to only get my DC 4 or 5 Xmas presents?

[Beebar]

The toys they do have are continually scattered all over the house. I am no neat freak by any stretch of the imagination, but this has gotten out of control.

They have designated areas for their toys and books, which I try my hardest to tidy away daily with their reluctant assistance! Yet it all ends up strewn all over the house within seconds. I encourage outdoor play to lessen the mess indoors, but they seem obsessed with turning the house upside down!

Please help

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

1 or 2 presents here plus books and stockings. Stocking fillers usually include a couple of carefully chosen toys etc though. We tend to go for fewer bigger presents.

We do have 3 similar in age and taste though (so most stuff is shared) and they have several presents from family members too. In different circumstances we might do it differently.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

So no OP YADNBU

[JustBeingJuliet]

I'm not going mad this year. Ds is nearly 10 and isn't really into toys as such anymore. He's getting a couple of things I know he really wants (keyboard with stand, microphone and little amp - all second hand off a friend - and a little GoPro type camera - £30 off eBay), a new footie kit, a band t-shirt that I know he'll like, a new scooter and a guitar stand. I'll probably get him a few Microsoft points things for his Xbox as well. His dad's getting him another guitar and my dad is getting him Fifa 16.

It's all stuff I know will get used and enjoyed so I can't see the point in buying crap that won't get played with and will litter up the house, just so as it looks more.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

oh gosh my boys (19 and 22) are totally utterly ruined at xmas, they never got much during the year even when little but I have always gone way overboard at xmas

[scarevola]

4 or 5 seems like loads.

Ours get 1 (or two small things) from us, plus a stocking. Then of course pressies from GPs and some other rellies.

Oh, and as they're older, I encourage them to get things for each other. That can be a little hit and miss

[KatyN]

I asked family to stick to a five present rule last year. Normally in my family before birthdays and Christmas anything and everything gets wrapped up so opening presets takes hours. And they are really silly things!!
My son is only 4 and if we didn't limit the number of gifts we'd never get through the day!

[DisappointedOne]

"Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read"

^ we do this with an additional condition - it all has to fit inside a stocking.

[CMOTDibbler]

I think it also depends on how many other people will buy presents for your dc. My ds will get 3 presents (no multiples in that, exactly 3 things) in addition to what we get him, and won't get those on Christmas day. So it can seem a bit miserable if we did a very few as its only the three of us on Christmas day.

[BackforGood]

When mine were little, they would always get things they needed anyway, wrapped up, to unwrap on Christmas morning - so, new nickers, new PJs, a new hairbrush maybe, new swimming goggles, new hair bobbles, new flannel or sponge or washmit, fancy bubblebath or shower gel, etc.,etc.
That way, they got quite a lot of unwrapping without too much "stuff" to fill the house unnecessarily.

[ILiveAtTheBeach]

Stepaway I am like you! Mine (17 and 19) get about 30 things to open. It's the way my Christmasses were growing up. This does include smaller items though, like jammies, slippers, chocolate etc. It's always things they really want or need, so I am happy with it. The only thing that really gets my goat, is how all this stuff is half price the very next day! I would never go shopping on Boxing Day. I think we are getting to the point though, that they might ask for cash to spend in the sales. Cos we are all just mugs paying full price aren't we?!

[Bluecarrot]

I think Christmas is becoming far too commercial. We aren't religious and I don't like to emphasise Santa.
Both my dds have birthdays within a month of Xmas day. Between both birthday and Xmas Teen dd is getting two things ( plus stocking fillers- all consumables like chocolate, bath bombs) toddler dd is getting toys for next developmental stage ( farm set, dolls pram, a shape sorter and a jigsaw) plus stocking fillers ( stickers, bubbles, chocolate and 2 wee tubs of play doh)
On the day, we plan to go for a walk to the park (weather permitting) and my parents are coming over. They aren't big into Christmas either.
Actually thinking maybe we might go abroad for it next year...

[DisappointedOne]

(No Santa or relative presents (except my mum who will buy her something small)).

[moosemama]

I don't think we go overboard, but we do more than 1 or 2 presents.

Our dcs (13, 11 and 6) each write a list of a maximum of ten things they'd like and order them in preference. They understand that they won't get everything from that list, but will definitely get at least two or three things off it (which keeps the excitement at not knowing what they might get alive) plus a couple of little surprises.

None of them are greedy and they will ask for something like the next book in a series they are reading or a new set of good quality felt-tips, for example, as well as usually something a little more expensive that is their dream present. Ds2 in particular has a habit of asking for things that aren't expensive, but are extremely difficult to source, such as a rare Pokemon card for under a fiver that takes weeks to track down or a retro game for one of his vintage games consoles that usually cost about ten pounds or less, but can be really hard to source in good condition - he likes to keep me on my toes!

The list gets shared with grandparents on both sides and one great aunt and after they've chosen what they'd like to buy, dh and I work out which and how many presents we're getting, based on what's within budget, worth the money etc. We then add a couple of little surprises - nothing expensive and they have stockings with a mix of cheap treats and things like new undies, shower gel, toothbrush, flannel etc in.

This works well for us. We can do Christmas within our budget, gps and great aunt are all happy with what they get and none of the dcs end up with a pile of tat they aren't bothered with or gets broken by boxing day.

[Rebecca2014]

I spent £140 for my 3 year old daughter, that will include her Father Christmas stocking. There be 6 presents under my tree. 4 or 5 presents sound perfectly fine but I am sure some kids will get even less than that.

[biggles50]

I had a friend years ago whose house was super tidy and therefore calm. Compared with hers, my house was always upside down. She enforced toy rules and stuck to them. All toys were put high up and we're chosen by her children one at a time. They were gathered up and put away when finished with. She wasn't a freak, her kids were lovely, she was just organised. I tried her method but gave up but if I'd stuck with it, our home wouldn't have been so messy. On Xmas presents I work for a lady who is very organised and tidy, the other day she was explaining to her kids that two toys each must be given to charity in order that Santa could give them more. The children were excitedly searching for unwanted toys. It takes commitment, I'm better nowadays, good luck.

[DeoGratias]

Who gives more?

[biggles50]

Oh and no yanbu, Xmas is about excitement not the amount of gifts.

[32ndfloorandabitdizzy]

Something to wear and a toothbrush are not presents. I fully support a small number of gifts but they need to be real presents and not everyday items packaged as gifts.

When did you last feel overwhelming excitement at the prospect of using a new toothbrush? or receiving a can of lynx deodorant?

[JaceLancs]

I am interested in how much people spend on older DC
Mine are 22 and 24, we have a very small family so they don't get presents from many other people
ExDH gives them money
I spend around £100 each, which is usually one main present, 2-3 smaller presents and a handful of stocking size things such as chocolate shower gel etc

[JaceLancs]

They usually give me a list or choose the big present themselves

[stargirl1701]

We have done something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read from us from the beginning. One gift from Father Christmas and the stocking on top of that.

Once you add in the gifts from grandparents, godparents and other gift givers it really is too much! We open over the whole day too.

I try to tie it all together too. My Dad (Grandpa) has refurbished the family doll house as his gift so DH and I are giving DD1 a set of doll's (mum, dad, 2 children) as her 'want'. The other set of GPs are giving a set of doll grandparents. She desperately wants a fire engine from Father Christmas so I've made some felt flames to stick on the doll's house. I did manage to get the dolls' and Fire engine on eBay so feeling very Eco smug this year!

[DisappointedOne]

Who gives more?

Have you never seen some of the photos that get uploaded to Facebook in the early hours of dec 25th (usually with an exclamation of "he's been!")? Whole living rooms full of presents.

[Louise43210]

My eldest (teenagers) will be having technology anyway, so the cost will be high. 4 is lots especially if thought of carefully. X

[BathshebaDarkstone]

Mine get 1 toy and 1 thing to wear (clothes/pjs/fancy dress). In our case it's all we can afford.

[NotSayingImBatman]

DeoGratias pretty much everyone who isn't a MN competitive Scrooge.