to donate the toys..
No Santa gifts on Christmas, but a few of the other gifts that you had planned to give him. Do not mention it again, unless he says something about it. He needs to learn that he is responsible for his own choices and behaviors. He made a bad choice, he has to live with it..

I am sorry he disappointed you. This is a learning moment for him..

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A.B.

answers from St. Louis on

I just read a past post of yours and I am shocked that you didn't mention your son has autism. In your previous post, you specifically mentioned that his impairment becomes evident when he wants something. So you knew that he has issues with how to act when he wants things, and yet you left the toys out where he could get them, and then you came up with elaborate punishments for your misstep? I hope that you ended up following folks' advice to be compassionate and not give his toys to his brother or to charity. He's seven, and he has autism. Part of autism involves not having social skills and not reading cues the way others do. Your son deserves compassion and understanding while you try to teach him ways to interact with others and to make it in the world. Good luck!

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R..

answers from Chattanooga on

I would give/ donate 1/2 the gifts... the rest can be given to him (unwrapped) after his brothers get to open theirs. (If you want, you can let him think he isn't going to get them... then give them to him and explain that he lost his ____ and ____ gifts for what he did) That way, he IS getting punished for what he did... but still gets to enjoy Christmas. It seems pretty harsh not to let him have anything!

Ha ha. I re-read that, and noticed that you said that you had other gifts for him... so it wouldn't be too bad to give away all of the ones he opened...

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D.S.

answers from Tulsa on

dont do any of the above on christmas day he will get nothing. even what he hasnt found. that is torture to a 7 yr old. I would say exchange them but since the boxes are toast cant do that. but never put presents under the tree early from now on. mine was 3 when he did this so I cant help you at 7

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D.G.

answers from Lincoln on

curious what you ended up doing! When I was about that age I opened all my presents and rewrapped them. It was my worse childhood Christmas memory! Nothing was a surprise! I think if I had found out my daughter had done that I would just rewrap them and that would be the only thing she got so that the natural consequence kicks in!

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J.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

He is a kid. Give the toys back to him....

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K.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I don't know what you ended up doing but I would only give him those same presents either un-wrapped or re-wrapped again. Do not give them to his sibling and do not donate them to charity because you did buy them for him in the first place. I think doing either of those things would be much more detrimental than good. I would also not give him his other presents. You can save them for Birthday or return them. It sounds like it's one of those situations where he does need to learn about giving rather than getting. This is one of the reasons, I usually don't put presents under our tree until a few days before Christmas. Everything from Santa is un-wrapped on Christmas morning (saves me some time-that's for sure!). I have some curious George's and I'm afraid they would do the same thing. We had great hiding places. I hope you and family still enjoyed Christmas even though this happened (you will laugh at it in future years to come)...

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E.C.

answers from Kansas City on

natural consequences: he can keep the presents, but he doesn't have any presents under the tree, because he already opened them. he gets to watch everyone else open their presents. No watching tv or what ever to distract him. say things like "wow, bobby, why dont' you wish you had waited to open your presents...cause then you wouldn't be bored, and your dad and i would have had to opportunity to watch you enjoy it"

as for the not sleeping problem, my daughter has that problem too. she has add and it can be difficult for her to turn her brain off, or she might wake up to roll over and see something to momentarily interest her and suddenly she is awake. i give her some melatonin (pharmacist recommended it) an hour before bed and she sleeps all night long. the circles under her eyes are almost gone and her attitude is better :)

G.T.

answers from Modesto on

I think I would put all the toys he already opened back under the tree after they go to bed on Christams Eve unwrapped. I'd hold back (I know this is h***) o* giving him any of the other gifts for now. Mabye save them for his birthday or some other random day during the year ... maybe as a "caught being good" prize. You do need to make this stick, it was very rude of him to do that and by hiding under the bed with them (which makes me laugh, why do we think things are so safely hidden under our beds anyway? LOL) he knows he did wrong...... thats probably why he has a headache :)
You need to make an example out of this. Its not about Santa, or Christmas, it's about him theiving in the night and opening presents and hiding them.

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