Do you follow the want, need, wear and read Christmas present rhyme?

[ricketybeauty]

Does anyone else try to stick to the "Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read" rhyme/ theology (??) of presents? From Mum and Dad at least!

I've tried to the past couple of years - maybe gone for 2 x want presents and then a present from Santa and stocking as well. The year I was pregnant with my second, I went absolutely mad and got her tons of stuff and opening really felt like something we had to get through rather than enjoyable.

But, my point really is what do other people do for the "something they need element"?

I always pad presents out with new pants, socks, vests, pyjamas, toiletries - they need those i guess
but I don’t stick to the poem at all I get what I think they’ll like

No we don't, I mean we generally end up fulfilling all of those categories for dd anyway, but it's more than the 4 in the poem. Need is usually pants, socks, bath stuff etc. Most of dd's small gifts are in her stocking then she has 1-3 main gifts under the tree depending on the year/gift.

No because it’s miserable, however, I do sometimes have things that would be described as needs in their piles. Pants, socks, pyjamas, could be things like a new pair of football boots, but the difference is it’s usually a more ‘upmarket’ choice they’d appreciate, like Nike socks for example.

Yes we have done it every year since our eldest was born, now six and two. We do it for their birthdays too! It doesn’t include the stocking though

it sounds so disappointing to me. i got mainly books and clothes for Christmas and maybe one barbie. i would rather have just got the barbie as its so disappointing to open socks etc just to lead up to one barbie. i saw my friends get 5 barbies and a dream house and felt so jealous. so i think 5/6 presents of things they want

No we do similar but a bit bigger (we don’t buy toys apart from Christmas and birthdays though through the year)
I ask them to pick one thing they would really want (within reason) and we always try to get that. So thats the want i suppose.
Then I do a few surprise ‘wants’ that they haven’t specifically chosen as their one want, but I know they also want or they would like, or that expand on their choice. Eg if they asked for a Barbie house, I may also get some more Barbie’s, or a Barbie car, or supermarket etc to go with it.
2/3 craft or stem type sets each, or things to ‘do’ like playdoh, Lego etc
always a couple of books each (second hand)

they usually end up with about 12 presents each not including a small stocking from Father Christmas

No, we mainly buy "wants" but that will naturally include books and clothing or accessories. We don't have a set amount of gifts to give and it can vary year to year.

I was round SIL & BILs one Christmas and watching their dc open their presents. My niece aged about 5 opened a present and said "Oh. Socks, of course!".

I mean if no-one really does it, then I'm going to struggle to get helpful suggestions, but just to clarify I'm not giving them things that I'm obligated to buy for them as a parent! Like a school jumper. I was more thinking, stuff for hobbies or classes, ideas along those lines. But seems I am in a minority anyway!

I think if your DCs ‘need’ something and you aren’t on the breadline you should provide it and don’t try and pretend it’s a gift. Different if you are struggling on a very low budget of course.

No seems ridiculous, people are obsessed with new pyjamas on here

I’ve always done it for Christmas and birthdays, with a stocking as well for Christmas. My children get lots of presents from other family members though so it’s not like they actually end up with only 4 presents. I probably wouldn’t do it if they weren’t likely to get much else.

No. Presents don’t necessarily need to be expensive nor is there ever a need for a humungous pile, but I feel pretty strongly that should be exciting, something they want and definitely never ever everyday basic essentials covered in wrapping paper. Something they need and you’d buy anyway because they need it for school or whatever isn’t a present. Something to wear maybe if that’s actually something they’d love then fine but if they don’t care about or haven’t asked for clothes then why bother. If you’re thinking along the lines of hobby items they’ve been asking for and would enjoy then go for it but I don’t personally get trying to stick to 4 random categories just because they rhyme.

Broadly, yes, though "need" is subjective. Children need underwear but I would not put pants into her stocking, unless they were super fancy. Pants, socks, toothbrushes etc - no. Some people would wrap anything just to pad out the pile.
I have 1 young adult and I save for her presents so I pretty much get what she wants, I'm the only person who gets her anything.This year is likely to be
Want: a trip to Berlin with her girlfriend
Need: some Lego
Wear: gym clothes and a pair of trainers
Read: few books I know she'll enjoy

No <whispers> I think it’s a bit miserable.

I mean “needing” lego is a bit of a stretch?! At this point, you’re just buying 4 presents she wants surely?

I'll be changing my name officially to Ebeneezer based on this thread 🤑

No, mostly because DC are young and don't care about clothes at all, so I wouldn't feel great about giving those as presents.

I'd never heard of the rhyme before I joined MN though and I've never heard anyone mention it in IRL!

I do it roughly, I think it's quite nice and I hate having to watch them unwrap piles of shite.

I wouldn't use it for absolute basics though, like school socks. The "wear" thing would be something nice that they wouldn't normally get. And "need" can be eg a new bike when they've grown out of their old

Well actually, @Brendayouknowthatyouremuchtoolazy seems to be applying it similarly to me. Like her Young Adult needs XYZ bit of Lego to finish building whatever she is, so it's a nice "need".

Similarly one of my thoughts was a new swim bag. We don't NEED it, the stuff gets to swimming but it's useful rather than just more and more toys?

So maybe this category is better categorised as Useful rather than need.

(Although to be fair to me, it's other posters saying that they don't do it, that then say they buy pants and socks)

That’s what I think.

If my four year old sees a coat with Elsa and Anna on it and already has a perfectly good coat but it’s the best coat ever is that something she wants, needs or wears?

I try and use it as a guide so I don’t end up buying loads of tat (my LO is 5 and his wants are all toys)

Want - can be any toy that is purely for fun (slime/game/action figure)

Need - new toothbrush in stocking every year. Character flannel, bubble bath. Sometimes I’ve bought random things like a money box, family photo or a cushion for his bed and think this counts as a need.

Wear - PJs, pants, socks, vests, jumper etc

Read - always a few books but this year I’m adding a magazine and a comic.

@FlowersInPots so would he only have one toy? I mean, I’m trying to manage my six year olds expectations and I do think it’s good to not go overboard but one toy and a new toothbrush does seem a bit in the opposite direction!

Want - toys or other items they specifically asked for.
Need - eg. art stuff, felt-tip pens, pencil case, rug for their bedroom, new lamp.
Wear - socks (!), new slippers, dressing gown if they have outgrown the old one.
Read - any kind of book(s) you think they'll like. Fiction or non-fiction.

Plus - chocolate coins or similar, do not forget those.

Also board games, Lego maybe, additions to existing sets like farm animals or Sylvanian Families, sports kit or dancewear, random other cheap stuff you think they'll like. This is the main area where you spend whatever remains of your budget.

@Thisjustisntworkingformeoh god no, he gets plenty of toys - I don’t think I explained it well.
I use the rhyme to try and make sure I also buy things he needs/can wear/read so I don’t spend £££ on toys then more on the things he needs afterwards or in the run up. He’s 5 and I can still get away with making him excited for having Spider-Man pants or Mickey Mouse PJs so will do that while I can.