While the Christmas madness is ramping up in retail stores, a strange calmness has settled on many family households.
All of a sudden children have started doing their chores without being asked, eating their vegetables and going to bed on time.
One suspects they have realised they need to avoid being on Santa's naughty list if they want the big guy to leave presents under their Christmas trees.
Pupils at Concord School in Dunedin were yesterday far from shy about telling us what they had asked Santa for this year.
While most of their requests appeared to be for electronic equipment such as computer tablets, mobile phones, Xboxes and PlayStations, others were heart-warming and just plain unusual.
Mackenzie Metuakore says she has asked Santa for a Chihuahua because she is about to move to another school so she can live with her dad, and she will miss all of her friends.
''When I go to live with Dad, I'll have something to play with. It might be a bit lonely until I get some new friends.''
Mackenzie is looking forward to living with her dad, and says being with him is going to be the best Christmas present for her this year.
At the other extreme, Logan Dean-Ford says he wants a Katana sword (Samurai sword), like the one used by the character Leonardo in the movie and television series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Logan says he would prefer the real McCoy, but he would settle for a replica.
He doesn't want to cut people up with it, but acknowledges it could be useful for chopping firewood, or clearing scrub from the bottom of the garden.
Hayley Woodhouse wants a television so she can avoid struggles over the remote with other family members.
''My dad always watches Top Gear, which is boring. If I've got my own TV, I can watch what I want.''
Most of the pupils said they have been very good this year and deserved to be on Santa's nice list.
But when told Santa would be reading this story, some clammed up and went pale.
Two others admitted they had been naughty earlier in the year, but said they had been ''pretty good'' lately and they hoped Santa would overlook their indiscretions.
Concord School principal Steve Turnbull said he loved working with children at this time of year.
''It's nice to see a bit of innocence is left in the world after what has been happening lately,'' he said, referring to the siege in Sydney.
