My son has made out his Christmas list but how many items do people buy on "The List?" Last year his list wasn't too bad and we he got everything on his list but this year its a bit pricey. Just wondering how other people do it?
We pick a couple of things from the list, depending on the prices. Usually, we get a one big present, and then several small ones. I learned that just because they put it on their list, doesn't mean they'll actually play with it, so now I will only buy what I know they will play with and then see where I end up. We cut way back this year on gifts since last year, they played with one or two things and the rest just sat in the toybox.
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/7693781067819581441
The link above, is for a similar question I posted not long ago, and the responses I got.
I saw a really great guideline on pinterest the other day. It said get them, 1. Somthing they want 2. Something they need 3. Something to wear 4. and something to read.
I personally think that is a super smart idea and 4 gifts is more than enough. I say pick ONE really great thing off of that list as the "something they want" and really play it up. Buying EVERYTHING on the list will most definately set you up for HAVING to do that every year. You will create an expectation in your children and then if you don't do that then fits will happen and the meaning of Christmas will have gone completely out the window.
Teaching our children the art of gracious gift recieving is priceless. I don't want my kids to become those that open the gift and immediately start looking for the next one becaused they just want volume instead of being excited and thankful that they just got a gift and realizing that someone has cared enough about them to get them a gift specifically for them.
I say keep it small and help them to be thankful. :)
I say one or maybe two, unless they are really small items. That is what we do, but then there are also gifts from mom and dad, which are not "on the list" items.
I remember we had some catalog back in the day (one of the department stores) with "millions" of toys or whatever. My brother and I sat down on page 1 of the kids section and went through it and made our "list". Mom told us that Santa needed ideas of what we wanted, but he would bring what he brought. The list was "ideas" of what kind of stuff we're into. I can't tell you ANYTHING I ever wrote down except a guitar (every year for 5 years) and a rock tumbler. I did get those 2 things, but seriously, we were both amped about whatever we got. We did make "stars" by the ones that were REALLY awesome.
Our children are too young to write anything, but when Santa asked what my 2 year old wanted, he smiled big at the camera and said "CHEESE". When asked again, he pointed at the candy cane and said "CANNY!" My 5 year old was a little shy and said "Um, toys? A scooter?" and that is ALL. We give our boys one "star" gift a year (this year, he gets the scooter, red is his favorite color...and his little brother gets the adjustable trike so he can ride around on the sidewalk while his brother rides, and I walk the dog)...after that, there's some toys, some books, each gets a board game, some art supplies, some music stuff, something educational, and camping gear to prepare for our upcoming family campout. I try to keep it well rounded, but fun. I don't want them getting so much stuff that they can't keep up with it or appreciate it. They aren't doing without, but we don't have to go crazy either.
We buy as many of the items on the list as we can within the budget that we set for each kid each year. Now that our kiddos are getting a little older we are getting more expensive requests. We sit down with them and ask what is thier priority. If it is the most expensive we let them know that its pricey and they may not get but one or two of thier cheaper items because of that one item. If it doesn't matter we choose quantity, so we tend to get the cheaper items so there are more gifts to be opened Christmas morning.
My kids know they will get about 3 gifts from Santa and a few from us. Funny that I didn't even know that until my 8 year old said that this year. She made a remark about how Santa only brings about 3 gifts so can I get her one other thing she really wants. Works well for us. Not as much pressure and the big gift, whatever they want most, is from Santa. This year, the big gifts were on sale and only $25, so we're looking good this year budget-wise. I like that the kids know that some gifts are from us.
Santa and Mom and Dad decide. They have to agree. My kids do not get everything on their list
I buy what they seem to want the most. Heck one year it would have cost close to a thousand dollars to buy everything on the list for just one kid.
