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Christmas

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Original poster

Bought DCs too many gifts, feel silly - what should I hold back and then when to give it?!

60 replies

EggsOvaryZee · 16/12/2011 12:39

Adore Xmas so have been buying throughout the year. This isn't another 'look how much I've spent' thread or SB, but a genuine worry that now I've got way too much esp since they will be getting gifts from GP - I wanted to ask GP for something other than 'toys' - (swimming lessons etc...) but felt too bad, but prob will do next year.

So, I have a 4 and 2.5 yr old and they have about 25 things each to open - this includes stocking fillers etc...not one gift cost over £7. They also have about 6 'joint' gifts (bath crayons, crazy foam etc...). I haven't started a 'tradition' yet of a 'main' present though I might next year. Prob will do a 2 gifts only: 1 from Santa and 1 from us.

Thing is now - I truly am freaking out that they will not appreciate stuff so am thinking of holding some back.....but then when do I give them out?!

Didn't so crazy last year cos they were smaller...

Rainy days? Easter? The 4 yr olds b-day is next week (20th) so he's gonna have way too much anyway....not sure if things could keep til next year, lots is age app - puzzles, books, DVDs (he's into something now but might not be by next year!) etc...

Also, mainly worried that if I give random gifts 'whenever' - will they then come to expect that?!

Any ideas of what you'd do?
Words of wisdom welcomed....Smile

OP posts:
nikon1968 · 17/12/2011 08:02

I would give them all.

My son has a laptop for his main pressie and 32 presents in his sack [another £300]

and all the friends and relatives presents.

Why do people worry about giving too much it is only once a year.

If you can afford it I really do not see the problem in giving lots of gifts.

SHoHoHodan · 17/12/2011 08:04

Oh give them all. Gwan. When I was a kid we all used to get a sack of presents each as well as the stocking and it was so exciting! And none of us (there are 6 of us) are the least bit entitled/greedy/ungrateful as adults.

Or-we also used to get a 'family' gift on Boxing Day- table football/large puzzle/board game that everyone could do together. You could hold back some crafty stuff (if you have any) for then? It always feels a bit flat on Boxing Day so that could be nice for them.

Tillyscoutsmum · 17/12/2011 08:12

I'd give them all tbh (maybe take a couple of generic ones out to give as birthday party presents). Keep a few for after lunch and a few more for after tea - just so they're not overwhelmed all in one go

hippysair · 17/12/2011 08:30

When i was little, I used to have another little pile of presents to open new years day, at my nan's house. Which used to prolong festivities so it wasn't all on one day. Also, now with our ds, presents that are from grandparents, are kept at their houses, for him to open when we visit over Christmas.
Give them all and enjoy Christmas. Maybe leave the toys/books at grandparents houses too, so they have something to play with when dc visit. We do this and ds looks forward to toys he hasn't got access to all the time.

Merry Christmas

lljkk · 17/12/2011 08:56

Don't you think you're setting yourself up for overly high expectations each year, though, if they get the entire huge pile? Nevermind whether they are overwhelmed & don't appreciate or play with them properly. Sometimes less is more. I am thinking of Dudley in HP moaning that he got one less present than the year before So okay, that was fiction-comedy-exaggerated... but still. I would start as you mean to continue, anyway.

nikon1968 · 17/12/2011 09:03

Isn't the whole point of father Christmas coming and leaving presents and getting the children excited beyond belief and then overwhelmed at all the presents the whole point of it all.

[apart from the Jesus bit of course]

RomanChristingle · 17/12/2011 12:11

I'd give them all providing you haven't put yourself in debt or anything. Opening is half the fun at that age. I've got my 2 a similar amount if not more - mainly little things. I always used to love opening loads of stuff - the price of it was irrelevant.
I've only ever heard of this strange phenomenon of kids getting overwhelmed with too many gifts on here!

yellowflowers · 17/12/2011 12:35

I'd give all too and learn lesson for next year

RomanChristingle · 17/12/2011 12:38

Also I think putting stuff away (unless it's stuff that gets used up) is a bit of a waste of money cos they could be getting more value out of it from playing with it rather than it being shut in a cupboard somewhere. That's always my excuse when I buy too much anyway.

MerryMarigold · 17/12/2011 13:24

Keep some to give to other people for birthdays coming up!

Also think some 'random' presents throughout the year is lovely, esp if it is something like bath crayons. You could just present it to them when it's holidays or something (assume 4yo is in Nursery or Reception). Or to use for a present on completion of a sticker chart.

MrsMuddyPuddles · 18/12/2011 08:45

You're right, they will prob run out of steam. Let them. stop and pllay with what they find interesting there is nothing worse than adults cajoling a child to keep opening their presents when the little one just wants to play eith his new toy.

I think they are more likely to come to expect a mountain of gifts at Christmas. (And be disappointed if it's noticibly smaller) than to expect gifts randomly on a Tuesday as long as you don't make the same mistake I did, and get them something every time you enter mamas and pappas or something , as long as you keep it truly random. Giving some surplus to charity is aa good idea, too.

nikon1968 · 18/12/2011 08:59

KIDS....................... running out of steam opening presents.

Do you live in another world? Smile

SantasENormaSnob · 18/12/2011 09:30

I would give them all.

My 3 have a similar amount each, plus a main present, plus gifts from rellies.

AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 18/12/2011 09:34

if you think it'll be too much for them (and i am inclined to agree), just hold them back as 'rainy day' presents. i have a cupboard full of them, old birthday party pressies etc. you will KISS yourself when it's pissing down outside and you can't think of a thing to do... suddenly you'll think 'omg i have BATH CRAYONS, i can put them in the bath until their skin puckers, get pjs on, have an early tea and bed and the sun will shine. Grin

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 18/12/2011 09:36

give a couple to a children's charity (i know an amazing one in Manchester if you're nearby)
save a few for bribes reward chart and well done prizes
save a few for other kids' birthdays
and then give them the rest

I sometime wrap a few things in the same parcel (all clothes together, DVDs together) to make the pile look a bit less obscene. i am aware this is for my own benefit and probably a bit daft.

katkitya · 18/12/2011 09:47

Id give them all of them!!Smile its only once a year and, you havent spent too much. I couldnt buy and then start giving them away to other people, you were thinking of their little faces when you bought them. Next year you can start being more disciplined.

AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 18/12/2011 10:05

the other childrens' little faces will probably light up all the more, though...

SantieMaggie · 18/12/2011 10:08

If you don't want to give them to charity keep them for those days that the kids are bored, etc - holidays, sick days, rainy days, long journeys - when you need something to 'cheer them up' IYKWIM

WhoIsThatMaskedWoman · 18/12/2011 10:30

Put them all on the floor (after DCs bedtime), look at them and see whether there is anything that could usefully be diverted to the Emergency Party Present drawer.

I've gone OTT this year because I was really organised and bought a load of presents in october and November but made the fatal mistake of carrying on going into shops during December, so I just kept seeing things they'd love, often heavily reduced. I tried to resist, and usually succeeded, but not always. Eg I went into WH Smith to get a book for my grandmother, and when I found it I noticed that there was an offer on and I could get DD a three pack of Doctor Who books actually free so that's another one for the stocking. And I gave a list of present ideas to various relatives, but when I talked to them it turned out that none of them had been able to get the one thing that DS has been rabbiting on about for the last 3 months (the Brio Flying Scotsman) - fortunately John Lewis had 20% off Brio last week, so I got it myself, because he would have been really disappointed not to have it - will probably pass it on to DPILs for them to give him, along with some other stuff I got earlier in the year which saves them the trouble of shopping for big stuff.

FestiveFriedaWassailsAgain · 18/12/2011 10:38

When I was little, my mum always used to keep back one good present for each of us, and gave it on Boxing Day. It was always great to have just one more after the big anticlimax of Christmas Day was all over.

I may have to review how many gifts I give this year as I started so early that I bought too much by accident - Sains half price toys, then Amazon...

lljkk · 18/12/2011 13:32

I've only ever heard of this strange phenomenon of kids getting overwhelmed with too many gifts on here!

Mine used to get a huge pile, they would completely ignore much of it for many months because they preferred to play only with the "best" items (usually the cardboard boxes it all came in). The rest just gathered dust and constituted clutter that got kicked around & underplayed with. It's just such a waste of money. DH would insist DC write thank yous for lots of it (relatives), making a big battle, especially as DC were quite happy not to play with some gifts from some rellies, anyway. That's leaving aside the tat quality of some gifts from some rellies, and how quickly those items broke...

Tiggles · 18/12/2011 13:56

My kids are autistic so maybe that is why they get overwhelmed with lots of gifts. But they do get into I am opening this gift, putting it down and not even looking at it. They often have one gift they really want that fits in with their current obsession and the others they aren't bothered with.

Dnomaid · 18/12/2011 14:00

Could you save one for a tree present for new years day- my mum and dad still do this for our family. Or one for 6th jan epiphany when the 3 kings gave their gifts? I think it's nice to do this when it all feels a bit "flat" after Xmas Smile

MamaMaiasaura · 18/12/2011 14:04

I don't think it sounds too much but I do understand why it seems that way as my ds2 will be 4 on 27th and so it seems loads for us as wrapping birthday gifts too. I remind myself that the gifts last thru year

inchoccyheaven · 18/12/2011 16:09

I would put some by for later on as well, whether that was birthday or a random day as others have said.

I'm sure they will be overawed at half the amount at that age and the 2.5 yr old will probably not open them all in one go if something particularly takes their eye.

The amount spend is irrelevant I feel in this case,just because they were cheap doesn't mean they have to have them all at once. There isn't a set amount you need to spend to make it a good Christmas.