I was recently asked to elaborate on our standing four gift rule for the littles at Christmastime. We went to this method a few years back and it’s pretty much all they know. Not only does it simplify our shopping, but it also keeps things in budget. Here’s how we do it:
For #4 – read, we give them two books each year. The first is something age appropriate and that they would have fun reading. The second is classic hardback book for their growing little libraries. Our personal favorite and what makes this a little different from other four gift plans you might have seen (need, want, wear, read) is #3 – Something to DO. This is a family outing and always the most anticipated gifts. Over the last couple of years we’ve done Snow Mountain, the Circus, and Medieval Times.
This has my wheels turning… time to start dreaming up something wonderful for 2013! Ah, scratch that. It’s back to Summer for this gal!!!!
xoxo
I love this philosophy on gift giving and definitely plan to implement it with my own kinds one day!
I love the forethought y'all used in starting libraries and giving "forever" gifts like the Derian plates, etc. In hindsight, definitely something I wish we'd done! Too early to plan for Christmas… we are wringing every last drop out of this summer! :-)
I love this idea! If I ever have kids, I may do something similar.
We've always done 3 gifts – because that's what Jesus got! :) Do you do this from YOU or from Santa? Do they get gifts from both? I'm always curious how parents handle this since Christmas can get expensive quickly! Mine are still young enough that we're working it out.
I simply love this idea! Of course you always have the best ideas EVER!!! So wish I had done this when my children were little.
Fabulous idea. Too late for my girls as they are older now, but something to think remember when grandkids come along.
Great idea for teaching the values of reading and time spent as a family.
Last year I asked the grandparents to follow this rule for my kiddos since things were getting out of control!!!
Good question, Lauren! We have been doing the hardback book from us and we write a little Christmas message from Mommy & Daddy inside of the cover. The four gifts are from Santa. Though I suppose at some point they will just be from us.
We have been doing something similar since our kids were very young and now they are 17 and 21 and still enjoy the idea. We do the 3 gifts as well but with a different twist. Jesus received Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh so our gifts begin with the first letter of those gifts. For example, the G gift is Garment, F gift is Fun and M gift is Mind…book, puzzle, Bible. As they get older, the Mind gift becomes very fun to find.
Love the idea of keeping things simple. Every year I tell myself to keep it down but things tend to get out of hand. Building the library is a wonderful idea! We do something similar only with tools. My hubby is very handy is fixes anything and everything around the house. He is trying to pass down that handy gene to our boys, ages 9 &6. When they were very little they received nice tool boxes and each year for Christmas they get a good quality tool to put inside. This way, when they are ready to leave the nest they will have their own sets of tools and hopefully, the knowledge needed to use them effectively. :)
LOL- Yeah- scratch that- I'm not quite ready for Christmas yet! xo Diana
LOVE this idea!! going to steal this. Every year I want some way of controlling my spending and need to over do it and make it special, but I always have remorse when they don't play with everything. I would rather do stuff than have stuff anyways :)
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