Choosing gift with intention for kids this ?

[Hellobell]

Hi,

I have a 7-year-old and a 5-year-old, and in previous years we’ve always gone all out at Christmas with gifts and toys. They have pretty much everything, but this year I really want to be more intentional and mindful about what we buy.

I’d love to focus more on open-ended toys (with a few Nintendo games thrown in, of course! 😊) and find a nice balance.

My biggest worry is whether I’m going to take away some of the excitement of Christmas for them. I’m worried they’ll notice the difference and feel a bit underwhelmed or disappointed because they’re so used to having lots to open.

My 7-year-old can’t even think of one particular toy they’d really like.

Has anyone else made this kind of change with their children? How did they react? Did you worry about taking away some of that Christmas magic, and how did it work out in the end? I’d love to hear your experiences! ❤️

I'm with you OP. Haven't been through it as my children are the same age. However they can't think of anything they want. So am seriously considering book tokens and toy store vouchers so they can choose for themselves. We never ever go to shops and I think going in with their own vouchers and being able to choose will be a real treat for them. Would also make sure we had a loooooooooooong time to browse and decide as it could be a bit overwhelming otherwise.

But like you I'm worried that that doesn't bring much to the day itself. They're both getting some Lego, a book and a new board game for the family to share but otherwise honestly I'm pretty stumped and don't want to buy just for the sake of it, but also don't want the day to lack magic.

Have you heard of the rhyme-
Something they want.
Something they need.
Something to wear.
Something to read.

maybe as your kids are still youngish you could adopt this as your family tradition?

my kids are now teenagers and the size of the presents are much smaller but more expensive, but I still feel the guilt they don’t have a pile so end up overspending. Wish I’d kept it much more reasonable years ago…

Now is a good a time as any to make changes! If you’re buying for the sake of buying it will only get harder in future.
I don’t really buy my kids random toys, I think about how they play and what they already use and build off that.
I think sticking to them only asking for 1 or 2 items keeps things moderate already. No catalog circling! Mine ask for 1 or 2 gifts max and then I add probably 6 or so more, not including little stocking bits. To me it’s still a big amount of gifts for a child to receive in one go, but it’s not mountains of mindless consumerism you know?

To 5 & 7 year olds the magic is made from everything, you don’t want them to think it’s only about gifts.

Yes I feel like now is the time to scale it down, not to be a grinch because we love Christmas but I don’t want to waste on things.

we have got for ds 7

soccer bot
badminton set
book
2x Nintendo games
board game
crystal science kit
we are doing an outing present

also has some fun stocking fillers.

Might also buy him and dd a den making set as a joint present

This is a completely reasonable amount of gifts, he’s not being hard done by. Don’t doubt yourself!

That’s a really good set of gifts and similar to what I get my kids every year. I’d just add a selection box and something fun to wear that I wouldn’t normally buy, like a character/ branded hoodie, PJs or beanie hat.

yh i think its enough, he loves magnatiles and playmobil but he has so much of them both so i dont see any point in adding to it.

and Yes i think added something him to wear is also nice ( he does actually need some clothes so not a waste)

Vouchers may be a nice idea

If you would like something under the tree - you can wrap large but low value items (eg Pringles/other snacks) or needed items (eg socks, bubble bath etc)

Or kids your age might find a tiny item wrapped in a massive box amusing

At 5 and 7 a lot of the magic is in the build-up and the little rituals rather than the number of parcels, so you could put some of that energy there instead:

• A Christmas Eve box (new pyjamas, a festive film, hot chocolate)
• A letter or note back from Father Christmas
• Reading a Christmas story together on Christmas Eve
• Wrapping one "family" present to open together, like a board game you'll all play that afternoon

Fewer parcels can still feel big if each one gets its own moment – taking turns and opening slowly makes it last longer too.

love this, we do alot of these but love the family present idea, just a simple board game would be fun !

thaks everyone, i feel much better about it now, i think just the past years we had bikes and scooters and even ride on cars in our living room haha but they have them all now so its simple not needed 😂

That sounds like a wonderful Christmas!

how about finding some ideas/challenges for things to build with lego/magnatiles - like a ball run, or a house for the elf, or a sleigh or similar.

I could have written this! I have 5 and 7 year old too. (7 turns 8 in dec)
they want Nintendo games and the 7 year old can’t think of what he really want for his birthday or Christmas besides a switch game. I’m not going to buy toys for the sake of it I’m trying to be thoughtful and buy things that can be used up (both love bath bombs) or stored digitally or if its objects than not buying plastic toys for the sake of it when I know deep fown they won’t play with them anymore.

my eldest likes the look of the science experiment kits and the pokemon smart LEGO. My youngest still loves cuddly toys and anything based on his favourite character so he’s much easier to buy for I’m thinking blanket, cushion, pjs etc with this character on

yes its really hard, he just had his birthday in october and got a new bike and some bits and some of those bits havent even been used !

he loves playing bat and ball so i thought the badminton set which comes with a net would be a fun upgrade :) and the soccer bot im not sure ill regret it but its basically the only plastic type toy be have bought so ill give way haha.

I bought bathbombs for the stocking, i saw a kit where they can make them themselves but had already bought the crystal set but maybe an idea for you :)

i wish he loved lego but hes never been into it.

DD often got something to wear with a character she liked in her stocking, mum never buys it but Santa does so it was a novelty for her and a nice surprise.

Either a T-shirt, hoody or a pyjama.

The only thing I can otherwise think of is a backpack if you travel a bit or do day trips so they get used to carry their own stuff.
DD was a Brownie and later a Scout and they were really good to take on camps/day trips and then obviously when we were on holiday.
We bought proper outdoor ones from Vaude and they lasted for ages but it can be any kind of bag at that age.

Thanks for this idea we actually bought him a new bag today for Christmas, he’s been saying he wanted one (still using his nursery dinosaur one 🤣) so I think he’ll love his upgraded footy one, I had totally forgotten until you mentioned it. ☺️