- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Pre-School and Daycare
NicoleWI
member
Gifts Question--practical vs. fun, Santa vs. you
NicoleWI
member
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
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Gifts Question--practical vs. fun, Santa vs. you
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.
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.
Hilarious!
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.
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.
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.
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.
DS~4 years old~born November 6, 2010 (1st year of preschool)
My Easy Cooking Blog
www.facebook.com/TryVermontFirst
I love these two beautiful children!
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.