Sunday, December 18, 2011

Christmas Presents & Kids

Most parents struggle with knowing what is the appropriate amount of presents to get for their children on Christmas.

  • We don't want to be Scrooge, but we don't want them to think Christmas is all about the presents. 
  • We are excited to see their excitement, but we don't want to create spoiled brats or unrealistic expectations. 
  • We feel embarrassed when we hear our friends are getting their kids a much nicer gift than we are, but we feel guilty when we realize that we're getting our kids a much nicer gift than another family. 
I remember walking through Toys-R-Us last Christmas almost disgusted over the idea of getting more STUFF that they don't need and probably won't even play with in 2 months. 

It good for every family to come up with some type of plan that works for them. A little structure to help them make decisions for what's appropriate to do for their kids for Christmas. 

Some people set a dollar amount to limit their spending...so their kids might get one bigger present or 5 smaller ones, but the amount of money stays the same.

I have another friend who does 3 gifts per child per Christmas.

The latest idea that I heard (which I really like) is getting each child:
  • Something you want
  • Something you need
  • Something to wear
  • Something to read
What guidelines do you use to help you not get "The Crazies" when it comes to shopping for your kids?

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