Fewer Christmas presents for children and a family trip instead?

[2kidswelshmum]

I’ve started to think about Christmas so I can budget accordingly for our two children - daughter age 7, son age 5.

And I’m struggling to know what to get them. I don’t want to get gifts for gifts sake that accumulate in their rooms/playroom and are not played with. (I regularly sort out what toys are played with and rotate etc etc).

I know it’s a magical time for children having a stocking and gifts to open, but I’m wondering if we can give less this year and suggest a family holiday somewhere instead? Like Centre Parcs, bluestone etc etc for memories rather than more things?

I’d still get them some treats to open + a little stocking, but I just feel at a loss to even know what to get them otherwise. Unless anyone has any ideas? ❤️

They quickly lose interest in new toys after the initial shine has worn off. The only toy that has stood the test of time and is religiously played with is their big set of magnatiles.

Hmmm. I don’t think kids consider a trip as part of their holiday presents. How many gifts do you normally buy? I don’t think I ever bought more for my kids that six or so presents, with one or two more expensive ones and a few much cheaper, and stopped stockings when they were about ten. But the activities around Christmas were extra, not in lieu of actual physical gifts.

No, I don’t think a family trip can be a child’s present unless it is something they have explicitly asked for and you wouldn’t otherwise do. Even then, I’d still only have it as a birthday present if money was otherwise too tight to go.

I’d just focus on buying them a few bigger or better quality presents, rather than multiple cheaper or space-wasting things. Or consumables that don’t hang around, like art supplies, science kits, playdough, bubble bath etc.

My youngest are 7 and 9, this year I’m only doing a wee stocking and a present from each of us to each of us (they will be using pocket money and making their own choices re gifts)…that plus a lovely trip to the panto, including an overnight stay in a hotel. I think this is a good compromise as the “experience” is during the Christmas Period rather than later in year which is maybe hard for children to grasp is “for” Christmas.

If you want « something to open, » I would gently encourage you to look for secondhand gifts. A « pile » of gently used books and board games would be lovely and can be passed on again in much the same state as you found them.

You sound like a very thoughtful mum, I’m sure your kids will have a lovely Christmas!

We do this, but our children are teenagers so don’t expect mountains of gifts for Father Christmas etc. We’re having a city break abroad to the Christmas markets this year. They much prefer this to piles of gifts they don’t need or want. They do still get some presents, of course.

In their age I didn't like trips presented as gifts. It felt like cheating. Gifts were supppsed to be for me. Trips and family gifts were for the family.

I'd had been totally fine with fewer gifts and the trip being a separate thing. It was not about being greedy, it was about disliking the way how my parents tried to present everything as presents. Muddied definitions and so on.

I don’t think children will consider a trip for the family their present. I don’t think I would do the either.

Yes to fewer presents and yes to the trip, but I wouldn't expect them to grasp that the trip is in lieu of more presents.

Oh yeah I’m a fiend for Vinted - I always buy second hand where I can 👌

Totally understand that, and absolutely see your perspective and have considered it for my own children. But often they will actively ask for experiences over and above presents, which is why I have considered this as an option for Christmas ❤️ they are oddly wise beyond their years. I wouldn’t consider it if it didn’t align with their temperament, values and ability to understand.

I agree with others. A family week away is a no but we do always buy ours tickets to a show as part of their presents.

Will they get a lot of gifts from other members of the family?

Do they have kit for various hobbies which you’d need to buy anyway, but could wrap up and put under the tree? For example, my dd starts swimming lessons this September so for Christmas we’re wrapping up a swimming bag and goggles, which we would have bought her anyway. Likewise with shin pads and football boots for my DS.

Thanks for sharing your perspective- value the chance to view from all sides of the coin ❤️

I love consumables but they do hang around in this house ironically- we have a large family who generously ply the children with a mountain of consumables on a regular basis. I have at least 60 plus sticker books, activity books, colouring books, alongside craft sets, garden kits etc. They will all be used in time, but adding to our already enormous collection isn’t something I’d consider right now.

Money isn’t tight, we are doing fine. It’s more about finding ideas for a few small quality items (as my original post stated - I’m not planning on removing opening gifts as I know the magic for young children). But my intent is how can I add to the magic of Christmas without adding to an already enormous pile of toys that largely lay unplayed with just because tradition and expectations dictates I should?

Ideas on gifts welcome ❤️

They do have a large family who are all very generous, which is part of why I am hesitant to add more to the pile ❤️

They do have hobbies and classes yes, but we don’t need anything for those but it’s a lovely idea.

It’s a tricky one to navigate!

I think I did enjoy the trips more, it was just about the framing.

In your case, it sounds all is good and go for it.

Ah we are all different I suppose ❤️ I have frequently received experiences and trips from close family as presents and have always viewed them that way. Just different approaches and outlooks. My children may be unusual (I assure you they absolutely don’t go without, and if anything I probably spoil them a little) but they will ask for experiences over and above gifts. Just usually for their birthday, not yet at Christmas.

Thanks for sharing - useful to see other views ☺️

I’m just wondering why a show is a gift but somewhere which encompasses both time away and a show wouldn’t be? ❤️

My plan would still be to get them gifts and a stocking, just slightly less and have a carefully planned few days away with lots of exciting experiences throughout. Which will ultimately cost more. I’d explain this to them (the children round here and at the school believe that Santa brings the stocking, but mums and dads sort the main presents) in advance of Christmas to set expectations and build excitement.

If you know the answer already then what is your question?

I don’t really know! Depends how much they would want to go I guess. I am very much in favour of experiences over material items though.

I would guess a show would be chosen with the kids as the main audience - not something an adult would choose

if you see centreparcs as a family holiday - ie yours as well - it’s not special to the kids

but if centre parks is what they really want to do an you are much less keen , I would say it’s suitable

although they are really too young for delayed gratification and appreciation of “memories”

but they also don’t really need huge present piles and pointless tat . The more you can delay spending on them between now and Christmas the more gifts they can have - clothes and useful stuff

Ideas for a few small presents I can give that will be played with, and curiosity around others views on supplementing gifts with experience.

More of a discussion than a question- apologies if this has confused 👍❤️

I’m personally not a fan of places like centre parcs, it would be purely for their benefit ❤️

Thanks for all responses on here, appreciate it’s probably a decisive subject!

There is a big age gap between me and youngest sibling. He had loads of stuff, being the youngest of 5 plus whatever he was given he wasn't going short. From when he was about 6 I gave him a few options and he could choose where we would go out for a day between christmas and new year. He loved it.

Any local good places that you can buy a membership for? If it lets you have free access for a year you get a lot more out of it than a day trip.

My sister does a really cool thing these days.
if you google “5 presents Christmas”…. She gets her kids 5 presents - something they want, need, wear, read and do. Plus they have lots of presents from the extended family so they end up with lots. And then you can put the amount of money into each idea accordingly.

I think reduce what you get (or the budget) and book the holiday but don’t tell them that’s why they got the holiday until they’re much older and then if they start pushing the Christmas budget up you can explain there’s a yearly budget for holidays if Christmas is more expensive that other holidays get reduced.

FWIW some of our best Christmas gifts to our kids have been personalised things they use daily (fleecy bedding one year, ooodies the next and hugz teddies last year). They obviously get toys too but these things are great stocking fillers that they all still delight in using years later.