Store Santa Clauses taught to size up recession-hit parents' wealth and manage children's gift expectations

When confronted with a huge list of 'I wants', Santas are being told to tell them that they can't have everything.

They should also take a look at the children's parents and 'size them up' before promising them something that their mother and father can't afford.

The measures are part of the new syllabus at the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Michigan, the New York Times reported.

Dating back to 1937, It is the oldest and most celebrated Santa school in the U.S., but it is now having to move with the times.

Some Santas have been taken aback by young children who have presented them with spread sheet, printouts and cuttings from catalogues instead of a simple wish list.

Others have become so tired of being asked for iPods they have prepared stock answers to get around it.