Comments on: 4 Gifts for Christmas: How to Make Your Family Happy With Less

By: Valentina

Valentina

The “problem” really was never us parents as we only give one or maximum two presents but then you have those from the grandparents (two sets of them), from the aunties, from the extended family … That is what makes it go out of control. At the same time you can’t ask them not to give any gift even though at least now we have managed to persuade at least the grandparents to get something small ?

By: Deborah

Deborah

I love the 4 gift rule. I wish I’d known about it earlier, when my children were young. We give only one gift per person now. We have too many grands and great grands to buy more than one gift each.

By: Jeaness

Jeaness

I’ve been doing that about 3 years now and it is so much easier and like you said, you give more meaningful gifts.

By: Heather Watson

Heather Watson

I just asked my 9 son what was his favorite gift he ever received and he said, “My favorite gift I ever received is YOU!” So sweet!

By: Christy Kovacs

Christy Kovacs

Another great thing is to volunteer as a family to deliver presents to families in need or volunteer at a soup kitchen, or put together gifts for families in need and donate them. After your kids see how little other children will receive, they are even more likely to understand and appreciate the 4 amazing gifts they are receiving!

By: Mariam Breed

Mariam Breed

What about using the 4 gifts as a communication/ connection building tool within the extended family. Each group can get one of the presents, and sharing the information and the interests of the child does help build bonds beyond presents. Working together to synchronize the gifts builds team work aka. Stinger family bonds.

By: Mary Anne

Mary Anne

Love the ideas. I didn’t see anyone mention this: include the practice of handwritten thank-you’s to those outside the immediate family. I always had to do this as a child. It’s a great habit to teach, and helps a child learn and show gratitude. Text thank-you’s not allowed.

By: Missy

Missy

When my son, now age 36, was 3 he asked how come Santa brought him so many presents…. and it wasn’t fair because Jesus only got 3. So that year we started a new tradition… they received one fun toy thing they wanted…. 1 clothing item from Mrs Claus, and one educational item (books, activity set, something to use their creativity). I figured that would end once he was in grade school and saw how many things his peers got, but no. Now he has continued it with his own children.

By: Linda

Linda

In reply to Lori. I started doing this for my grandchildren's birthday from about the time they were 3. I wanted to give them a memory. They never know where they are going each year. I show up and off we go! When they are young it can be something simple like a train ride to a neighboring town and lunch. Or going fishing. It's getting harder now that the oldest is 13!

By: Linda

Linda

WOW!!!! This article is absolutely loaded with good ideas. I wish I would have had access to it years ago when my big kids were children. But I can do it now with my grandchildren. I’m going to pass this on to my adult kids as well as others. Great job! And thank you so much!!!

By: Amy Weissman

Amy Weissman

In reply to Kristen. I love the share idea. I'm going to switch out another for that one!

By: Pat

Pat

I love this idea and wish I would have done this when my kids were little. I limit the number of gifts for our grandchildren, we are not Santa. I started a new tradition last year. We have 2 grandchildren and every Christmas I will try to give them something homemade, by grandma or grandpa.

By: nicole

nicole

We just give our kids one gift. Since It is not their birthday but Jesus’ (And on their birthday we celebrate them). Jesus just got one gift from each person, so each person in our family gives each a gift. We do have 6 people, so the kids end up with 4 (mom and dad together) and then the grandparents and cousins give/send a gift. We find the 8 gifts are plenty – and they do too!

By: Joanie

Joanie

Excellent article, creative and clever ideas ;-)

By: C in DC

C in DC

We do 3: Something for learning (books/games), something needed (clothes/accessories), something wanted (usually something more fun). We also do stockings, with ornaments, chocolates, fun socks, other fun fiddly things, but generally low cost. We have a large, generous family, so I try to farm out the extended wish lists to them and let the relatives focus on the more fun things. We usually end up with a stack of books and a couple of games by the end of unwrapping.

By: Shawna

Shawna

First thing, I think it would be cool to have a five gift rule and in addition to the four include a gift they choose for a child or Vet in need (something like that). Or a gift of ‘service and arrange a time for that’! Secondly, I was thinking a money limit would also be important teaching budget. ???????

By: Barb Kaiser

Barb Kaiser

In reply to Lori. Love this idea!

By: Jonise

Jonise

In reply to Alex Brown. I love your regifting idea. It's a great way to explain giving and donation to kids. Thanks.

By: Lis

Lis

Great ideas, but with Santa gifts, please keep them small and reasonably priced. Other families can’t do big Santa gifts and that can cause some kids to believe they’re not as good as others kids because they didn’t get a high priced gift from him.

By: Teresa Segstro

Teresa Segstro

When I was a child life was much simpler. Basically followed these rules except on Christmas Eve we got jammies and a book and it was time to head to bed after opening them. Stockings always contained an orange, they were so special at Christmas because it was the only time you’d get them, a few chocolates and often a magazine, a real treat. Santa always brought one toy. Raising my kids we kept up with the Jammie and book traditions and Santa only brought one gift as well. We kept it simple. They grandparents would get out kids something small and then contributed to an education fund. When my kids went off to university these $$ really helped them. The other tradition I started is they would get one ornament each to add to the tree. When Christmas was over these went into a special box they each had and when they left home the box went with them to decorate their trees.