Our first Christmas with Edith we didn’t do a ton with gifts because she wasn’t even six months old. We chose a book for her, we put together a stocking and then we each picked a gift for her. When our second Christmas as a little family came along we knew we wanted to keep things minimal and focus on the experience instead of the gifts.
While we have made small adjustments over the past four years the method has always been the same. Some years we have a strict budget, others we commit to keeping our purchases local or small biz centric and this year we have one more change because we have added another person into the mix.
Gift Categories:
- Something To Wear
- Something They Want
- Something To Read
- Something To Create
- Kids To Each Other
- Plus Stocking
Since Alder joined our family we have always had the kids do something for each other however this year it will be a little different because we now have Ingrid as well. Instead of Alder getting something for Edith and vice versa it the gift will be from Alder and Ingrid to Edith and so on. While Ingrid isn’t a very active participant she will be eventually so we are starting the tradition now.
One big change that we have this year is that Neil and I will only be doing stockings for each other and likely a communal gift from the kids because I have a feeling Edith will insist on it. We both feel like we have enough.
One question that may pop-up: what about Santa? Simply put we don’t do Santa. Santa does not deliver gifts to our home. Santa is simply a character in Christmas stories and movies and while we share these fun stories with our kids we do not partake in telling them that this character comes into our home while we are sleeping and delivers gifts.
Over the next few weeks I’ll share gift guides for each category above for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Also I love to support small shops so share your favorites in the comments below
I like the category list, we try to do something similar. It’s nice to have the siblings buy for each other. My son is an only child so he buys something for his cousin. I understand not doing the Santa thing, I was on the fence. We did it but he figured out the truth on his own when he was 6 and it was kind of a relief.
We don’t go big on gifts, either, and we go practical. Like this year we’re upgrading to a bunk bed for the girls – which is actually huge – but it’ll take the place of toys or other gifts.
This is so helpful, thank you! I’ve been thinking a lot about how to make Christmas special without letting it get out of control. My daughter’s only 2 so we’re not quite there yet but I’m filing this away for future!
I really am looking forward to your gift guides! My family about 10 years ago all mutually agreed to not do gifts anymore, but I think the rule is bending for the new and only 14 month old niece!
Can’t wait to see that gift guides that you put together – especially the ones featuring local shops!
That’s a good way to do it. We try to do a mixture of practical and fun gifts.