Present from Santa

I think Traci's idea is great- if he asks, just tell him Santa had to drop the balls off early. It doesn't make sense to me to go out and spend more money and accumulate more balls just for Santa's sake!

If your little guy is anything like my daughter, his memory of seeing the balls is clear and distinct and it would probably be safer to get something else from Santa.

I would give him the balls from you and a different present from Santa - even if its not "balls". I think Target sells a set of 4 balls for $10. Pretty cheap. I realize you don't want more balls in the house. Maybe you could have him choose some balls to give away to other kids and promote the giving spirit of Christmas.

What I did last year, with my 4 year old who was with me when I bought something that she wanted for Christmas from Santa, I took the item with me having her watched by someone other than me and I "took the item to Santa at a store." I brought a blanket with me and covered it up when I came back in the trunk or back of the van and didn't go anywhere that day, because my husband works nights. I then went and dug the objects out of the trunk and put them in a very good hiding spot, I then wrapped them in special wrapping paper my daughter never saw before. So, she really believed that even though she remembered me buying those objects, Santa brought them back to our hous. I don't think it would work this year now that she is 5 and 1/2, but it worked well last year. That might work with your balls for your son. Good luck.

Hi L.,

Sorry, but I think he'll know. He may think Santa brought him more and want to know where the other bag he saw is. I don't really know what to suggest other than trying to find the coolest kind of ball you can on google and make that his Santa gift.

Best wishes!
L.

oh yeah, he'll remember. i agree with Tara. what we do is to sort through our toys before birthdays and Christmas to make room for new things. so you can say, "since you've asked for new balls for Christmas, let's put some balls away to make room for the new ones that will probably come. they may come from santa, or they may come from family since we have told both that you want balls." try getting him to give some of his current balls away, as gifts to friends/cousins/neighbors, a thrift store, Freecycle.com, etc. if he's too attached, try putting them in a box in storage for him to "get out later". maybe you will get them out again, maybe he'll have let go enough in a few months that you can get rid of them. either way he gets used to the idea of letting go of the old toys to make room for the new ones and you don't have a house overflowing with toys. good luck!

If he's three, he's aware enough to know what you did. Preschoolers are smarter than we often give them credit for. But he's also old enough to have a conversation with him about how many balls he already has. If what he really wants for Christmas is more balls, then explain to him that he needs to make room for new ones from Santa by getting rid of some of the old ones. Have him fill a bag full of his older balls and let him "share them with kids who don't have any" by bringing them to Goodwill. Then he can ask Santa for new balls. Maybe Santa brings him one really nice special ball (a big exercise ball to play with? Kids love these. Or a special sports ball?). Then you can wrap up the other bags of balls and present them as a gift from his Auntie (and let her know there is no need to get him anything else for him for Christmas). If he doesn't want to do this, then there isn't room for any more new balls. He'll need to pick something different for Santa to bring him. If he doesn't want to do that then Santa will choose something special for him (you can leave a letter to him from Santa explaining why he picked out this very special gift for your son. Let Santa say something like "I noticed your large ball collection. I can tell you really love balls. I love watching you play with the ones you already have so I brought you something different to play with. I wonder if you can find a way to play with this AND your balls at the same time? I'll be watching to see what you come up with!"

Sometimes preschoolers get stuck on one idea for something because they aren't aware that there are other things just as interesting. Maybe take him on a fun trip to Toys R Us or Target, not to buy anything, but to walk him around to see if there are new things that catch his eye that he might want to ask Santa for. Just another thought.

Good luck!

Three year olds are remarkably observant. My son figured out the Santa thing from a comparable observation when he was not much older. If you want to keep the Santa thing going, I would recommend against Santa giving him that set of balls.

I dont think that at 3 your little guy would be quite caught on to the santa thing... at least not enough to ruin it. I think you could hide the bags of balls and maybe get him a ball pit or something to put them in. check craigslist , he will be so excited I dont think he will know the difference of who they came from

Good luck and Merry Christmas!!!

I tried doing this once with my boy but with books. I wrapped some books that he hadn't looked at for quite a while and when he opened them he said "Hey I already have this book!" After he said that he just went along and didn't have any other problems. It didn't ruin the Santa thing at all.
I say since he hasn't played with them yet use those for Christmas. If he asks just tell him Santa had to drop them off early.
T.

I think you would be fine by hiding them and having "Santa" bring them on Christmas. I bought my sons Christmas presents when he was with me, I dont think he even realizes it. I dont think that it will ruin Santa, just keep talking Santa up and you will get through it.. Merry Christmas!