Christmas gift advice (m)

Here is my problem, my son wants an expensive toy that takes up most of his budget for Christmas, my daughter is having trouble deciding on what she wants (her birthday is next week so its hard to think about Christmas right now) so far she has told me alot of little things. Do you think my son who is 5 years old is going to feel it is unfair if his sister gets more gifts even though they both have the same budget? He's a little to young to understand that some things cost more than other things. Would you get a bunch of little things so he has several gifts to open too? This is what my dh wants to do. If you would, what would you suggest as little gifts for a 5 year old? HELP!

I frequently run into the same problem with my kids. I plan on hitting the dollar store pretty hard to even the numbers up. With little ones, quality is important, but so is quantity.

No matter what I do; I feel terribly guilty. Is this overindulging or spoiling? Am I, falsely, giving them the impression that life is fair? Am I giving them the exact opposite lessons than I want them to have (concerning charity and gratitude)?

Ultimately, I cannot help myself. I don't really overindulge on Christmas. I feel that I keep both the quantity and quality of presents for my children in check, but I work to keep them reasonably equal.

Whatever you decide, I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!

I think it's more important when they are little to try and make up quantity. When they are older.........not so much. I often wrap up things they would get anyway. like are you buying new snow boots? wrap 'em up My daughter's Birthday is Dec 5 and when she was little I would buy her Christmas Dress even if it was a cheap one from Walmart and wrap it up as a Birthday gift. She would have gotten a Christmas dress even if her Birthday was in April but oh well Happy Birthday. Also the expensive game is it a game system with seperate game cartridges? If so wrap them all seperate. Often they just like having multiple things to open. He's just going to go off and play with the big toy any way.

I forgot suggestions: Matchbox cars, little tubs of playdough, and inexpensive puzzles and books. Also, art supplies are always fun. You'd be amazed at what a pack of construction paper, a glue stick and a new box of crayons will do for the imagination.

I buy each of my girls some thing big.. Not expensive but big And i always make sure they have the same amount of gifts.. They dont get everything they want.. I pick a certain amount off there wish list .. And that is it.. I think the most expensive thing will be about $50.00.

My kids would count the number of presents sometimes at Christmas. Cover yourself and give the same amount, even if many of the presents are little inexpensive presents. KIDS!

Originally Posted by CAmom Also the expensive game is it a game system with seperate game cartridges? If so wrap them all seperate.

No, I wish it was though!

Thank you for the suggestions, those are great ideas!

I usually don't worry about Christmas to much because we usually have lots of gifts from Grandma to add to what we got. This year is going to be interesting though because we are visiting Grandma for Christmas. We've decided to take some gifts with us and leave some here so we'll pretty much be having two Christmas's. Its going to be fun! I'm just worried that there won't be enough left at home to open if Santa stops at both places. I don't want my son to feel left out or like he didn't get anything.

You're right, at that age, they just don't get that the one item is expensive and the equivalent of a stack of cheaper gifts. If you could pad the pile with dollar store things, that would work. I save up small wins for "filler" gifts even though my kids are older.

I have a 6 year old.

Some of the greatest presents in the world can be found down the cheap ailse at Wal-mart of the dollar store.

Go down to the dollar store and buy the same amount of toys and wrap individually.

Toys like
1 puzzle
1 big bubble maker
1 squirt gun
they just have so many toys. Just go pick a bunch.

You can get 10 toys for $10. And that should even you out with the resentment factor.

Originally Posted by mzi mom No matter what I do; I feel terribly guilty. Is this overindulging or spoiling? Am I, falsely, giving them the impression that life is fair? Am I giving them the exact opposite lessons than I want them to have (concerning charity and gratitude)?

Don't feel guilty. You're not overindulging or spoiling. (If you are - it's one day a year - so what?)

You aren't giving the the false impression that life is fair. You are giving them the truth about yourself. "Mommy tries to be fair". Nothing wrong with that. The rest of the world can teach them all about inequality, and we can teach them to accept it as part of life. As long as you are teaching them about charity and gratitude, you can give them as much stuff as you want. Getting great gifts and being grateful and charitable are not mutually exclusive.

Originally Posted by tv123 Don't feel guilty. You're not overindulging or spoiling. (If you are - it's one day a year - so what?) You aren't giving the the false impression that life is fair. You are giving them the truth about yourself. "Mommy tries to be fair". Nothing wrong with that. The rest of the world can teach them all about inequality, and we can teach them to accept it as part of life. As long as you are teaching them about charity and gratitude, you can give them as much stuff as you want. Getting great gifts and being grateful and charitable are not mutually exclusive.

I disagree entirely. Life is not fair, but they shouldn't feel like their parents are playing "favorites". In your mind it's teaching them a lesson, in his you love your daughter more and that's so not cool. He's six and not going to grasp this lesson.