S/O: How many gifts do your kids get for Christmas?

[Anonymous]

A lot because it brings me joy too. However, Christmas is when they get most of their winter clothes and I don't gift much to them any other time of year. But, the season is more than gifts for our family and we do lots of activities together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really hate the idea that grandparents are buying so many toys that parents are doing one gift from Santa and 2 from themselves. The grandparents already had their turn to load the tree with toys. My kids get to wake up to the magic of a bunch of presents under the tree. I don't care what anyone else gets them.

I agree. Both my mom and MIL are in the "buy as much crap as possible and don't ask what the kids want" camp. There are piles and piles of presents. Then the grandmas get annoyed that the kids aren't so thankful for the 50 $3 toys they got from the target dollar spot.

[Anonymous]

10-12 each. We are Catholic, go to Mass and sometimes do three Xmas, one at home Xmas morning, one at MIL house Xmas eve and one my family Xmas day.

[Anonymous]

I usually spent around $100 on my daughter - usually one bigger gift, a couple of clothing items (that I probably would have bought for her anyway), probably a DVD/blu-ray, maybe a small toy or two. Then I fill her stocking with random small things from the dollar tree like candy, lip balm, scrunchies, silly socks, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Want, need, wear, read is so depressing. If you don't want to purchase a lot of gifts, then don't. But why stick to something so strict? Just buy a few fun gifts and some clothes if needed. If you have a child that's going through a phase where they have slowed down on reading for fun and don't enjoy clothes, do you think they're going to enjoy christmas morning? Stop being scrooges. Or get your kid some socks, a book & a toothbrush, I guess.

I hate the want/need/wear thing too! And year after year?!! What a bummer.

+2 Seriously. And a majority of the people doing it are so proud they stick to the specific 4 gifts. The whole idea probably started off innocently, but then the mommy martyrs took over. I hope their kids enjoy their winter boots, pillowcases and book.

Yes! And whenever someone new discovers it, they’re like, “loooooove this idea.” But get upset when Santa brings a pile of toys for other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Want, need, wear, read is so depressing. If you don't want to purchase a lot of gifts, then don't. But why stick to something so strict? Just buy a few fun gifts and some clothes if needed. If you have a child that's going through a phase where they have slowed down on reading for fun and don't enjoy clothes, do you think they're going to enjoy christmas morning? Stop being scrooges. Or get your kid some socks, a book & a toothbrush, I guess.

I hate the want/need/wear thing too! And year after year?!! What a bummer.

+2 Seriously. And a majority of the people doing it are so proud they stick to the specific 4 gifts. The whole idea probably started off innocently, but then the mommy martyrs took over. I hope their kids enjoy their winter boots, pillowcases and book.

Yes! And whenever someone new discovers it, they’re like, “loooooove this idea.” But get upset when Santa brings a pile of toys for other kids.

NP. Did you guys miss the “want” part? And the stockings?

Kid wants a $500 iPad or gaming system. Stockings get cool gadget toys, nail polish, cute hair bows. Needs a new backpack. Something to read are books they picked out at the school book fair and on their wish list. Something to wear is the fancy NYE dress, jammies, cute outfits.

That’s no different than other parents mentioning 4 gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hate the idea that grandparents are buying so many toys that parents are doing one gift from Santa and 2 from themselves. The grandparents already had their turn to load the tree with toys. My kids get to wake up to the magic of a bunch of presents under the tree. I don't care what anyone else gets them.

I agree. Both my mom and MIL are in the "buy as much crap as possible and don't ask what the kids want" camp. There are piles and piles of presents. Then the grandmas get annoyed that the kids aren't so thankful for the 50 $3 toys they got from the target dollar spot.

Your kids should be grateful for that. I hope you are teaching them to be gracious and kind and yes, grateful, that someone loves them enough to go to Target and load up on toys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4 kids

2 books from Santa
One outfit from each set of grandparents
Stockings with school supplies
Siblings’ gifts are household chore exchange

That sounds meager. Do you need help?

[Anonymous]

My 10 yr old twins and 12 y old pick items from amazon not over $200 each

[Anonymous]

Too much, because I take care of it and then DH decides three days before Christmas that everyone needs a lot more crap that we can’t afford. Last year he bought a Nintendo switch (despite going on and on about too much screen time) and bought me the $600 version of Apple Watch. I returned the watch—I had a perfectly functional older Apple Watch already.

[Anonymous]

We are pretty strict on the gift giving. We limit it to $500 per kid (we have 3). We get some small things they like - a new xbox or Ps, a larger gift like a new bike, and some other items like a small drone or phone. We also get them new clothes. They complain they aren’t getting as much as their friends, but I tell them to be grateful for what they are getting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hate the idea that grandparents are buying so many toys that parents are doing one gift from Santa and 2 from themselves. The grandparents already had their turn to load the tree with toys. My kids get to wake up to the magic of a bunch of presents under the tree. I don't care what anyone else gets them.

I agree. Both my mom and MIL are in the "buy as much crap as possible and don't ask what the kids want" camp. There are piles and piles of presents. Then the grandmas get annoyed that the kids aren't so thankful for the 50 $3 toys they got from the target dollar spot.

I have a niece and nephew and their grandparents on the other side of the family send three boxes of plastic crap for Christmas every year—they don’t come visit and the kids live in a trailer, and there must be 10 presents per kid in each box and they play with each toy for literally like 10 seconds and then it is forgotten. Yet they never SEE the grandparents who brag about traveling the Caribbean all the time. They should spend the money on a visit to the kids or a college fund. It’s such a pathetic waste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 kids

2 books from Santa
One outfit from each set of grandparents
Stockings with school supplies
Siblings’ gifts are household chore exchange

That sounds meager. Do you need help?

NP. Do you realize that "meager" on top of kids who literally have everything they need and truly want is...still excessive? When will you people understand what truly wanting and needing looks like.

We celebrate with "meager" gifts, that's what the materialistic parents out there would probably say. We spend the bulk of our holiday time and money sponsoring 3 families from a women's shelter. That's where we go big. My kids LOVE being a part of this process and are very thoughtful in what we pick out for our families. My oldest teared up with joy when she found just the right comforter that a little girl had asked for.

[Anonymous]

I consider clothes, shoes, backpacks, water bottles, toothbrushes, etc to be essential items and not gifts. I buy them throughout the year whenever I find sales or as needed.

Christmas is toys and books. DS is 7 and we plan to spend $100-200 depending on what he wants. It will likely go up when he gets older and wants a gaming system or other big ticket item.

Grandparents, aunts, etc also buy gifts or give money that goes into his savings account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 kids

2 books from Santa
One outfit from each set of grandparents
Stockings with school supplies
Siblings’ gifts are household chore exchange

That sounds meager. Do you need help?

NP. Do you realize that "meager" on top of kids who literally have everything they need and truly want is...still excessive? When will you people understand what truly wanting and needing looks like.

We celebrate with "meager" gifts, that's what the materialistic parents out there would probably say. We spend the bulk of our holiday time and money sponsoring 3 families from a women's shelter. That's where we go big. My kids LOVE being a part of this process and are very thoughtful in what we pick out for our families. My oldest teared up with joy when she found just the right comforter that a little girl had asked for.

This does seem meager. Unless the kids specifically want books, you can borrow from the library throughout the year and buy a toy instead. If you truly can't afford school supplies, there are programs to help you with this.