Christmas is right around the corner, and I love shopping! I love finding deals whether it’s at a thrift store, the grocery store, Target (my home-away-from-home), the mall, or online. When Christmastime rolls around, I know how to shop the sales. But in the last few years, I have come to realize just because I find good deals doesn’t mean I should buy my children fifteen presents each. I’ve watched my son long enough to know he plays better with a few toys. Too many toys cluttering the room can be stifling. So how do you get the most value out of your gift-giving this Christmas season?
- Set limits and stick to them. Choose a specific number and type of presents to give your children. For example, if you choose to give your kids each four presents, give them all a gift from the same category such as: something to wear, something they need, something to read, and something they want. (There can be exceptions. In our family, we love books and each child usually receives three. You can package them together if you want.) Setting limits on the number and type of gifts also sets expectations for your children as they grow older. They will know not to ask for twelve different things each Christmas. (For infants, you may only want to do a single present or even clothes to grow into.)
- Give grandparents and other extended family members helpful ideas (and sometimes even guidelines) for what to get your children. Activity gifts such as zoo memberships, dance classes, gift cards for indoor play areas, or money towards a plane ticket or summer camp are always great and can be appreciated for a long time. You may also need to set limits with your family for the amount of presents they give your children, just like you did for yourself. Find a kind way to explain how thankful you are for the things they do for your children, and explain your philosophy behind your boundaries in a loving way.
- Don’t be afraid to be practical. For Christmas stockings, we always include toothbrushes, fun band aids and underwear. If your family has a tradition of giving a gift on Christmas Eve, consider buying everyone new pajamas.
- Do some research and choose toys for your kids that will enhance their playtime. If you can, find toys your child won’t outgrow and even look for toys that siblings will enjoy too. (In our family we ALL love magnatiles.) This doesn’t mean that every toy has to be educational. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with buying a video game for the family or a tablet to share. But, toys that inspire creativity are great for young imaginations.
- Give back as a family. Consider having a “family gift” where you take a percentage of the budget you would have spent on gifts for your children and choose something together, like Operation Christmas Child, sponsoring a needy child, or donating money to buy a goat for a family in a third world country. There are so many ways you can serve with your children, locally too. This will show them the importance of looking beyond themselves and reaching out to love and serve others.
Great tips!
Great tips. With 4 sets of grandparents, my kids have an abundance od “stuff”. We have tried suggesting zoo passes, classes, or activities to avoid more toys and clutter.
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