8 presents Hanukkah and a bunch for Christmas. Some years we do a lot/expensive and other years we don't. Often, the 8 are just books. I usually collect it months in advanced on clearance. Kids have plenty of clothing so never that as a gift.

Nothing from Santa. Our kids will go to ES with a lot of FARMs kids whose parents may not be able to afford Christmas. Santa giving my kid a bike and his friend a Matchbox car is problematic, so we got ahead of the problem.

Kids get 1 present from each parent, plus presents from the rest of the family. They are the only grandkids on either side, so they still end up with too many toys.

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

+ stocking

+ a gift from Santa

I learned this from DCUM, and it has worked really well for my kids (4,7). Pajamas and books knock out two categories, but the “want,” stocking, and Santa gift still allow plenty of fun stuff. One set of grandparents and a couple aunts/uncles also give them gifts. I’ve found the categories make buying the gifts easier for me, too.

Anonymous wrote:

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

So sad

I think that's nice! What's wrong with keeping the focus on the real meaning of the holiday, and family, and being grateful and kind?

I wouldn’t call it sad, necessarily, but books, clothes, and school supplies are things my kids get all year on an as-needed basis so would not feel special to my kids. Those are basics in any middle class family, no?

Who said PP was middle class?

Seems like dcum falls into 2 camps - minimalist (e.g. books, clothes, schools supplies pp) or excessive (pp with 20 gifts each and 2-3 big gifts). I would say we are in the middle of these extremes.

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

So sad

I think that's nice! What's wrong with keeping the focus on the real meaning of the holiday, and family, and being grateful and kind?

I wouldn’t call it sad, necessarily, but books, clothes, and school supplies are things my kids get all year on an as-needed basis so would not feel special to my kids. Those are basics in any middle class family, no?

Not about number of gifts but about $1,000 a kid. 3 kids under 12.

I can’t believe how many gifts people give. We celebrate Chanukah and my kids get 8 gifts in total over the 8 nights but only one gift a night from someone. So grandparents one night, uncle another night, etc and we end up buying 2 or 3 for each kid. And that feels like a lot to me!

My kids (9, 9, and 12) get too much, but this isn’t the year to change that.

They will each get something handmade by me, and some matching pj’s on Christmas Eve.

Then on Christmas morning they will each get a stocking with a lot of small gifts that fit a theme. My oldest will get a bunch of little things for his sport. Mostly things that need to be replaced regularly, and that we might buy anyway. My middle kid is getting a bunch of Harry Potter amigurumi, and my youngest is getting tools for a tool box. Plus they will each get one “big” present from us (bike, swing, rollerblades) a big present from my mom which is always kind of educational (new instrument for the 12 year old, LEGO robotics kits for the little ones), and a smaller gift from my brother. And each kid will get 2 small gifts from their siblings.

And then in the afternoon we‘ll head over to my husband’s Dad’s house and there will be a whole slew of relatives, each with a gift for each kid.

So what’s that?

About 20 each? And probably 3 of them (one from me and one from each of their two living grandparents) would qualify as a “big” present by any reasonable standard.

Around a dozen each and a big gift to share. We love the magic of Santa and don’t really do gifts except for birthday and Christmas. I cherish my own memories of coming downstairs to a tree with tons of presents underneath and enjoy re-creating that for my kids.

We also attend church, volunteer and donate throughout the year. I have no concerns about my children not understanding the reason we celebrate.

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

So sad

I think that's nice! What's wrong with keeping the focus on the real meaning of the holiday, and family, and being grateful and kind?

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

So sad

Depends on what he asks for and what he needs. I like to have lots of things to unwrap, but I’ll put practical things in boxes—new jammies, new snow clothes. There’s always a puzzle for us to do in the afternoon. His stocking has tons of his blond bag of choice—Pokémon cards, mash ems, whatever. Then maybe 3-4 toys or activities. Last year it was a scooter, a basketball hoop, a hot wheels track, and a wii game (we still have regular wii!). This year I think he’ll get an upgraded gaming system and a couple games, plus practical stuff to fill boxes.

He has no aunts/uncles/cousins, and grandparents are long distance, so the only gifts come from us.

I don’t have a set amount but they get a lot of gifts. They only really get gifts on Christmas or their birthday and it’s only ever from us , no gifts from family or friends.

2 kids. Around 10 each and something big to share. We don’t really have family around so they don’t usually wind up with anything from anyone else.