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"?

Ive never done it and never heard of it until I came on mumsnet ( and decides it wasn't for me)

Forgot to say- Im obsessed with watching ‘what I got my kids for Christmas’ videos on YouTube, from the people who go so obscenely overboard with hundreds of presents, to the hardcore minimalists; I love all of the videos and watch them all year round.
OP a lot of the American homeschooler mums do the want,need etc rhyme, so might be good for inspiration!

It sounds like I’m nitpicking now and I’m not but if you’re a family that values books and has loads of them, it’s fine to effectively say they aren’t a gift. That’s kind of my stance with books, although a particularly special one might find its way to a present. I got a hardback Paddington one for my DDs birthday, for instance. But it’s OK just to have books as an everyday thing!

I absolutely do not adhere to this rule that I have only ever heard about on MN.
I go big at Christmas (not necessarily in physical size) and my dc absolutely love it and appreciate everything. 2 of them are in their early 20’s and get so excited about their stockings particularly which definitely do include things they ‘need’ but nicer versions than they’d buy themselves.
I love it and they love it.

My daughter does but the needs are not socks etc more like a new bicycle because the little one has outgrown the old one and the to wear would be something special.

We do it loosely like you @ricketybeauty! For my 8 year old this year I think we’ll do

want - electronics kit and magnatiles
need - new dressing gown
wear - basketball kit for his hobby
read - pile of books and maybe a couple of Yoto cards

His birthday is not long before Christmas and for both he’s very lucky to get lots of lovely bits from extended family and friends. He’s not too much into toys any more either so I think it’s definitely helpful as he’s getting bigger to use this to help me think of ideas! I guess this year his needs and wears are interchangeable

That only applied to their stockings when mine were small and I knew it as want, need, eat and read….

so the stocking always included something small they wanted, clothes went in as a need - eg nice themed pjs, chocolate coins and a tube of sweets eg fruit pastilles, smarties and a book… and because one of their favourite books had it as a thing, they got a potato or two for times they hadn’t been good during the year…

and, stockings were from Santa, other presents under the tree etc came from whoever bought them - Santa didn’t have an endless budget and didn’t get credit for things we bought either..,

Sort of, insofar as they get stuff from each of those ‘categories’ but not just one of each!

Yes - as in I have no problem having something practical (or a few things), and always have a book, and some nice fruit or favourite sweets or unusual food found on travels, as part of the selection of gifts. And of course, some thing(s) DC would like that is fun. I never had “only” 4 elements to Christmas, but I also never had a mountain either.

No because it seems an utterly joyless po-faced little rhyme. I do buy things in all those categories but not every time for everyone and not restricted. Need might be pyjamas or similar.

Same! Only ever seen it on here. It's not a great poem and I suspect someone on MN made it up. No one outside the site seems to know it. And presents should be treats.

Shamefully I go big at Xmas every year but I love watching YouTube videos of what people bought their kids for Xmas under this theme lol 😆

I think the nearest I ever got to it was the first Xmas with my son after I split with his dad, he was a toddler at the time. I decided to pick 3 themes (circus, dragons and knights, and disney) and got him 3 gifts under each theme so he ended up with 9 gifts. That was very restrained for me lol.

We do in the stocking so:
Want - fun toy
Need - Toothbrush
Read - a book (obviously)
Wear - socks
But we also add in something to eat - so a treat of some kind.

But their stockings are quite small, and they're 5 & 18m so quite young.

They also get a few 'under the tree' presents from us and a lot from family in both sides. So they don't miss out!

No! It’s a miserable way to go about getting Christmas presents! I go mainly with want! I provide everything they ‘need’ through the year because that’s my job. I provide them with clothes because that’s my job and we get books throughout the year because books, in my opinion, are a need.

You are just winding people up, surely? A swimming bag 🤣. Bet you can't wait to see their little faces light up.

I liked the sentiment but it never really worked in my head logically. We do a present from each of us to each of us. Eg four people in the family, twelve presents under tree. The “main” one is from me, children choose for each other and put some money towards it but I am willing to top up within reason. They’ve been so original and creative over the years, and really shown they know us all well, and get excited with how the gifts will be received.

I do this every year for my grandchildren, but thought it was want, need, eat read.
so I usually get:
want: something they ask for - trainers, LEGO, doll, money for clothes shopping
need: usually something for school but fun - eg fancy pens, gimmicky erasers etc
eat: chocolate
read - sometimes a book, sometimes a comic

I have done it for years OP - my oldest is 18 now - but I do tend to put a bonus present in too so usually 5 presents each from Mum and Dad plus a stocking. Never anything miserable about it and my kids are always delighted with their Christmas haul. They also get presents from each other and wider family so it’s not like 5 presents is all they get! And all of the gifts are something they will love…it’s not like they only get one thing they actually want and the rest is stuff I’ve got to fit the rhyme! I just find I get a nice variety of gifts this way.

In terms of the ‘need’ gift…when they were younger this would generally a slightly more educational toy or game because all kids need that. As they have got older it is tends to be something related to a specific interest or hobby.

What’s miserable about it? Last year my teens each got a stack of books they wanted, a fancy Christmas outfit, a new bedding set (need, in a way - they had decent sets but these were more special), and then a ‘want’ gift - a hamper of hair styling gadgets and products for dd, and a big LEGO set for DS.
They love the tradition of making lists of books they want (I love getting books as gifts and so do they), sending me links of the style of Christmas outfit they’d like, having something they ‘need’ that’s a bit fancy, and getting a ‘big present’. Nobody involved is miserable, it’s lovely.

But people buy things like dressing up costumes, football kits, oodies, cute fluffy slippers, jewellery, make up, perfume all the time! I have 3 DC aged 8-18 and these things pop up on their wish lists every single year! ‘Something to wear’ doesn’t just have to mean a jumper.

Stuff my kids need, they just get when they need them, eg socks, pants etc.

if they want an expensive need like specific football boots then they would prob be a gift. But on the whole I get them gifts they want for Xmas and birthdays and buy them stuff they need when they need it.

I hate the rhyme but have gifted all the elements of it, now I’m thinking about it.

Want: they get to choose whatever this is within reason
Need: stainless steel water bottles featuring latest beloved character, crazy foaming soap for the bath, personalised mug, scented pens etc. Fancier versions of things already in day to use although I draw the line at a toothbrush.
Wear: dressing up costume or character outfit , usually from the Disney store so nicer than the usual Primark fodder, whatever the latest coveted brand of hoodie is etc (pants and socks are parental obligations, not gifts!)
Read: Christmas gifts have to be noisy books, keepsakes, signed by author, box sets, busy books with play mats etc. I buy normal books as and when wanted/needed year round so have to level up for Christmas!

And having read more of the thread, Lego has definitely come under my need category in
previous years. It’s an educational toy!

As a new Granny I make myself stick to the rhyme otherwise I would buy my 3 DGCs a toy shop each for Christmas! I love the something to wear though! I buy them fabulous dressing up clothes!

They were the four small gifts “from Santa” that they asked for in their letter to him. Wrapped and put in their stockings.

Everything else (ie the bigger main presents) was from us and family/friends, and they were thanked accordingly!