Anonymous wrote:Take them on an adventure, like taking the train to NYC or going to a fancy hotel downtown, sitting in the bar, and then having a cool/fun dinner at a fancy restaurant. I feel like that’s usually a hit with kids that age. Make sure you take amazing photos of them on the adventure if they do social media. This might not work for the elementary school kid if it’s a boy so possibly divide and conquer.

Why do I come back here to read this nonsense

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have started asking my kids for their top 3 things- and my husband and I each get one of them. Then we go to a show as a family at the Kennedy Center. Stockings are filled with really thoughtful but small things- fave candy bar, gift card to fav lunch spot, etc.

We also have a gift wrapping competition that they get sooo into. My daughter made a diorama last year with my gift hidden inside a witch’s cauldron! Whoever wins gets to pick dinner on NYE.

I need to up my game. The gift wrapping competition is an awesome idea. Thanks for sharing.

Something they want. Something they need. Something to wear. Something to read.

Make it festive - they have gift tags for this now. Check out Pinterest and do a fun gift stack - a grinch, reindeer, Santa, etc.

I would still do the stocking stuffers but make it something consumable they need/will eat - some lip balm/gloss, hair stuff, hat and gloves, candy, etc.

Your kids are getting to the age where their list dwindles anyway - my then 5th and 6th graders could not articulate ONE thing they wanted last year. See what’s on their list and get a few things. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars.

Our stocking stuffers are basically $20-30 a person and basically consist of things we would buy for life anyway, but then just put in a stocking. Deodorant, scented body wash, hair elastics, nail polish, face cream, etc. It’s basically toiletries. If I skipped them, I would then just have to buy more of this stuff throughout the year.

Anonymous wrote:Skip the gift cards. I agree that they need to have something to actually open, otherwise that's going to be a sad morning. Plus by the time they get to use the gift cards the stores will be picked over from the holiday.

[/b]My mom used to take me shopping before Christmas so that I could pick out clothing gifts, and then she wrapped it and put it under the tree[b].

My parents and grandparents did that too and I loved it!

Skip the gift cards. I agree that they need to have something to actually open, otherwise that's going to be a sad morning. Plus by the time they get to use the gift cards the stores will be picked over from the holiday.

My mom used to take me shopping before Christmas so that I could pick out clothing gifts, and then she wrapped it and put it under the tree.

Anonymous wrote:Gift card is fine but give them some things to actually open too. It doesn’t have to be expensive stuff maybe things they’d be getting anyway: clothes, a new duffel bag for travel, etc stuff like that. And don’t skip the stockings! Kids love stockings. Actually for my kids that’s their favorite part. But I agree with a PP ask your kids what their expectations or hopes are so you can make sure to at least include their favorite parts of the holiday (not necessarily gifts but maybe your kids really love driving through a big lights display or making a gingerbread house or whatever) you can’t do everything but make sure to at least do their very fave things.

Stockings don’t have to be landfill waste…they can be consumable things: foods, art supplies, nail polish, chapstick, etc.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have started asking my kids for their top 3 things- and my husband and I each get one of them. Then we go to a show as a family at the Kennedy Center. Stockings are filled with really thoughtful but small things- fave candy bar, gift card to fav lunch spot, etc.

We also have a gift wrapping competition that they get sooo into. My daughter made a diorama last year with my gift hidden inside a witch’s cauldron! Whoever wins gets to pick dinner on NYE.

That sounds so fun!
OP, do stocking stuffers but try to make some or list of those things your kids might need or usually get anyway. Fun socks, chapsticks, candy, an ornament, movie tickets or an activity gift card, and so on. Create a box for each where you put a certificate letting them pick one family outing of their choice (you could put a maximum dollar amount on it). Make a couple of the bigger gifts things they might get anyway, like a sweatshirt or new pjs. Books are always a good gift. Maybe a board game or video game if your family is into that. T you don’t have to spend a ton to get a nice selection of gifts. There is fun in opening a few things. A gift card and chocolate is what we get the piano teacher.

Exactly. Pared down is fine, but a “gift card and chocolate” for your kids is a copout, unless you’re a poor family and that’s all you can afford, in which case you wouldn’t have taken multiple trips in one year.

Gift card is fine but give them some things to actually open too. It doesn’t have to be expensive stuff maybe things they’d be getting anyway: clothes, a new duffel bag for travel, etc stuff like that. And don’t skip the stockings! Kids love stockings. Actually for my kids that’s their favorite part. But I agree with a PP ask your kids what their expectations or hopes are so you can make sure to at least include their favorite parts of the holiday (not necessarily gifts but maybe your kids really love driving through a big lights display or making a gingerbread house or whatever) you can’t do everything but make sure to at least do their very fave things.

Stockings don’t have to be landfill waste…they can be consumable things: foods, art supplies, nail polish, chapstick, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I have started asking my kids for their top 3 things- and my husband and I each get one of them. Then we go to a show as a family at the Kennedy Center. Stockings are filled with really thoughtful but small things- fave candy bar, gift card to fav lunch spot, etc.

We also have a gift wrapping competition that they get sooo into. My daughter made a diorama last year with my gift hidden inside a witch’s cauldron! Whoever wins gets to pick dinner on NYE.

I need to up my game. The gift wrapping competition is an awesome idea. Thanks for sharing.

We do lots of free stuff - National tree, Capitol tree, botanical gardens, Mormon temple. We bake cookies and have cookie decorating contests. I also try to go someplace new each year - like Frederick, the Delaware beaches, NYC (which I know is ridiculously expensive so not really good for a pare down year). We decorate a lot and use holiday mugs all season. They still love the advent calendar.

Around your kids ages I started paring down gifts. I try to make a photo book or poster of some out our best hits throughout the year for each kid. I often fill stockings with school supplies and underwear and gym socks. When I do underwear, it’s usually a bit fancier than the rest of what I buy. Candy in the stocking is also a big hit. I try to gift something to do on Christmas Day like a book or a craft project. My kids like pajama bottoms so I try to pick up a few pair. I make their favorite dinner - lucky me that they all have the same favorite. My kids really like Starbucks like drinks so sweet syrups and sprinkles are favorite gifts. They also like hot chocolates.

Anonymous wrote:I have started asking my kids for their top 3 things- and my husband and I each get one of them. Then we go to a show as a family at the Kennedy Center. Stockings are filled with really thoughtful but small things- fave candy bar, gift card to fav lunch spot, etc.

We also have a gift wrapping competition that they get sooo into. My daughter made a diorama last year with my gift hidden inside a witch’s cauldron! Whoever wins gets to pick dinner on NYE.

That sounds so fun!
OP, do stocking stuffers but try to make some or list of those things your kids might need or usually get anyway. Fun socks, chapsticks, candy, an ornament, movie tickets or an activity gift card, and so on. Create a box for each where you put a certificate letting them pick one family outing of their choice (you could put a maximum dollar amount on it). Make a couple of the bigger gifts things they might get anyway, like a sweatshirt or new pjs. Books are always a good gift. Maybe a board game or video game if your family is into that. T you don’t have to spend a ton to get a nice selection of gifts. There is fun in opening a few things. A gift card and chocolate is what we get the piano teacher.

Why would “we did some nice trips this year” be a consideration when deciding whether to send a New Year’s card? Why would your intention be to show off your vacations, and not to simply send New Year’s greetings and good wishes?

I have started asking my kids for their top 3 things- and my husband and I each get one of them. Then we go to a show as a family at the Kennedy Center. Stockings are filled with really thoughtful but small things- fave candy bar, gift card to fav lunch spot, etc.

We also have a gift wrapping competition that they get sooo into. My daughter made a diorama last year with my gift hidden inside a witch’s cauldron! Whoever wins gets to pick dinner on NYE.

Anonymous wrote:Talk to them. Sounds like you over do it all year round.

+1 I would start by asking each kid to tell you two holiday things that are really important to them.