Does anyone actually do the 3/4 gift rule?

[ToddlerMama27]

I just can’t imagine it being exciting to wake up to 3 or 4 gifts 🤷‍♀️

I have kids from 14 to 1 year old and honestly the cheapest stuff is the most loved.

My teen has a decent computer (hand me down), a Playstation, a good quality Samsung phone (hand me down from DH when he upgraded) and a Samsung tablet that he has accrued over several years so theres nothing 'expensive' he wants/needs.

While yes they might be expensive if you aren't fortunate enough to be able to source a secondhand one these things are still just 'one time purchases' not things that need regularly updating. I'm always baffled when people quote them on Xmas threads saying they have a 'teen' like they are an ongoing thing everyone buys every single Xmas.

I mean if people are updating to the new Iphone every single year thats frankly a 'keeping up with the Jones' life view and choice. Its a lifestyle I dont encourage in my children and maybe as such is why my kids don't view the world like that and never ask for the latest very overpriced 'brand name' gadget.

The most loved gift is always the noisiest or silliest novelty... from the scream chicken dog toy (which my teen adored) to the pan pipes I regret buying because my youngest 2 constantly fight over its NEVER the 'Samsung smart watch' (that my DS wore once because they aren't allowed at school) or going back the 'wii' (with ALL the accessories that literally got used twice) or the PSP that they forgot we even had etc... thats getting fought over.

Honestly the most expensive stuff usually ends up stuffed in a draw somewhere while the kids are running around trying to KO each out with a poundland football and honestly the tablet is only forced on them to try and stop them when they too hyped up and are going to end up hurting each other and we need them to sit down, chill out and be quiet.

I remember one Christmas after hunting round for those ridiculous expensive LOL big surprise balls and other things, the 3 big hits with my 3 were 1) 79p ruler with a calculator from home bargains 2) £8 pink kids laptop from a charity shop and 3) £2 flashing, bouncing, noisy ball thing from Smyths.

My kids love things from homebargins, they always ask to go.

Last Christmas a lot of my oldest DDs presents came from there, knitting bag, wool, knitting needles, pins, pin cushion, buttons, sewing scissors… her main present was a sewing machine so everything was to go with that. Another DD got an art table so HB was perfect for stocking up on canvases and other art supplies.

I get it might not be the best place to buy big presents as kids get older but I certainly don’t think everything is tat.

No, didn't when the children in the family (mine plus wider family) were young, don't now they are adults. Stocking fillers in a stocking plus one or a few main presents under the tree later on, depending what was wanted or needed, quite a low budget overall compared to some in out peer group of family and local friends. Some presents from grandparents, aunts and uncles under the tree later in the day or given on Boxing Day or some time before New Year when we saw them. Having said that main present(s) sometimes were in those categories, just depending on their interests and needs at the time. Books and clothing both popular as main gifts anyway as they got older and always had books as well as toys when little. Not something really basic but something a bit special that they asked for or I knew they would like. I quite often give books as a main/only gift now and we often do a family Secret Santa. Or money towards a coat or trainers or something that they would go and get themselves. All sorts of other things too, just depends.

Had never heard of this rule or rhyme before joining Mumsnet a few years ago 😁

Nooooooo!!!!

Might be more controlled this year though.
big gift - maybe a bike
set of books
onesie
3 x toys
selection pack
board game
stocking

DD will be 21 by this Christmas and for the past few years about 4 presents has been the norm. It’s become tradition for me to get her a nice hoodie and T-shirt from a charity we support or organisation she likes. I suppose that it is the something to wear. But I also got her a wax burner and melts set and a rug making kit. Not sure what categories those would be.

I don’t know with younger children it depends on each family, their traditions, budget, space to store things…

I didn’t follow it when she was younger. It was usually about 8ish presents and then more from wider family. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t it but it might work for some 🤷🏻‍♀️

If I got my kids the something to wear something to read something they want something they need, they would be grateful.. but their face would not light up like or does on Christmas morning when they see a sack full of books toys and chocolate on Christmas. I do try to incorperate some ‘needs’ like clothes in the next size up, a new bag for school ect… but it’s mostly just toys and we all love it.

We always go through their rooms together on the first week of November, clear out all the broken toys and gather up anything half decent to give to charity to make room for the new stuff. I just think, if you’ve got the room and can afford it then it’s my children, I’ll buy them whatever I please without feeling guilty from the “Santa doesn’t being XYZ to all children” naysayers. I never once questioned why Santa brought my friends more than me.

I agree with everything you have said, and you said it far better than i could.

I don’t specifically do that “rule” but my kids always get a book in thier stocking, dd loves clothes so I get her a few bits, I don’t get them something they need because imo as a parent it’s my job to provide that anyway. Any clothes brought are extras or something they’ve specifically asked for. In our family, Christmas has always been about the fun, the presents, the family time… we aren’t religious so that’s how we celebrate. Kids give us a list, and although they never get everything on the list they get a fair chunk according to my budget.

I don't follow the rule either, but do buy DDs only 4 or 5 presents each. Some of which may be clothes (but something they would really like e.g. a sparkly party dress) and also likely a book.

They get their stockings in addition with lots of little surprises in them and they're the main excitement factor as they come from Father Christmas.

However, DH and I both have large families so they get loads of presents from aunts, uncles, grandparents etc. We also buy throughout the year if they need things so if they needed a new bike for example we'd buy it whenever it was required rather than wait for Christmas. Because of both of those things, I think 4 or so presents from us plus a stocking is plenty.

As inspiration yes but not strictly. I find it's quite good with small children who get overwhelmed with too many gifts. Also at the end of the day it's all stuff they love - e.g. story books I'd get them anyway (I might give them a whole stack of books, normally secondhand, as "something to read", so it's actually quite a few gifts), a new fancy dress costume or handbag for my 5 year old etc. Tend to get lots of little things for their stocking too but follow the idea for the "big" presents. 4 bigger, well chosen gifts seems about right to me.