I get the strong feeling this kid isn't going to do well in college. :-)

I saw this kid on the Today Show a while ago. The show got him a nice non-book present. Since he already had one, he wasn't happy with that present either.

Shirley

I saw it too, both the original and the second appearance when they tried to remind everyone that this is 'just a child's reaction'. BS, IMO the kid is a brat.

Amen, lynn. And a spoiled one, too.

Well, I have always loved to read, but hated getting books as presents. As a kid, it seemed like a waste of an opportunity for a "real" gift. (My parents bought me books or I got them from the library.) As an adult, it feels like an assignment. (I like recommendations, though!)

Of course, my mother had me too well-trained to actually *say* anything, like this kid did.

IMHO, the kid is a spoiled brat! Books are great toys!

When relative or friend has a baby I usually give books as a gift - especially if it's their first. Since they outgrow clothes quickly I try to give them something that will last. I buy books for different ages - soft, fabric ones that can be chewed, books of basic shapes or colors, easy rhyming favorites, and then early readers. I really like the little sets that combine a stuffed animal with a book like The Velveteen Rabbit.

I'm with Heather. If I was his parent I wouldn't put this up on UTube. Didn't think it was cute, didn't think it was funny. Just a spoiled brat.

I would be so embarrassed if I was that child's parent! NO WAY would I put it public on YouTube for all to see! And then to have the attitude that he did on the Today....Nope, there wouldn't be ANY gifts for that child!!!

I give books as gifts, and if someone said something like that...it would be the last...GIFT!

Brat!

Wow, looks like he got a Wii too! Who gives a 3 year old a Wii?

"Who gives a 3 year old a Wii"? A daddy that wants one!!!

If that had been my kid..he would have lost access to every toy he got! No wonder kids grow up with a sense of entitlement! It's a taught behavior!!

I was screaming at the television when they were on the Today show! This is not funny, it is not cute! Geez...I loved getting anything....well except for underwear!

Poor kid. Probably has parents that don't value books. Bet they don't read to him. Probably propped him up with bottle and provided him with interactive "smart" baby toy. bet there aren't any blocks, paints or puzzles in that home either. Little to no cuddle time in mommy or daddy's lap being read to. Just guessing.

I couldn't view the video but I agree with everyone above. Books are the best gifts to give a child. What child doesn't like to be read to if you start them out as babies. You can't wait until they are 2 or 3 years old and say OK we are going to sit down and read a book. You need to start when they are small and they get to enjoy the relaxing rhythm of Mom or Dad's voice as they read. Guess you can tell that I am a avid reader and a firm believer in reading to children. OK I am off my soapbox now.
Kittywhiskers

If this were the "olden days" he'd get a swat on the butt. I certainly don't think he's cute.

Geez...I loved getting anything....well except for underwear!

Lynn, your comment reminded me of the Christmas I was nine years old. My mom had died the previous month, which perhaps explains why so many people showed so little imagination in gift-giving. I opened up box after box of underwear! I kept saying, "Just what I always wanted." :-)

That kid was on the Today Show?? The show must be hard up for guests.

I gave my 6 y/o DGD an Amazon gift card for Christmas so she could buy whatever books she wanted. She was thrilled! She loves to read but she reads far above the average 6 y/o and I didn't want to get her something "babyish". She is reading Harry Potter right now.

Linda

I agree with Lynn. The kid has no manners.

When I first saw the video on You Tube my initial reaction was 'how typical' - my guess is that many 3 year old little boys think TOYS when they think of presents. The first time I watched it I thought it was cute - even non-spoiled kids might have had a similar reaction when they're disappointed. At that age they just say whatever is on their mind. And if his parents haven't read to him or helped teach him the value of a book then that explains his reaction even more.

I didn't realize that he was on The Today Show. I wonder what his parents were thinking? I'm sure they thought his reaction on Christmas was cute, they were obviously laughing on the video. But I think I'd think twice about going on national TV and and showing everyone letting everyone see it. I'm afraid that just might reinforce that behavior.

My DD loved getting books. She was 2 when she got her first book. The book was the only thing she wanted, the rest of the presents were left til later.
As years went by, her most favorite book was "The Runaway
Pancake" It got lost when we moved and she was very upset.
She still mentions it as her best book ever. She is 55 now
and is still looking for a copy.

I would have been ashamed to show a video of one of my children acting like that.

My grandchildren have all been taught to say thank you..even if they don't really like it.

You can usually tell by the looks on their faces anyway...lol

I believe manners still need to be taught....and not laugh at them when they act out like that.

If you laugh at them when they are naughty as children what will they be doing as teen or adults.

I have two grown sons. I never saw either one of them be anything but appreiative and thankful for gifts, even if it was something they didn't really care for.

I doubt the parents were embarrased one bit. Where do you think he learned that attitude?

My 3 year-old grandson exclaimed over every present he opened, "It's just what I wanted", until he came to a very large box that actually DID contain something he wanted very much - a Tyranasaurus Rex that was as big as he was. We had used some of those air filled plastic bags they use for packing and they were right on top and that was all he saw. He opened the box and exclaimed, "That's NOT what I wanted!" And the reason he thought that the air filled bags were the gift? Well, we often let him pop the large bubble wrap. He probably thought this was another "toy".

By laughing at his reaction, the parents were reinforcing the very bad behavior. So much of what children learn is from watching their parents' reactions.

I am amazed the number of posters "blaming" the little 3 year old and calling him a brat. I don't find the video amusing, but on the other hand it is really not outside the norm for a 3 year old's behavior.

I can't imagine what entertainment value the Today Show thought there was in having him & his parents on tv?!?! I didn't see it, but I'm guessing that their giving him a "wrong" gift was perhaps a set up. Wouldn't they have checked with the parents first to see what he likes, what he already had (kids have SO much today). Altogether, it seems lame.

well, my grands get books for Christmas among other things, one's thrilled, one not much but still there's only postive thank yous

If I child of mine ever acted that way opening a gift, that would be the end of the gift opening - at least for a time out period. I feel badly for the person that gave the child the books. Manners can be taught at a young age.

Dollydolots - Love your username!
You can find The Runaway Pancake online at Amazon, Walmart, and Barnes&Noble.

Sorry, I didn't think it was cute at all, stamping one's foot and screaming "I want (something else)" is a great way to guarantee one gets nothing, IMO.
And like sjerin, when I heard the parents laughing I thought they were totally wrong, it was just encouraging and reinforcing his poor behaviour- you see where he says, "Pooey" the first time and it gets a laugh so he repeats the behaviour. Even if I thought it was very funny, if my DD did something which I didn't want her to do again I made sure she didn't see me laughing.

Well, he was 3 in the original video. The behavior is not uncommon for a 3 year old. I think the parents response wasn't helpful at all but I'm not sure I woudn't have laughed about it. I would not have put it on Utube. It looked like the gift was from Santa. I know there were times when my own daughter was less than thrilled with the stuff she got. It's up to the parents to teach them. Also, when the kid was on the Today show they said he was 4. He did thank them for the gift (with prodding from mom) but he did say that he already had one of those. I don't think his behavior was out of line at all for a 4 year old. Wow, I hope I don't have some of the opinions expressed here when I have grandkids. Some seem harsh to me.

Although this child's behavior was out of line there were several posters that I agree with, do not give the most desired gifts first and build up to the "most desired" gift. Mom and dad did reinforce his behavior by laughing and you could tell he was enjoying their laughter; at one point the child looks at whoever was filming and almost laughs. If he is a brat, guess who is helping reaffirm his behavior? I think the parents need to think about what kind of adult they want him to become, and start his training. As far as swatting his behind, well, if he had been trained not to act like he was acting, that maybe o.k. if he had been talked to and still continued to act out, but it looked like to me he evidently had not been trained in the manners department, and probably given too much and had the "I get what I want" attitude. But, he did not teach himself that attitude. Should we "swat the parents?" ;~D

Saying that, I was raised by overly two strict disciplinarians and I would have had my face slapped off with a mouth full of soap if I had done that! OMG!!!

It seemed to me that the kid knows he's funny and plays it up, he's encouraged to do so since his parents find it hilarious.

I don't mind if I get a lukewarm reception to my gifts though; kids can't hide it if they are less than impressed and that's ok.
In this case, the kid is mouthy and obnoxious, and seems to be encouraged to be like that.

I remember my daughter's birthday one year, I think she was turning maybe five. We were all in the backyard with her gifts. It was summer (July 29). Her grandmother gave her a nicely wrapped box, with a big pink bow on the top, Grandma had taped some pink girly pencils in the bow. My daughter grabbed the bow and pencils, ripped them from the box and threw them to the side while announcing "I don't need these!". Was my face red!!!

I would be embarrassed if I were his parents and I certainly wouldn't post it for the public to see. Not because he doesn't like books, but the way he's acting.

When I was little, I remember getting a big book of stories that I just loved. And I hated reading. What I loved about it was, it was a big book, probably 8" x 12" and an inch thick and filled with about 100 short stories. I didn't have to read it cover to cover. I could pick and choose which stories I wanted to read. I ended up reading the whole book many times. But to read a book with one story cover to cover took me until grade nine. "The Outsiders" by S. E. Hinton. I read it a dozen times over the years and watched the movie several times. It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I read another book and then became a bookworm with V. C. Andrews "Flowers In The Attic". Since the internet though, I've only read one book cover to cover. In TEN years! I'm working on book #2 right now. "The Iceman: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer" by Philip Carlo. It's a true story. Right now he's 26 and has killed about 65 people. Only 2 were for the mafia so far. The guy had some serious mental problems. But with a father like he had, it's no wonder. You have to read it. It's good. LOL

I didn't watch the video posted. But I can well imagine what his reaction was. I was disappointed in my storybook too. But I did eventually read it all.

I laughed too when I saw his reaction. It cracked me up. He is not my kid, so I can, :) He's just a little boy, at three he doesn't know any better.

Here is another video from a year later. His parents are trying. He actually seems like a sweetie. Cute Kid.

Here is a link that might be useful: MORE books for Christmas??

Thanks for sharing the latest video. Sure is an improvement.

My impression, from the Today Show segment, was that they were trying to show how he had matured since last year...but it sorta backfired when he stated it was a duplicate gift.

Call me jaded. I'm beginning to believe that the parents are behind the whole thing. They put the video out there with the intention of it going viral. perhaps from a little help from their friends. Then the kids goes on the Today Show. now I have family who have been interviewed on TV and usually they are done remotely, not live on the set. Now a third video comes out to show how he's matured.

I believe this family made "reality drama" may be just about getting their little darling out in the public eye hoping he will be "discovered" and get a role as a child model, in commercials or a bit part in a TV sow or movie.

Of course this is all just conjecture on my part but really.....

What a difference a year makes. Thanks for posting that sunny!