PARENTS always dread this time of year – as well as the actual shopping, there is also the pressure of getting the right presents for the children.
If yours are anything like mine, they tend to have one or two presents they definitely want and talk about non-stop and then there are the others which seem to change on a daily basis – one moment it is this, the next it is that.
Well, as the Royal Mail has been delivering letters to Father Christmas (a privilege it has had for the last 53 years), Santa’s helpers have keeping tabs on the most popular presents wanted by youngsters before forwarding them onto the North Pole.
And like those said children’s lists, there are a few you could call and a few surprises.
According to the letters that the man in the big red suit has received, Lego is the top want of 2016 – it has consistently been in the top three since 2013.
Next up a scooter and in third place a bike – with all the negative press about childhood obesity, that will come as a relief to many parents.
The fourth choice of present for children is a ‘mobile phone’ – leading to inevitable questions for parents about whether they should contemplate giving their youngsters a phone at their age.
In fifth place is a Paw Patrol Air Patroller (at least the canine crew are there to help people) followed by a Nerf Gun and then in seventh Pie Face Showdown (most adults will admit that game looks fun – if not embarrassing).
Star Wars Spin Action Lightsabre features in eighth (as long as they do not accidentally hit you with it while you are sleeping off the turkey and stuffing), in ninth is Barbie’s three-storey townhouse (she only had a Ferrari in our day) and in tenth Furby Connect.
Children have also been putting questions to Father Christmas including ‘how many presents are delivered?’, ‘how many mince pies do you eat around the world?’, ‘how old are you?’ and ‘how many elves do you have working for you?’
Other posers include ‘do Rudolph and the other reindeers like carrots?’ and ‘do you like being Santa?’.
Royal Mail’s chief elf in charge of Santa’s mailbag Alex McConnell said: “We are very honoured that Father Christmas has allowed us again to take a peek at what children are asking for this year.
“We get to see what they really want for Christmas.
“All the elves at Royal Mail enjoy reading the heart-warming letters from the children all over the UK because of the festive cheer these letters bring.”
Let’s hope the letter writers – however young are old they are – get everything they want this Christmas.
