Opinions please - give an Xmas present early or not?

Lunar_Eclipse

Hi all

Just wanted to see what others would do about this.

We're going away for Christmas, flying next weekend. It's a long haul trip, travel time of around 29 hours each way. We will have our 7 and 8 year olds with us.

Our eldest (8) has asked for an iPod for Christmas, which is partly for the journey (it is a killer.) She will be getting one from her Grandparents. It is by far her main present, obviously. She knows Santa won't be bringing it because it's way more than Santa would ever spend. But here's the killer, she has asked that should she be lucky enough to get one for Xmas, could she have it early for the flight down? Totally understandable and initially I thought to myself 'of course'.

On the one hand I don't mind her having it early and see the logic behind the request, but on the other hand we run the risk of taking a substantial element of the 'wondering what I'm getting' away from her in the run up to Xmas Day itself. Which is incredibly exciting for an 8 year old child. The Day will still be great. Both the girls will have a lot of gifts to open, albeit they all cost less than £10 (not that they'll notice in the slightest.)

So question: what would you do? (Forget about the youngest, Daddy has the same iPod she could use on the plane, so no issues on that front.)

I just can't decide. Flight aside, we would never let them open presents early. But it's tricky.

skintchick

Does she have something else she can listen to music on? If so, don;t give it to her early.

Krystaltips

I agree, if there is something else she could listen to music to then save it for her...

blackcoffee

If the present is coming from her grandparents then i dont see the problem of her having it early, especially as she isnt ging to be with her grandparents over christmas?? She wll still have her stocking, and i assume she knows the presse is coming her GP's ?

i would however express, due to the nature of your special christmas away, this is a total one off!!!


editted because .. long haul flights are full of entertainment and there are radio station where she could listen to music. so maybe there is no need for the ipod at all, she can have it on christmas day.

feelinggood_2

Could they both use Dads iPod on the plane? If they like the same things, you could get a headphone splitter thing.

Kippy

I'm a no I'm afraid, don't spoil the surprise, let them share Dads.

Spendless

29 Hours flight with 2 kids, I'm a yes:D Everything you've said that she realises it's not from santa, that she'll have other gifts makes me say this. I'd agree with making making it clear it's a one off though.

Lunar_Eclipse

Thanks for all your replies.

She does have a CD player to listen to music on (from the last trip down!) with a few CDs, but her main reason for wanting the iPod is movies/videos - she could watch Hannah Montana till her heart's content! And they have different taste when it comes to these sort of things so the split headphones probably won't work in reality.

My main 'yes' reasoning comes from 29 hours on a plane mentality. It's a long time in a seat! And the 'no' side of me is obviously because of the Xmas surprise element.

Edging towards no. Obviously feeling brave!

sylphraven

If theres other things she can do on a flight I'd say no, but if she's going to get bored then yes, you've said she'd going to get plenty of other pressies so no harm done; HOWEVER what about your other child, are they going to find this unfair/upsetting that their sibling has got a pressie early and they havent?

Lunar_Eclipse

sylphraven wrote: »

HOWEVER what about your other child, are they going to find this unfair/upsetting that their sibling has got a pressie early and they havent?

I don't think so, no. But you never can tell with children. It's a good point and possibly part of why my DH is not in favour of her having the iPod early. Not that he'd make a big thing about it if I felt completely differently.

There are other things to do on the plane, yes. But even when you take loads with you, you still end up with more time left than unused activities, especially if you don't get much sleep (as she never does on planes! At 5 she managed the 41 hour trip last time without sleeping). Still, I'm increasingly thinking we'll leave it till Xmas Day.

jacksons_mum

i would say yes. what about a special 'christmas day' with grandparents before you go where you have a nice meal and exchange presents. im sure that grandparents would love to see the girls opening their presents from them, especially as they have spent so much!