Simplify Gift Giving for Children

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Have your anxiety levels soared just thinking of all the gifts you need to purchase for your family? Or perhaps you can’t imagine the extra hours you’ll need to work to buy all the toys this year? What if there was an easier way that would also make your family happier? There is. Simplify gift giving for children with these guidelines.

Simplify Gift Giving for Children

Instead of buying lots of toys or gadgets this holiday season, consider following these minimalist tactics to set boundaries, focus on experiences, stick to a budget, and avoid the clutter.

You may be familiar with this popular minimalist 4 gift rule. You purchase 4 gifts for each child following these guidelines.

1. Something they want
2. Something they need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read

Another Minimalist 4 Gift Rule

You can also take that list and cater it to your own family’s needs. For example, we often receive hand me downs, or buy clothes when needed throughout the year, so buying clothes during the holidays isn’t always necessary. Furthermore, we visit the library often, so we skip buying books over the holidays too.

Instead we follow these rules:

Something They Want

• bike, doll, toy, gadget etc.
• This is usually the big splurge item.

Something They Need

• helmet, shoes, socks, underwear, sporting gear, brush, hair ties etc.

Something to Do

• Visit the beach, mountain, or farm, camping, fishing, horse back riding lessons, ski lessons, swimming lessons, movie tickets, favorite meal cooked, dinner at a restaurant etc.
• This is a family trip or experience taken together.
• This has been budgeted for and is usually a trip that was already planned. For example, we like to go to the beach as a family anyways. To make it special though, we ask our daughter where she would like to go this year, and that becomes “her special trip.”

Something to Create

• coloring book, sketch pad, writing journal, cook book, sticker book, crayons, paint set, legos, tree fort supplies etc.

Honorable Mention: Feel Generous

• When you spend less time and energy thinking about all the things you can buy for your family, you can think about others during the holidays. Feeling generous doesn’t always have to be expensive. Here are some great ways to FEEL generous inexpensively. Take your family along to teach generosity this season!

What if Your Family is Already Used to a lot of Gifts during the Holidays?

Start slow, and explain that the whole family is focusing less on “stuff” and more on time spent together. You don’t have to completely cut the number of gifts down to 4 immediately. Perhaps you just provide an experience gift, and cut out a few extra gifts this year.

For example, our family buys plane tickets twice a year to visit family in Minnesota. We cut out buying a lot of gifts and instead spend it on a long visit with friends and family. Also, my husband enjoys giving stocking stuffers. He remembers these from childhood and loved all the little presents and candy wrapped up in a stocking, so we stick to this tradition too. Find a way that fits your family’s traditions.

Final Thoughts

As we all know, creating memories and truly giving of your time and attention to your family is the real joy found each holiday. It’s also a key to creating long lasting positive relationships. Instead of spending an entire Saturday shopping for your family, spend an entire Saturday with your family.

You might also enjoy 20 Clutter Free Gifts for Women, and 4 Items I Don’t Buy for my Toddler.

Wishing you all a simple and joyous holiday this year!

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Join the Discussion

What was your favorite “experience” you shared with your family growing up over the holidays?

Author

Maria Halcumb is a teacher, reading specialist, and mother. You can find her reading books, being in nature, minimizing her life, and spending time with family and friends in the great PNW.