Normal 5 Year Old Present Reaction?

Totally normal! I gave my two young cousins (ages 6 and 4) some "play" makeup sets and a fun squishy ball. The gifts were basically opened and discarded in one motion! There was so much going on around them and so many gifts to open, I can't begin to blame them for their responses. Gratitude is difficult to teach with such "gift" overload. Take it easy on him, the older he gets the better he will understand.

Definitely normal. You're doing great and he'll figure it all out eventually. You're lucky there were no hurt feelings, excellent to learn such lessons at home in private!

Yes, totally normal!! Kids tend to be honest and frank. You handled it appropriately.

Kids let things fall out of their mouths before they go through their brains. I'm glad it wasn't in front of the giver and I'm glad you talked to him. Maybe they will grow on him or can be returned for something else. I told DD that a wish list is a WISH list and sometimes you get exactly what you wished for and sometimes not. She got things I knew she would like but didn't know she'd need. My stepson once complained that he wanted to be a little surprised, so I take his wish lists as idea lists. So work on his public reaction. It may also have been more honest in private. But I wouldn't worry overmuch, especially since you were home.

kids are simply honest. and just because he didn't want it doesn't mean he doesn't like it. i gave my hubby's cousin's kid (5) a no sew fleece blanket I made for christmas. we don't hang out with them a whole lot and I had no clue what to get for him for $10 (our limit) we had drawn names. So I did the blanket as something that is super useable in a print he should like that was age/gender appropriate. when he opened it he wasn't excited. I completely get it. I wasn't offended. his parents were embarassed by his reaction and it was towards the end of a long day. Kids are kids. I was only uncomfortable because the parents were embarassed. about 1/2 hour later he was curled up asleep in it. kids come around.

Heard the saying "out of the mouths of babes" ? This is what they mean LOL

Totally normal and he will grow out of it as long as you keep reinforcing that it's the thought that counts. And that being thankful is STILL important.

Completely normal even for children who are not ( ugh. Onlies.)

All children react to gifts in one way or another that might not be your favorite but it has NOTHING to do with having an only child. Geez

Our "only" just turned 18 and just imagine.. They do and can turn out as non selfish brats . They can and do contribute to the community very well.

Support your child with their interests and go from there. An only child can be a huge blessing to many.

I think a lot has to do with personality of the child. Some kids are just blunt. I do think that explaining is the way to go bc a gift is a gift, and someone was trying to be thoughtful so I have taught my kids to say thank you and give a hug (with close friends and relatives). Even my two year old is always very appreciative. So now I am that parent that every time someone says something nice, gives a gift etc, there I am saying 'what do you say?....' :)

Okay, I am confused. He's 5 and didn't understand what was going on at Christmas before this? That's interesting. I would honestly say by 3 most kids are going to remember the words Santa, Christmas, presents, and all the other words that we use specifically for this time of year. They would know and understand what is going to happen and get totally wired up in the weeks leading up to the actual day. Probably as soon as Hobby Lobby and Walmart put out the Christmas stuff in September.

So I do tend to thing he should have understood the whole concept and been looking forward to the stuff for weeks.

As for not finding his gifts to be just what he wanted they were certainly age appropriate and nice sounding gifts.

Is he in kindergarten? They do puzzles and stuff like that. If he isn't he may not have been exposed to them very much yet.

I enjoy puzzle games but sadly don't really care for actual puzzles. I love books and was always excited to get them. But since he can't read yet he may not think they are great gifts. He'll like them just fine if you read them to him and spend that time with him. That is the stuff memories are made of.

Funny, my daughter turned five on 12/21, didn't do that last year but did it to three presents this year! My sister (childless I might add) thought I was being permissive by allowing her to say that. Glad to know she wasn't the only five year old saying it!

i think somewhat normal. i am the only one that gave my dh (6) clothes, and right on top of the box i put his lego ninjago t-shirt - so i avoided that for the most part. sure, they recognize the words "santa" and "presents", but no, i agree that they don't really "get it". it seems like at 4 they don't, really. i think it's normal - just keep reminding him that we always say thank-you, and we are always appreciative because we don't "have" to get presents at all. i was kind of mean, i told my son if he doesn't say thank you and be grateful he may not get presents next time. kinda sneaky but kinda true, imo. above all we should be grateful that we got anything at all. my son can't stand the movie Cars (don't ask me, i don't get it). last year at 5, he got two Cars figures from his preschool gift exchange - and apparently he didn't take it well. this year, he got two Cars puzzles (he also is not a fan of puzzles), and, while he didn't open them in front of the giver, he actually handled it great. he didn't say anything negative at all. i was so proud of him. so it gets better, we have to keep reinforcing that good reaction. no big deal, totally normal!

I'm 46 and I still have a hard time feigning "oh I love it".

For Christmas I got Heaven Scent, Chantilly and Tabu from my husband.

Geez, I'm 46, not 64!!
LOL :)

~A~