How many gifts do most kids get for Christmas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

I'm the PP who wrote that. Do you mean that when people say "want" they mean "asked for"?

I get my kids things they didn't ask for, but they're still things I think they'd want.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. I could not figure out what a kid could get for Christmas that they neither wanted or needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

I'm the PP who wrote that. Do you mean that when people say "want" they mean "asked for"?

I get my kids things they didn't ask for, but they're still things I think they'd want.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. I could not figure out what a kid could get for Christmas that they neither wanted or needed.

I think the point is that you get your kid ONE thing from each category (want, need, wear, read) so for example
Want: toy/cool gadget
Need: new toothbrush
Wear: pjs
Read: book

Sounds so boring! I’m glad my parents didn’t do that when I was a kid 😆

Our kids are each getting 5 gifts to unwrap from me/my spouse (3 packages will be toys, 1 will be books, 1 will be games), 4 gifts from grandparents, 3 gifts from aunts/uncles, 1 gift from great grandmother (all the extended family gifts will likely be toys) and a stocking full of small things “from Santa.”

When I was a kid we got SO much stuff for Christmas. Like probably 30-40 things each including all the gifts from parents, grandparents, other relatives, santa. It was obscene. And to be honest even though it was exciting and fun as a kid it was also overwhelming and even as a young kid I remember feeling nervous about it! Like worried that I’d have to spend the whole day sitting there opening things and pretending to like/thanking people for stuff I actually didn’t like! Whereas when my spouse was a kid they got 2-3 gifts total per kid (and sometimes the gifts would be pretty small/boring too) each Christmas. It just wasn’t a big holiday in his family and they are pretty minimalist. He said it was disappointing as a kid and not something he really looked forward to or enjoyed that much

So for our own kids we’re trying to find a happy medium. I don’t want them to get so much that it’s overwhelming and just too much focus on gifts like in my family of origin. But I do want it to be fun and to spoil them a little at Christmas because we really never buy toys except Christmas and birthdays and it’s fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This year? Probably zero. No shopping for Christmas. We buy things and start using it as soon as Amazon delivers. The idea to hide it, wrap it, wait till Christmas? Nah!

That really sucks for your kids

[Anonymous]

I would have bought tons more but my DH hates Christmas. He grew up in a muslim country and just doesn't get the level of consumerism that happens from Nov-Dec in the name of "Christmas spirit." So I downsize from what I would naturally do to keep the peace and still give the kids a pretty god christmas

[Anonymous]

Nanny/homeschool teacher here. I got twin kindergarteners about 30 books, I think? I buy sets, and they're cheap little readers or level 1/2 I can Read. They saw them on Christmas, but they have to "earn" them by learning to read them. The older child chose three series to try, and I'm getting the first three books in each. Again, they belong to the child when the child actually reads them.

Other than that, I got three sets of Melissa and Doug craft multi-packs, and they split them up and made them Christmas morning while waiting for their parents to wake up.

From their family, they got large group gifts from grandparents who miss them (abnormal number) and a few less from Santa and parents, trying to moderate. Most of their toys are joint, and the parents tend to put items in bigger boxes, so it's harder to tell what they are.

[Anonymous]

When I’m buying and wrapping, I always think it’s so much. But when it’s all over and the gifts have been unwrapped, I think it wasn’t so much after all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

I'm the PP who wrote that. Do you mean that when people say "want" they mean "asked for"?

I get my kids things they didn't ask for, but they're still things I think they'd want.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. I could not figure out what a kid could get for Christmas that they neither wanted or needed.

I think the point is that you get your kid ONE thing from each category (want, need, wear, read) so for example
Want: toy/cool gadget
Need: new toothbrush
Wear: pjs
Read: book

Sounds so boring! I’m glad my parents didn’t do that when I was a kid 😆

Our kids are each getting 5 gifts to unwrap from me/my spouse (3 packages will be toys, 1 will be books, 1 will be games), 4 gifts from grandparents, 3 gifts from aunts/uncles, 1 gift from great grandmother (all the extended family gifts will likely be toys) and a stocking full of small things “from Santa.”

When I was a kid we got SO much stuff for Christmas. Like probably 30-40 things each including all the gifts from parents, grandparents, other relatives, santa. It was obscene. And to be honest even though it was exciting and fun as a kid it was also overwhelming and even as a young kid I remember feeling nervous about it! Like worried that I’d have to spend the whole day sitting there opening things and pretending to like/thanking people for stuff I actually didn’t like! Whereas when my spouse was a kid they got 2-3 gifts total per kid (and sometimes the gifts would be pretty small/boring too) each Christmas. It just wasn’t a big holiday in his family and they are pretty minimalist. He said it was disappointing as a kid and not something he really looked forward to or enjoyed that much

So for our own kids we’re trying to find a happy medium. I don’t want them to get so much that it’s overwhelming and just too much focus on gifts like in my family of origin. But I do want it to be fun and to spoil them a little at Christmas because we really never buy toys except Christmas and birthdays and it’s fun!

We did get my kids a good number of things. They each got about 10-20 things. We also did a big day where they got stockings from mom+dad, Christmas book, advent calendars and pajamas Dec 1 where they each got about 10 trinkets. My whole thing is getting higher quality toys they will actually use and not a ton of junk. I got them sporting equipment they would use during the year, picasso and magnatiles, bikes, brio train, outdoor yard equipment etc. I don't really buy many toys throughout the year and they seemed grateful and happy.

[Anonymous]

I don’t count, but a lot. I don’t really give gifts or buy much throughout the year just because.

I’m guessing many families buy toys or games or clothing throughout the year. I don’t do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t count, but a lot. I don’t really give gifts or buy much throughout the year just because.

I’m guessing many families buy toys or games or clothing throughout the year. I don’t do that.

We do both. During the year they get clothes - I think one year I wrapped some clothes because they had come close to Christmas but they don’t care enough about what they wear to think it’s a cool gift. Maybe when they’re teens? Throughout this year we’ve purchased crafts, art supplies, board and card games, and puzzles pretty regularly because of the time spent at home. Christmas was lots of things they wanted but hadn’t gotten. The thought of the four gifts in categories sounds dreary to me, too. I hate “stuff” and my kids don’t get junk, but Christmas is a big deal and they get pretty much everything they ask for. Especially this year.

[Anonymous]

DS is 4 and aunts, uncles, grandparents, and aunties have been really good about using his wishlist. On Christmas Eve, he had about a dozen gifts from them & us to open—all stuff from his wish list, plus new PJs. On Christmas morning, he had a huge box from Santa (which had 3 big LEGO sets) and a stocking with things like a stuffy, chocolate Santa, new ornament, toothbrush, etc. Definitely a lot, but spreading it out over 2 days and letting him know MOST of the gifts were from family was a success this year. I hope we can keep that up after COVID. It was so nice just the three of us.