When it comes to Christmas, we often wonder how many things should be under the tree on Christmas morning. How many is too many? How little is still enough? Here are some ideas to help you decide how many gifts to give kids at Christmas.
How Many Gifts to Give Kids At Christmas
Here’s a couple of ideas on how to decide how many presents a child should get at Christmas. Of course, there is no right or wrong rule, it really comes down to what works for you and your family.
The Rule Of Three
One thought is to give a child the same number of gifts Christ was given. Three would be the magic number of how many gifts to give kids at Christmas.
4 Gifts For Christmas
If you choose this route you will be giving your little ones (and big ones) 4 gifts. These include something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read (I love things that rhyme). Be creative on this one. My son’s laser tag set has a target that you WEAR. My daughter’s journal with a lock and key once written in will have something she can READ.
Equal Money
How many gifts to give at Christmas may depend on your budget. One rule of thumb is to spend an equal amount on each child. You can get a big expensive gift or a bunch of cheaper gifts. As long as the dollar amount is the same.
Equal Number of Gifts
Next, is the equal number. This has been a winner in the past at my house. If it doesn’t look balanced under the tree then someone is sad. Even though someone may get more money spent on them no one seems to notice as long as they have the same amount of gifts under the tree.
Sibiling Gifts
If you want to add another gift to the mix try letting the siblings draw names. We tried this last year and let the sibling gift be the one that was opened on Christmas Eve. The anticipation of opening early that one gift combined with the excitement of watching your person open their gift made for a magical Christmas Eve.
For Those That Love To Open Things
I have been know to wrap a box of cold cereal. Socks and underwear that I was going to have to buy anyways. We often just like opening things. It’s fun to see what surprise is inside. So go crazy if that’s your thing and wrap away. It doesn’t mean you need to spend TONS or over buy.
Just get creative in what you wrap including all those stocking stuffers. Check out this picture from Woman’s Day that uses cupcake wrappers when wrapping.
The Gift Of Experience
If you feel like you have too much stuff at your house and you just can’t bear to add to it for Christmas then consider giving the gift of an experience. This could be a lesson in hula dancing or a pass to the zoo or local museum. Certainly a night out making or painting pottery, rock climbing at the local gym or attending a play would be a welcome gift.
How many gifts to give your kids at Christmas can be a daunting decision. If there is anything I have learned over the last 18 years of giving gifts to my children is that less is more. What they really want is our time and attention. Happy gift giving!
