Santa's Methods

[Trinitty]

Hello fellow parents,

This thread is for those parents who assist Santa, not for debates about Santa.

So, for those of you who have Santa visit their home, what has been your experience?

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest?

Does he have printed cards for the children?

Does he visit the children while they sleep?

Where are the stockings?

Does he eat what is left out for him?

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents?

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match?

I am interested in what other parents have experienced when it comes to Santa, as this is the first time DD has been aware of him, and I want to know what to expect... and I want to have some fun.

Thank you.

Trin.

[Jessy1019]

Santa uses special wrapping paper for each child . . . they can tell whose is whose just be looking (it's usually something that reflects the child's interests/likes that year, but it's also used in their individual stockings, too).

There are no cards or notes from Santa. The kids do leave him cookies, milk, and carrots for the reindeer.

He doesn't visit their rooms, but when I was little, I had a small stocking that hung by my bed and that Santa left one small thing in for me to open first thing xmas morning. I should do this with my kids -- it was fun!

We leave the stockings out on the couch. I want to hang them, but the hooks scare me -- they are SO heavy, and I could just see my little one pulling one down on his head!

Have fun!!

[Alyantavid]

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest? Yes. I buy one roll of paper and all of Santa's gifts and the stocking stuff is wrapped in that.

Does he have printed cards for the children? No

Does he visit the children while they sleep? Yes

Where are the stockings? Laid across the coffee table

Does he eat what is left out for him? Most of it

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents? Nope, just a piece of uneaten cookie

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match? No

[Ambystoma]

Ok, I don't have a kiddo to do this with quite yet, but I'll share what my family does with the children with Santa (cousins, etc) and what we'll probably do with our little boy.

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest? Santa's gifts aren't wrapped, but they are displayed and arranged just so. Santa's just so busy, you know (and it saves the parents who have wrapping paper difficulties from explaining why Santa's elves are really awful wrappers.... )

Does he have printed cards for the children? Usually a note from santa in calligraphy or similar fancy style writing on a scroll of paper tied with a ribbon or something equally interesting for kids. Wishes the kids merry christmas, yule, or whatever and a little reminder about way you celebrate the holiday--I know the christian relatives usually have something about remembering Jesus, etc.

Does he visit the children while they sleep? Yep. Once Santa hooked up a TV for one child in his room (how they did that without the kid waking up, I'll never know).

Where are the stockings? Stockings are where we usually go crazy. They're taken down off the fireplace and are in front of the other gifts, overflowing with interesting and weird candy, small toys, etc-usually with an international feel (German chocolates, chinese good luck candy, fortune cookies, marzipan fruit, coins and small dolls from other countries, etc and don't forget the walnuts).

Does he eat what is left out for him? He at least takes a bite. Usually one cookie gone and that's where Santa leaves the note.

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents? Depends on the family-some of my family have done: glitter in the fireplace, reindeer "poop" in the yard, dirt boot prints in the kitchen)

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match? Not with us, but grandparents usually come over to see what the kids got and play with them.

Wow, I forgot how much Santa can be! Makes me excited for when my little gets big enough to know what's going on!

[metis]

In our house santa has different wrapping paper (with santa print!). He leaves a stocking at the bottom of children's beds which they can open without waking parents.

We leave out whisky and cookies which are thankfully received...

Santa leaves the main gifts in the living room with a note. Children are not allowed in the living room unless parents are up.

In our house all gifts come from santa..parents don't buy anything! I think santa is the most exciting bit of xmas...staying up and "playing santa" is one of my favourite nights of the year...dh and I open some champagne and wrap and build...I Xmas Eve!

[snoopy5386]

Originally Posted by Trinitty

Hello fellow parents,

This thread is for those parents who assist Santa, not for debates about Santa.

So, for those of you who have Santa visit their home, what has been your experience?

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest?
not yet, but we will do this in the future when she is older and would notice
Does he have printed cards for the children?
no
Does he visit the children while they sleep?
yes
Where are the stockings?
on the ground in front of the fireplace
Does he eat what is left out for him?
yes
Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents?
no
Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match?
no and no
I am interested in what other parents have experienced when it comes to Santa, as this is the first time DD has been aware of him, and I want to know what to expect... and I want to have some fun.

Thank you.

Trin.

See answers above

[ollyoxenfree]

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest? Yes.

Does he have printed cards for the children? No, but the gift tags on his presents have his special writing, in a different ink.

Does he visit the children while they sleep? He arrives and leaves presents while they are asleep. He fills everyone's stockings, which have been left at the end of the bed for each person, so that each person can open their stocking as soon as they wake up. This lets Mom and Dad sleep in a little bit longer.

Where are the stockings? See above

Does he eat what is left out for him? Santa always seems to enjoy his milk and cookies, and the reindeer eat up the carrots that are left for them.

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents? He usually writes a little thank you note for the milk and cookies and carrots, with a bit of news from the North Pole, in answer to the note that the children leave for him, thanking him for his presents and wishing him well for the New Year.

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match?
Sometimes, not every year. The paper doesn't match.

Have fun!

[jeanine123]

Yes he has his own wrapping paper. No he doesn't leave special cards for the kids. We don't do stockings. He visits the house after the kids are asleep but not their rooms. Yes he does eat what is left for him (and then some at times ). He doesn't leave any special calling card and he doesn't visit Grandma and Grandpa since they live thousands of miles away.

[2cutiekitties]

Originally Posted by Jessy1019

He doesn't visit their rooms, but when I was little, I had a small stocking that hung by my bed and that Santa left one small thing in for me to open first thing xmas morning. I should do this with my kids -- it was fun!

That is a fantastic idea!!!!

[onemoremom]

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest?

Yes. Nothing particular, but different from the rest. Now that DS is older it'll likely be something he loves that he knows mom doesn't like. Maybe Spongebob

Does he have printed cards for the children?

He occasionally leaves a thank-you note for the cookies or similar. Done on whatever construction paper and crayon/marker of DS's that is handy.

In some homes I know of, Santa (also the easter bunny etc..) writes using calligraphy. Very fancy and exciting! He, uh, doesn't seem to have the best fine motor skills while he's visiting our particular family

Does he visit the children while they sleep?



Yes. Doesn't come until *everyone's sleeping*

Where are the stockings?

Hung near the tree. This year we have a mantel of sorts, other times we just put hooks on the wall.

Does he eat what is left out for him?

Yes! The cookies get eaten, there are usually some crumbs left and a bit of milk in the glass. The carrots for the reindeer are even chewed up with teeth marks, very exciting.

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents?

No. In some homes with more patient parents than I, he leaves a trail of 'magic dust' (glitter) or muddy bootprints.

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match?

Sometimes. This varies a lot year to year and depending on the relatives. Paper doesn't match. Definitely always drops by at both moms house and dads though.


Just relax and have fun with it. Santa is fun! It's great if he does things the same way each year, but he doesn't have to. It's exciting for the kids that he came at all, you know? Enjoy your holidays!

[Honey693]

We're doing Santa the way my parents did it for me.

Santa fills stockings (which are hung on the wal) only, everything else is from mom and dad.

Everything in the stocking except fruit is wrapped.

Santa does not show up until everyone is asleep.

Santa eats the milk and cookies (although I'm wondering if my daughter would believe Santa wants a Diet Coke and brownie instead)

[baltic_ballet]

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest? No, Santa has decided in the past few years to be good to the environment and not individually wrap presents inside the stockings.

Does he have printed cards for the children? No.

Does he visit the children while they sleep? Yes, he doesn't come until everyone's sleeping.

Where are the stockings? Under the tree - not to be opened til everyone in the family is awake and together.

Does he eat what is left out for him? Some of the milk and cookies.

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents? No.

[claras_mom]

Originally Posted by Trinitty

Hello fellow parents,

This thread is for those parents who assist Santa, not for debates about Santa.

So, for those of you who have Santa visit their home, what has been your experience?

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest?

Santa doesn't wrap. He fills the stockings and then leaves the one special Santa gift right in front of the stocking.

Does he have printed cards for the children?

No.

Does he visit the children while they sleep?

Well....he's not going to come until they sleep, but he doesn't come into their rooms. And no one gets to sleep in the living room!

Where are the stockings?

Hanging near the fireplace.

Does he eat what is left out for him?

Oh, yes. And I'm thinking he might like that whiskey instead of milk this year.

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents?
No

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match?

He knows if they'll be visiting Grandma for Christmas and adjusts his flight plan accordingly. But still just the stockings and the one unwrapped gift.

I am interested in what other parents have experienced when it comes to Santa, as this is the first time DD has been aware of him, and I want to know what to expect... and I want to have some fun.

My niece's preschool once sent home "reindeer food" which she dutifully and excitedly spread out in the yard. But it was still there in the morning--did we really think random wildlife would eat marshmallows and raisins?--which was a little hitch in the magic of it all. As you can see, we keep it pretty simple. And we don't talk about the whole "naughty or nice" thing. Santa knows that everyone has bad days and is not going to withhold presents.

[AbbieB]

[QUOTE=Trinitty;14769285]Hello fellow parents,

This thread is for those parents who assist Santa, not for debates about Santa.

So, for those of you who have Santa visit their home, what has been your experience?

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest?
No. DH's tradition was to have all kinds of different paper...the tacker the better. My family likes to wrap everything in tissue paper, each kid had a different color. For our kids I have been wrapping in a few different papers, usually coordinated because I like the way it looks.

Does he have printed cards for the children?
No.

Does he visit the children while they sleep?
Yes. Family gifts are usually under the tree as they have been purchased and wrapped though.

Where are the stockings?
Hung from cup hooks that are under the mantle. The years I have not had a fire place (very few) they have been hung around the TV.

Does he eat what is left out for him?
Yup.

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents?
No.

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match?
No, unless we sleep over there.
QUOTE]

[ChristyMarie]

Originally Posted by Crystal_R

Santa eats the milk and cookies (although I'm wondering if my daughter would believe Santa wants a Diet Coke and brownie instead)

I still remember one year my mom told me that Santa got tired of milk and cookies from everyone so we should leave out ritz crackers and cheese instead.



Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest? YES

Does he have printed cards for the children? NO

Does he visit the children while they sleep? He can't come until everyone is asleep. And around here, Santa brings EVERYONE a gift. Took my husband a while to figure that one out.

Where are the stockings? No stockings here.

Does he eat what is left out for him? YES! He leaves cookie crumbs, a little milk and Rudolf always leaves a stub of carrot.

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents? NO.

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match? NO.

[ann_of_loxley]

Okay - for us...

To start with - DS is four this year. Last year was the only time we mentioned it but he really didn't get it then. This year - he gets it big time! lol Since September he has been saying, anytime he has wanted something - 'maybe Father Christmas will bring it for me!' lmao... Of course, we have had the talk that Father Chrsitmas does not bring everything we ask for - its always a surprise....

Also - to save heartache... Father Christmas only does the stocking here. Nothing else - just the stocking. (And -if you havn't guess....its not 'santa' here - its Father Chrsitmas! ...my son would have no idea who 'santa' was)...

So... On Christmas Eve - we put up our stocking. DS has a special one he uses every year - it has his name on it. We spend Christmas at Grandmas house so thats where it goes with us. As of yet, no question about how FC knows we are there and not at our house. At Grandmas house - this is near the fireplace. Traditionally here in England, it is usually at the end of said childs bed (the idea is then they can wake up early and enjoy the stocking for a bit letting the parents sleep in...not a problem in our house as DS is the one who sleeps in lol).

We havn't tried the leaving something out for him yet - but I think we will do this year because I think my son will enjoy that so much! So yes - he will eat it! Hes jolly and fat for a reason! lol

And yes - Father Christmas has his own wrapping paper. Not the same every year, but it is different from our own. ... so it can't be from us - right? lmao...

Yes - he comes whilst we are asleep.

No cards or calling cards, etc.

[Smithie]

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest?


Santa only fills stockings in our house, because he knows that the kids got plenty of Hanukkah presents, but he comes and fills the stockings anyway because he loves them SO much that he has to give them SOMETHING.

Does he have printed cards for the children?

No.

Does he visit the children while they sleep?

No, but they might hear his reindeer stamping on the roof, in which case they had better pretend to be asleep!

Where are the stockings?

Hung by the chimney with care, of course!

Does he eat what is left out for him?

Yes.

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents?

He writes a brief thank-you on the card the kids have left out for him.


Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match?

No. The grandparents who live locally like to get "credit" for the gifts they give on Christmas, and the other side visit during Hanukkah and give their presents then. They also like getting credit, so there's no "Hanukkah Harry" mythology in this house.

[madskye]

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest?

Santa does not wrap his gifts, but he does make a nice display.


Does he have printed cards for the children?

No, but in thinking about it, I'd like it if he did leave a note. Maybe this year.

Does he visit the children while they sleep?

He comes once we are sleeping. If he left evidence of visiting my DD in her bedroom she would FREAK OUT. She has already expressed a bit of unease that he comes in the house, through the chimney, while we are sleeping. When she was 3 she asked if he could leave the gifts on the porch instead.

Where are the stockings?

hung by the chimney with care

Does he eat what is left out for him?

Yes, usually a cookie and some egg nog

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents?

No, but at my aunt's house one year he left footprints on the fireplace hearth.

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match?

I don't think so, but the Easter Bunny usually comes to MIL's house and leaves a basket there, as we spend Easter Sunday with them.

Great thread! Fyi, we do reindeer food, too. But in our house we do oats and glitter--there's not usually anything visible in the yard on Christmas Day.

[JamesMama]

Does Santa have a wrapping paper different from the rest? Santa does not wrap. He assembles is gifts at the North Pole and puts them under the tree with a tag

Does he have printed cards for the children? No

Does he visit the children while they sleep? Yes

Where are the stockings? Usually on the floor next to their big gift

Does he eat what is left out for him? Yes

Does he leave a calling card, other than the presents? Nope

Does he visit Grandma and Grandpa's house and have ask them to bring presents to your children? Does the paper and card match? No

[journeymom]

Santa has separate wrapping paper.

We hang the stockings from stocking hangers that we set on top of the entertainment cabinet. The cabinet is about 5 feet tall, an odd height, and it doubles well for a mantle. ( We have a fireplace with no mantle. )

We leave out cookies and milk and carrot sticks, though I understand that in Great Briton they leave out brandy for Santa. We might leave a little glass of brandy for Santa this year.

I'm not familiar with cards or whatnot.

==========

I read the rest of the posts. So apparently it's whiskey, not brandy! Maybe Santa would appreciate a little Kahlua and cream...