How many gifts do most kids get for Christmas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mean to be snarky, but I'm curious

When people say they do want, need, wear, read and then some things that don't fit, what would you get a child that doesn't fit into those 4 categories?

I mean, I know lots of people whose IL's get them presents they neither want nor need, but as a parent, I try to avoid that. If my kids don't want it, or need it, why would I buy it?

Surprising my kids with things I think they'll enjoy is a major part of the holiday for me. It's my favorite part!

[Anonymous]

Maybe about 10...2 from santa, the elves, the reindeer, 2 from mom and dad, the siblings, the dog...it adds up. mine are on the younger side so it doesn't really equate to a ton of money. For example a $10 board game. Each has one gift around $100 and maybe another around $50 so each kids is at like $200/each.

[Anonymous]

Um... More than most. Two caveats, my kids are the only great grand kids and we don't buy toys outside if Christmas.

-5 from Santa
-4 in their stocking (small)
- 5 from us. (Clothes, towels, books)
-4 from maternal grand parents
-1 from paternal grand parents
- 2 from Aunt
- 6 from great aunts (mostly books)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I see I am the overindulger in this crowd. I don’t think there is a number for “most kids” though OP. Tons of people seem to do the want, need, wear, read. Other do one or two, other 5, 10, 15 and more. When all is said and done my kids will probably have 25 or more this year. Sounds horrendous to many of you I’m sure, but it never seems like my kids have more stuff than other kids. Maybe we just buy less all year. My kids don’t have a video game console, don’t have their own devices (ages 9 and 10), they have a crap ton of books (and many of that huge gift number will be books, for one kids more than half will be books, though a couple of the gifts are 2-3 books from a series). DH and I both had huge Christmases from the beginning so it is just what we always did without thinking through it much. I feel okay about it.

We are the same! The want/need/read thing always sounds so dreary to me personally. I don't want a checklist. I want a giant carnival christmas full of things to unwrap---even boring things like socks and underwear.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I am not originally from the US and started celebrating Xmas after I got married and I had no idea a child can have 2, 5 or even 10 gifts from Santa. Santa brings one gift in our home. I genuinely had no idea. Besides 1 gift from Santa, we do may be 2 gifts from parents. No gift from siblings but they make ornaments. But grandparent from one side send a lot of gifts, clothes. I think it looks like more presents because of grandparents. My parents send nothing as they do not celebrate Xmas..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year probably about 20 or so things to open. A mix of books, toys, gadgets. Nothing expensive. That's just from us/santa. Probably 10 or so other gifts from family too. It's slightly more than most years, but I like have lots of things to wrap and open. I never spend that much money, although I'm sure that will change as kids get older.

You sound like me. My kid will have a similar amount to open.

[Anonymous]

People love to crow about their minimalist christmases on here. For parents that have $$ I think it sounds boring for kids.

I would have no idea how to count gifts for our kid but suffice it to say it is a lot.

[Anonymous]

My 17 yo will have 5 gifts to open and my 14 yo will have 10 gifts (in 11 packages because the "big" gift has two pieces). They'll each have some cash and, if I can get to it tomorrow, a homemade item in their stockings. The overall dollar amount spent on each kid is equal, it's just that the main gift the older one wanted cost about twice what the main gift for the younger one did so there was more left over to buy some smaller items for #2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I am not originally from the US and started celebrating Xmas after I got married and I had no idea a child can have 2, 5 or even 10 gifts from Santa. Santa brings one gift in our home. I genuinely had no idea. Besides 1 gift from Santa, we do may be 2 gifts from parents. No gift from siblings but they make ornaments. But grandparent from one side send a lot of gifts, clothes. I think it looks like more presents because of grandparents. My parents send nothing as they do not celebrate Xmas..

I think there's a huge difference in what people claim is from Santa, and no "wrong" way to do it.

In our house, the parents bring the "big" present, and Santa bring a stocking full of little gifts, and maybe a few things next to the stockings. So, Santa's bringing 5 - 10 gifts per kid, but they aren't big things, they're things like a T shirt, or a pack of baseball cards, or a new pack of markers.

[Anonymous]

This year there's two-three big toy presents (one present is a sled which obviously isn't getting played with until it snows, but she asked for it), a few shirts and clothes, three books, and three or four smaller toys (small individual Lego sets, for example).

That's the plan at least. One grandma will be here and I have no idea what she might pull out of a bag unexpectedly.

[Anonymous]

I am a single parent so I totally go overboard I realize. I don't even count. It's a full set of packages under a huge tree for .... an only child. But besides stuffed animals it is mostly books and dvds and some board games we'll use together for the rest of the year.

[Anonymous]

I can’t wait for Christmas.
Santa is bringing an enormous dollhouse and my child is going to flip out.

[Anonymous]

About 10 each. Mostly smaller stuff, no electronics.

They are getting a bit more this yr because of covid and being at home a lot I wanted them to have some new things to occupy themselves with and keep busy and engaged.

[Anonymous]

4 things from their wishlist from Santa about 5 from us. but our kids are still young, (7 and 5) so nothing crazy expensive in there. Some of the gifts are just art supplies and books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. I see I am the overindulger in this crowd. I don’t think there is a number for “most kids” though OP. Tons of people seem to do the want, need, wear, read. Other do one or two, other 5, 10, 15 and more. When all is said and done my kids will probably have 25 or more this year. Sounds horrendous to many of you I’m sure, but it never seems like my kids have more stuff than other kids. Maybe we just buy less all year. My kids don’t have a video game console, don’t have their own devices (ages 9 and 10), they have a crap ton of books (and many of that huge gift number will be books, for one kids more than half will be books, though a couple of the gifts are 2-3 books from a series). DH and I both had huge Christmases from the beginning so it is just what we always did without thinking through it much. I feel okay about it.

We are the same! The want/need/read thing always sounds so dreary to me personally. I don't want a checklist. I want a giant carnival christmas full of things to unwrap---even boring things like socks and underwear.

Sounds dreary to me too! Too formulaic for our family. Plus the kids really want toys when they’re little.