We had planned on a VERY tame Christmas this year. Money is a little tight and frankly, we thought the kids already have enough toys. DS (5) wanted a gameboy and a discman. He also wanted a Stinkblaster (yes, you read right). Well, we got him an older gameboy (used from ebay) and a cheap ($15) discman.

DD on the other hand only asked "Santa" for a VideoNow player. She has mentioned other things to use such as a Battleship game (non-electronic). We did get her that but the only thing mentioned in her Santa letter is the Video Now. She is 8 and has started to ask some Santa questions so this could be the last year of her believing.

Any advice on what we should do?

By Jackie on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 01:58 am:

Gosh I have no advice. My 10 yr old son is on teh fence about the whole Santa thing, this yr more then the other yrs. I know most kids his age know "for sure" that Santa isnt real. He was on his computer last night and did a search for "Is Santa Real"..he printed out one article about the Facts, how he couldnt be real, like it would take x amt of hrs to really give presents out, and the fact how old he really would be etc, etc.. Ijust laughed when he showed me what he found, and said "Well if thats true, I dont know how all those presents find their ways to peoples houses"

By Kate on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 09:23 am:

I'm not sure what you're asking. Is a Video Now thing expensive? Is that the issue? (I have no clue what this item is) Is it that it's too expensive to buy her so you're wondering if you should just tell her that there's really no Santa and you and Daddy just can't afford that toy? Or are you asking for other toy ideas?

As for questions, if she persists, I would tell her the truth. She'll remember that you blatantly lied to her over and over again if she asks over and over again and you keep trying to convince her he's real. If she doesn't persist, and just makes a few comments here and there without actually wanting answers from you, I'd let it go. I told my daughter in first grade after she asked me outright four times in one day. At this age, trust is more important than believing in Santa. But if she had merely said, 'gee, I wonder how Santa goes to all those places in one night....' I would have merely said, 'he must be pretty quick, huh?' or 'the kids in school say he's not real' I'd have said, 'really? I wonder why they think that...' and then I'd let the conversation progress with my daughter leading it.

By Kate on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 11:08 am:

Also, if she's not going to get the toy she wants, it might be too much of a blow to tell her BOTH that she's not getting it AND that there's no Santa... I think I would explain that Santa does not give expensive gifts because he has sooo many to give so he sticks to more basic presents. Explain that something like what she wants is a gift that a parent would give, but unfortunately this year it's just too expensive a present. Or explain that that's too expensive, period, no matter what the occasion. (IF this is the issue....still not sure what this item is or how much it costs). I'd say that she is welcome to start saving her own money and that she has a birthday coming at some point and maybe she'll be able to get it some other way. But I definitely wouldn't tell her, one week before Christmas, that she's not getting what she wants and that Santa doesn't exist. She may have trouble recovering from that double whammy!

By Breann on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 11:53 am:

I'm not clear on what you are asking about either.

If it's a questions of "buying" her belief, I'd say don't do it.

By Feona on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 12:09 pm:

Did you mention to her that she has to buy the cartridges and they are only 1/2 hour shoes? (I think)

How bored is she going to be watching the same shows over and over again... I don't get this toy.

By Feona on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 12:17 pm:

walmart has it for 47 dollars not including shipping...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3404832&cat=4171&type=1&dept=4171&path=0%3A4171

I think a car dvd player with head phones (If they have such a thing) would be more interesting) But I don't want ds watching tv in the car....

By Feona on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 12:19 pm:

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=cm_reviews_dp_seemore/602-9459441-6874234?asin=B0002A6T2Q&alt%5fview=custReviews&frombrowse=1&coliid=#B0002A6T2Q25001100805340

read the bad review this first person gave it.

By Feona on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 12:25 pm:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002V2U0U/sr=1-3/qid=1103390616/ref=sr_1_3/103-0877520-2249427?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=&s=&v=glance


I am sure you can get these portable dvd players cheaper. I didn't look around. I think they make more sense if you own dvd already. Else they don't .

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 12:39 pm:

Yeesh. That sounds expensive after you buy it, too! $20 for more disks to put in it, not to mention the cost of batteries. I don't think I would be running out to get one. As far as telling her, I think I would just tell the truth. I didn't really sugarcoat Santa too much at my house. I'm not that good a liar!

By Paulas on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 12:45 pm:

Thanks for your input. I guess I was asking if I should buy it or not. She hasn't been bugging us about Santa so I'm pretty sure we are good for this year. I was just thinking that if this is our last year with her believing that I want to make it a special one and this seems to be the only thing she is really asking for.

The Videonow costs $49 here and the disks are between $10-$20. I agree with many of you that a portable DVD would be a more practical gift but I'm worried if she has one and her brother doesn't that fights could arise.

Feona...I've never seen a portable DVD like the one you posted here in Canada. The 7" screen ones run about $229 here which is quite expensive.

By Feona on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 01:50 pm:

Do you think it is a good toy? If you think it is a good toy then I might get it.

By Feona on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 02:52 pm:

Oh I forgot. Isn't there a rule that you have to put at least 3 presents on your list to Santa so Santa can choose?

By Tink on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 03:38 pm:

My 7yo asked for this and I just told her that I didn't think it was a good investment of our money or Santa's. That if she really wanted it, she can save her money for half of it and DH and I would match that but any of the disks were her responsiblity and that we wouldn't get her those unless it was for her birthday or another gift occassion.
If you decide to get it, I think it is pretty equivalant to the gameboy that you got your ds.

By Paulas on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 03:59 pm:

Good point Tink!

Feona...no, I don't think it is a good toy. In reality...we could afford the $49 it costs and I don't think I would be questioning the investment so much if I thought it was a good toy.

Does anyone have any suggestions for something that we could buy her instead of this VideoNow thing? I just don't want her to be disappointed on Christmas morning.

She would be thrilled with a bunny but that's not going to happen!

By Kate on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 04:45 pm:

My 8 year old DD is getting the Leapfrog Quantom Pad and a few books. You can find it for about $34 and books are $10-15 each. It comes with a few books, too. You could also get her a bunch of DVDs she might like. I'm getting my DD 'Little Women' with Winona Ryder...SUCH a great movie!! And only $10. DD also asked for 'Adventures in Odyssey' DVDs. Does she already have a CD player/boombox?

By Paulas on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 02:06 am:

Yes, she has a CD player and I bought her a discman for Christmas..just a cheap one since I figure it will get lost or broken and I would rather a cheap one have that happen over an expensive one.

By Feona on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 06:45 am:

So video now with discs would cost you a hundred dollars.

Sorry I am giving you my christmas list if I was 8. Kind of Fun. Don't give her anything until you talk to her. I don't want to be responsible for a sad child on christmas morning.

Can you tell her santa was out of the video now and she need to pick 3 different toys. I think she might be disappointed if you don't tell her something and let her pick something else...

Does she like american girl dolls?

How about a building toy? ellos - you can get this cheaper on ebay. You can build things for your room.


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-0877520-2249427

How more board games to play with her friends? I used to play alot of board games with my friends.

I can't remember when we stopped playing barbie. I think it was I have no idea....


Does she like to sing? Like a karoke machine to play with her friends? I don't know what she likes. I wonder if the karoke machine can be used to play music like tapes and cds? Then when the five year old is older he can have the boom box.

We bought a cheap combination dvd and vcr player for johns room at amazon. Sylvania on amazon. free shipping american website. I think it was 79 dollars.

We bought the leap pad and you can bearly hear it. I don't like it so ds doesn't play it.

I am sure she already has and arts and crafts kit. Like markers and paints and papers and pastals. If she likes arts and crafts.

Don't buy her anything until you ask her. I really don't know what an eight year old likes...

By Feona on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 06:49 am:

I am having too much fun...

This web site you put in the interest and it comes up with a gift like musical or arts and crafts.

http://www.surprise.com/kids/musician/

By Feona on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 06:55 am:

I think this is cool. You have a key board. There is a dual key board on amazon too for 25 dollars.

Anyway you put the letter stickers on the key board and you can play songs. ( you learn to play by the note rather than number.) nothing to unlearn. This is the brand she has other books too.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=Nancy%20Poffenberger/103-0877520-2249427


Dual keyboard (two in one keyboard)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005M8YL/surprisecom/103-0877520-2249427

By Yjja123 on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 11:40 am:

*IF* it is important to her and is the only gift she is asking for I think it would be hard not to get it for her. She may not know everything about it so maybe you could take her to a store to just look at it and see why she really wants it. You might be surprised to see her wander to something else when she has the ability to see it in person and compare with other fun toys.
My kids are only allowed to ask for 3 things. They do a lot of looking and thinking before asking for 3 things. This year my daughter really wanted a telescope. After doing a lot of research I realized a kids telescope would not do what she wanted and at $200 is still a cheap telescope. We sat her down and explained that the good telescope is $500. That simply is not in our budget for this year. She decided to ask for a dvd player instead. We did promise her that if she still desperately wants a telescope next year we will do our best to get it for her but that would be her only gift.
She understands and will not be greatly disappointed on Christmas day.
We have steered our son in different directions also when a toy he asked for was not exactly appropriate. I guess what I am trying to say is that I think it is important to find out why she wants it and explore other toys she might like as much.
Good Luck!

By Paulas on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 05:42 pm:

Well, I sat her down today and asked why she wanted it. She said because it looks cool. Of course it would...it's purple or pink or bright blue. I also asked if she would be terribly disappointed if Santa didn't bring it and she said, "No, I mostly just wait and see what I get." I was so happy to hear that. This whole thing wasn't really about the money per say...it was more about spending money on something that I felt was a waste of money. I am so happy that it won't matter.

I do think I will get her something more since I didn't really get her any toys.

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I think we will get a portable DVD player at some point but not for Christmas at $240..maybe the after Chrsitmas sales.

By Annie2 on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 06:27 pm:

You can find portable DVD players at Walmart for $79.99. If they are still in stock, that is.

By Feona on Monday, December 20, 2004 - 08:31 am:

Don't feel bad. DS really wanted an exploding volcano hot wheels slime track horror set. and and indoor helicopter hover somthing which promises to knock everything off every shelf. He also wants a web blaster that squirts slime or web or some sort of mess and water.

Which he isn't getting either....