Gifts Question--practical vs. fun, Santa vs. you

NicoleWI

Do you give your child "practical" gifts or just toys? How do you break them down from Santa vs. from you?

I realized I have several "practical" things this year and am not sure I have enough "fun" stuff yet. I try to make a few of the "fun" gifts from Santa and then a mix of fun/practical from us.

In my "practical" category, I have

--a cute outfit for each that I think they will like

--snow pants, mittens, hats, boots

--underwear, t-shirts, socks (cute ones but not super exciting)

--very cute winter PJs

animalcrckr

We only do fun gifts for Christmas.  They are only little for so long and I know it is not exciting to get clothes, etc.  I am sure as they get older and can appreciate it more, we will get them practical gifts as well.

All of their gifts are from Sankt Nikolaus, except for gifts sent by family.  Unfortunately our boys have never celebrated Christmas with any family except for DH and myself due to living out of the country for 6 years so we make it a point to make sure they know who the other gifts are from.

Their school did a Jingle Shop last week and where they were able to buy gifts for me, DH and each other.  These gifts are under the tree and they are doing a good job not touching or trying to give them already.  This gives them the opportunity to give something as well as receive. 

 

JoannaJes

We do practical and fun...toys, books, an outfit for each, underwear, socks, hats/gloves. I also assign some gifts from Santa and some gifts from DH and I. Santa usually gives the fun things.

Growing up, my parents gave me some gifts and "Santa" gave me some gifts, and I honestly do not ever remember trying  to figure out the differences between them. I was just too excited anyway.

I am giving the kids one gift to open Christmas Eve...the game Cootie.  

74dragonfly

I would stick to toys for this age. We only do one or two gifts from santa plus stocking. His bag can only hold so much and there are so many kids.

74dragonfly

auntie:

Once when he wasnbsp;just four, my mother wrapped some clothing she snagged at a GAP clearence sale and gave them to him along with his official birthday present. He opened them, handed them back to her and told her sincerely that she should give them to a child who cares about clothes.

Hilarious!

jnksmom

Santa brings one gift(usually the one they want the most is what they ask Santa for) and fills their stockings. The rest of the gifts are from H and me. This is how my parents did it.

We do more fun gifts than practical. DD will get one outfit but she loves clothes so that is fun for her. She will also have fun socks in her stocking but again she loves printed socks. They are both getting an art set which is fun and practical I guess.

la79al

I tend to only have money for 'practical' (ie want new boots but last years still fit, etc) stuff at Christmas time so I tend to get the girls some of those.  This year DD1 is getting a bedding set, though it has Rapunzel on it so she will be in love, new crocs as she lives in crocs and will need new ones for the spring, a new nightgown with a little matching one for her Rapunzel doll, and both girls are getting photo albums for our upcoming Disney trip.  DD2 will be getting some Mickey and/or Elmo tshirts if I happen to find any when the girls aren't shopping with me.  They are both getting plenty of fun stuff too. 

As far as from who, since DSD was 2 (she's 11 now) I always put the name of who it's for and not necessarily who it's from.  If I have anything specifically from us (like the nightgown for DD1 that she was with me when I bought), I tend to use different wrapping paper and put it under the tree before Christmas eve.  I don't really think my kids care who it's from.  My mom always says Santa (and the Easter Bunny) brought the girls stuff at her house and I'm pretty sure my dad doesn't put names on stuff at his house. 

bearkatjen

Santa does only fun gifts, we do fun and practical. I'm not sure what practical gifts DS is getting this year. I was going to get him new sneakers, but he needs those before Christmas, so his gifts may be all fun this year.

CountryMile

DS will get a toy from us.  He will also get more toys from family.  My MIL buys most of their gifts and their santa gift.  I think DS will just assume all the gifts are from Santa especially the main one on his list.  I will have him thank everyone for his gifts.  I did not grow up with Santa so if the thinks there is one it is fine and if doesn't it is fine to me too.  I will just answer his questions as they come along.  

 

He will get a full out from from MIL and my husband's grandparents do a full outfit and toy.

 

 

Littlejen22

I would give practical from me and fun from Santa, Santa should be magical.

My kids love PJs so they could be fun, a tutu could be fun but plain clothes or other things they would not be excited about I honestly would skip as gifts, I do not feel the need to have tons of gifts so I do not give them however if I needed another gift I would seperate gifts like a princess dress and shoes as seperate gifts.

Littlejen22

Oh and last year DS just turned 5 and asked if I was getting him something so one thing was from us.

CareBear0607

The majority of the gifts from Santa are fun.  There may be 1-2 practical gifts in there.  We give a good mix of practical and fun.

VTbride05

We get one big gift from Santa, something fun and usually that was asked for (this year a doll stroller and a remote control tuck). The stocking is from Santa too and is fun. The rest is from us and is mostly fun. If my kids need socks/undies clothes I just give them to them when they are needed, although I did save one fun shirt for each for their stocking.

SteadyAsWeGo

The kids get one present from Santa (usually the most exciting thing because that's what they ask him for) plus stocking.

We give the kids three wrapped presents from us - one gift of clothes, one gift of books and one toy.

There are always relatives that give the kids clothes and I like the practice of them opening clothes and being polite and grateful for them and saying thank you. I make sure they open the toy from us last. They enjoy having extra things to open.

jlw2505

It varies each year - we celebrate Hanukkah so they are all from us - this year the girls are getting new headsets to use with their iPods they got from there grandparents 2 years ago. new PJ's and a a watch.  They get toys and clothes from aunts, uncles, etc.