What's the ideal amount of Christmas presents for kids?

[Lafoosa]

Hi all, this is my first Christmas as a solo parent and I'm worried that the kids will be disappointed by what they get for Christmas. I'm quite financially tight as I got made redundant at work and now no one will hire be because I can only work school hours with no holidays.
Do you think my kids 5, 4 and 19m would be disappointed by having 3 things to share and one thing each? The things to share would be a bit bigger, like a big playmobil bundle I found online, art and craft supplies and some wooden food. (they've already got a toy shop, their dad just kept all the food for it annoyingly).
It's highly unlikely their dad will get them any presents, he didn't for their birthday and so far he's got no plans to see them. So I don't want to add to the disappointment, but at the same time not sure if I can stretch any further than that. Is that an okay amount or is it a bit underwhelming?
Thanks

ETA: I forgot I have a few books for them from charity shops too

How much do they usually get? I think it depends on that. Will any other family be buying? As they are young it should be ok mine are older and would be disappointed but that's because I usually go over the top at Xmas to make up for lack of family (only I buy for them) so they are use to getting quite a lot.

There isn't an ideal amount.
It sounds like you are doing your best.
Christmas isn't easy for a lot of people, and the pressure (which starts earlier every year) doesn't help!

@CaramelShortcakes usually they get a lot more than that, but it used to be that I was working with 2 incomes to buy presents with. My mum has got them one thing each, but I doubt anyone else will be buying for them.
I can probably pick up a few small bits from charity shops like puzzles and soft toys next time I get paid.

That sounds great to me! I find that little kids get overwhelmed by too many things anyway. But if you want more, I just saw a lot of small toys, crafts, and books on sale at The Works for £2 or less and plan to order some for my boys.

When you say “usually they get more” - at their age they can’t have even had many conscious Christmases!

Dont beat yourself up, the kids will be buzzing off the excitement and be happy with everything I am sure! So many people have an expectation against themselves to provide piles and piles of presents which then get ripped open and tossed aside. Pick some things they will really enjoy and make the opening more special in itself and you will be fine!

Keep an eye on places like Facebook marketplace. X

Sounds great to me.

I found fewer presents works better actually as they become less overwhelmed. So try not to feel that you need a stack to open.

They are still young so what you have for them sounds fine. You can pad it out a bit with some chocolate coins or a chocolate Santa. When I look back on my DC's favourite presents when they were DC actually it was often little things they loved. My dd loved some stretch magic gloves with bright rainbow fingers. I think at the time they cost £1 but she was so excited to have them because her friend had some and she wanted some too. It's better to stick within your means than to get into debt.

That sounds great to me. I’ve got three kids too, and I’ve always found the ‘bundles’ from Facebook marketplace are the things they all share and play with the most - both on Christmas Day and for weeks afterwards. You can save a huge amount of money and they take it for granted that this is how toys come. We did a big octonauts bundle last year, and a Batman one the year before. Have also done second hand wooden trains and tracks. All v affordable from marketplace. One thing I do is to wrap every little thing in pretty tissue paper (just buy a big pack in different colours) and put it all in a large box. Then I wrap the big box and stick the paper to the box - it’s always a huge hit. And I can keep it in the box as a storage box because it’s decorated with the pretty paper. Also I do stockings - you don’t need fancy ones big socks will do. I put in mini boxes of cereal (we never have those so they feel luxury and also it sorts breakfast), chocolate coins, magazines like octonauts with the free toys (again I always refuse to buy these, so it really feels like a luxury), crayons, and little trinkets. The thing with three kids is to have a toy or a bundle that they can all play with together - that is the key to a happy Christmas for me!

Marketplace more often than not has things on for free.

Charity shops.

Also check out any groups in your local area for 'pass it on' stuff. People give things away

The works - ridiculous offers on books.

Sweets, chocolate.

As pp I agree there is no ideal amount. A lot does get wasted tbh and can be over whelming. They don't need a sofa full.

That is exactly what my parents used to do, several shared presents and one personal present each. It's fine! It teaches sharing and that Christmas is not about a pile of things to unwrap!

I think with kids and presents more isn’t actually better. There’s a diminishing return of happiness for each additional one. I buy mine one each. They will also get a stocking and a present from grandparents and aunt. That’s it. We always have a lovely Christmas and the things they are most excited about are things like decorating the house, making mince pies etc.

Maybe your older 2 would enjoy "secretly" sorting out a toy they have grown out of and wrapping it for the little one. They might also like to go to a charity shop and chose a gift for each other and for the little one. Then they get involved with the giving at Christmas as well as receiving (but also get an extra present each as well).

Nobody can remember what they got for Christmas aged 5. Not even the 5 year old if you ask them 2 weeks later! Don't cripple yourself financially for 1 day.

Look at other ways to make the day special beyond the things they unwrap. Can you all make a gingerbread house together? Can you make Christmas crackers from out of loo rolls and handwritten jokes? Can you all assemble a shoebox of gifts for someone less fortunate? Can you make a treasure hunt around the house with clue to solve to find their presents? Can you get them to help with dinner? (Probably not the 19mo!) The 5yo can peel the veg, the 4yo can mix the stuffing though.

That's is plenty of presents, make a big deal when they unwrap them, on the day you could go for a walk, make a cake with them ( I use Betty Crocker mix) , watch a movie, make a tent with blankets, they love this sort of things. With them being so small , they don't care so much about presents, I promise.

It's personal. There no right answer. We've never done huge piles of presents. They make me wince a tiny bit. One biggy and a couple of other tiny bits is enough, or is in our household.