I never really thought about this until last year when we spent Christmas with my SIL and her son. I was really suprised at how many presents he got just from her. I would guess that it was about $2000 in legos and other building stuff. My daughters were totally overwhelmed. We gave our older DS a kindle and the younger one got an American Girl doll.

My child's birthday gift from us is his birthday party. We have it where he wants it. We may (or may not) give him another actual gift, but the party is a gift and he enjoys opening what he is given by his guests. He wouldn't notice whether we gave him something or not. He's 5.

Birthday - Usually one big gift or two smaller related gifts. Usually about $50 but may be more depending on the gift.

Christmas - 1 big gift, a few smaller gifts and a stocking (usually ends up being bigger gift, book or two, couple of smaller toys). I think it ends up being around $100-200.

They don't get much throughout the year, so that is when they get toys, books, etc.

As for some people having more - that's life. I refuse to get an iPad for my child because everyone else has one (IMO its not a toy and its ridiculous for a child to have their own). And the funny thing is, many kids I've known who have everything are usually 1. wanting more 2. bored. Less is more.

Anonymous wrote:We buy one (usually about $30-$40). Kids also get presents from extended family and at their parties.

Christmas - usually about $50 per child. Number of gifts depends on what we buy.

This is us exactly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Does anybody else think the American Girl doll thing, and video games for that matter, are just a big racket?

Yes.

Oh yes. I was at a party a year or two ago and a woman with a 6 year old girl started pontificating about how wonderful AG dolls are, what a good historical education the books provide, etc. Once I realized she wasn't joking I had to join a different conversation. I can see enjoying the dolls, but people fool themselves if they think kids are getting some big cultural education from the AG industrial complex. The kids are in it for the accessories.

Agreed. Has anyone seen the Arthur episode parody on American Dolls? It is a huge money making gimmick. Hello america.

Forgot to add, we don't celebrate Christmas. We're Muslim. So for Eid (our "Christmas") it's the same.

For each child, about $100-150. Although it can vary. We are abut generous with our kids (no grand gifts from relatives given). But we tend to buy one or two things he asks for and then the rest are educational toys such as a microscope, science kits, etc...

My kids are little (3 and 8 months) and for now, we usually do one or two birthday presents and a few Christmas presents. Birthday is usually one present from us (though we did get her a book and doll for her first birthday - other birthday presents have been a Duplo zoo and a scooter). For Christmas, we do maybe 3-4 small presents (a book, a smaller toy, etc.) and one big present that's from Santa. Whatever we get, I try to find a good deal - the Duplo zoo we gave her for her second birthday was $100 marked down to $30.

Both sets of grandparents are very generous, and I suppose we might do a few more presents if that wasn't the case - but I feel like they're still little enough that they're just as happy with a few things than a lot of things, so why buy more? My mom brings a ton of stuff every time she visits and my daughter really can't focus on more than two or three things - she'll get a book and a toy from grandma and be happy playing with those, and then grandma busts out five more things. I figure there will be lots of time for our kids to want more and don't see a reason to encourage it.

We also tell DD that things she asks for (at target, etc.) can go on her b-day/chirstmas list. That said, they get several gifts for birthdays and Christmas - more at Christmas. But it's a mixture of new and handmade/second hand stuff. For example, this year for DD's birthday, I gave her a doll high chair that I got for free, but I stripped and re-painted it first so it looks brand new and waaaay better than anything you could buy in a store. Additionally she'll get a Disney princess doll (her first and one she has been begging for for months) some clothes for said Disney princess, and a toy baby carrier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Does anybody else think the American Girl doll thing, and video games for that matter, are just a big racket?

Yes.

Oh yes. I was at a party a year or two ago and a woman with a 6 year old girl started pontificating about how wonderful AG dolls are, what a good historical education the books provide, etc. Once I realized she wasn't joking I had to join a different conversation. I can see enjoying the dolls, but people fool themselves if they think kids are getting some big cultural education from the AG industrial complex. The kids are in it for the accessories.

Anonymous wrote: Does anybody else think the American Girl doll thing, and video games for that matter, are just a big racket?

Yes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is turning 8 soon. I got her a fancy origami book that is $14 and comes with origami paper. Plus I will give her a gift certificate from me to her saying we can have a baking afternoon.

Is this all your dd is getting for her bday? Or does she have gifts from family and friends too? My dd would cry her eyes out if this was all she got for her bday.

Um, I'll let her pick out what we make for dinner. I bet a couple of her girlfriends at school will make her cards and include little trinkets (last year her friend gave her a pretty rock she'd painted). A couple of times teachers have given her a cool pencil or something, so she might get that.

Is it possible that your DD is used to getting a lot more? If so, that would explain why she would cry her eyes out if she went from getting a slew of presents to one. My DD has always gotten one present on her birthday, so this is where her expectation level is.

I am glad your dd is that way, that seems nice, but what about when all the little girls get together at school and start saying, I have 3 american girl dolls, an ipad, an x box, and three million toys. Doesn't your dd feel a little bad to have only gotten a book and a pencil and a rock for her bday? For goodness sakes. I grew up in a family of 8 kids, and we were poor, but I still got more than one book for my bday.

I guess your parents were too overwhelmed to teach you any tact though.

Anonymous wrote:

I got her a fancy origami book that is $14 and comes with origami paper.

If your kid is into origami, that's a cool gift for her. If not, it seems like an odd choice for an only gift for an 8 year old girl. Perhaps I am colored by the fact that I personally have always hated origami.

Lol, she loves origami. She makes her napkins into origami at dinner time. If she wasn't into it, I'd never have spent so much on a book about it.

We buy one (usually about $30-$40). Kids also get presents from extended family and at their parties.

Christmas - usually about $50 per child. Number of gifts depends on what we buy.

I got her a fancy origami book that is $14 and comes with origami paper.

If your kid is into origami, that's a cool gift for her. If not, it seems like an odd choice for an only gift for an 8 year old girl. Perhaps I am colored by the fact that I personally have always hated origami.