Why do you get your kids so much for xmas?

Question

In previous years, we have went overboard with gifts for my son but he sometimes got so much it overwhelmed him...this year we got him a drum kit but only a few other smaller gifts like dvds and cds. i also told family members not to buy toys and to get him clothes or books cause to be honest they just arent appreciated. hes had the best xmas ever and has played with his drums constantly....why do parents keep buying their kids mountains of toys when the kids dont appreciate them?surely we are spoiling their characters by teaching them they can have anything they want?

Answer 1

I totally agree with you, I was saying the same thing to my husband last night as we have 2 kids, the quantity of toys and packaging was completely disgusting!!! I remember loving christmas as a little girl, and got a few toys I had asked santa for, chocolate, annual, PJs, Underwear, Winter jacket and boots (stuff I needed)! I need to rethink this whole christmas thing for next year as it has got way out of control!! It is us who are teaching our children that they get loads of toys at christmas, thus raising their spoilt expectations.

Hope you had a lovely christmas too.

Answer 2

We've never gone overboard - they get one special present from mom and dad, a couple of little stocking stuffers, and then whatever the grandparents want to get them. Then the whole family together gets a few presents we can all use - like a new board game, or a DVD player for the livingroom. We're trying to get the point across to them that Christmas is about something more than the materialism that the retailers and the media try to push. We focus on the celebration of the birth of Christ (oh, for crying out loud, who CARES what day we celebrate and why it's at that time? It's WHAT we are celebrating that matters!)

Answer 3

My daughter usually gets a lot of presents but she does appreciate them all.
She plays with all her toys in turn.
We give her some on Xmas eve and then one more each day up to new years eve.
This way she is not overwhelmed and enjoys all of them. Also she loves finding another little parcel under the tree every day.

Answer 4

Well i'm with you. I have 3 step kids, 20, 15 and 13.

We got the 20 yr old a book, a blanket, a shirt, and cat toys for her cat and goodies, grandma go her a special LA trip bag....special goodies for her. Two bath gift sets, and a towel and a gift card.

The 15 yr old got a book, a sketch pad, color pensils, Kitty toys for her cat, a sharpener. Grandma got her a towel and a gift card.

The 13 yr old got socks and underwear wrapped each one........and a lump of coal. Grandma was nice and got him a towel, and agift card.

Then uncle got them all together a new sing star game which my son seem to be under the impression that it was all for him when the name on the gift was to the Last name kids.....yeah thats why he got the socks and underwear. He thinks he should get everything under the sun. Check my questions the very top on will explain what he did to deserve what he got from us.

Anyhow, my personal opinion parents who dont spend or feel guilty for not spending enough family time with their kids will over spend on presents for them.

Answer 5

I don't know lol. Good question. I personally always received a ton of toys and stuff for Christmas. Now I want to give my son the same things I suppose. Definitely something to consider....

Answer 6

I already re think all that Christmas stuff and this year I put a limit on every child (I have 3 of them) so ... 50 quid each is my max. It worked so far and I have a bit of coins for clothing sale. But even that I put a limit of 100 each. Right now I used around 50 for each and they are loaded. I don't think I will need more than they already have. It is better to save for travel ;)

Answer 7

My 9 year old sister always gets one main present, like an iPod or an camera and then she would get some smaller gifts like clothes and CD's. I think thats reasonable but several large presents is going overboard.

Answer 8

well, in general we are all taught that during Christmas time to splurge on gifts for our loved ones however more so when it comes to the welfare of our children. I mean, think about it; every year when Christmas does roll around, people spend an exorbitant amount of time and effort to get that "perfect gift" for a loved one so maybe its more of a conditioning effect.

But then again it is Christmas, so tis the season! :)

Answer 9

I buy my kids alot for Christmas but I don't do it the rest of the year. They put bigger items they want on their list. Ones they aren't likely to get just in asking the rest of the year. When they do ask they are told it would be a good item for their Christmas list.

This is a one time a year occurance and I do not feel it spoils them the rest of the year as then they get small items here and there, the rest they have to work for and earn themselves. We chose certain items off the list, and add clothes to it as well. My children are older so clothes is a big item for them. Past that they may ask for a new game, larger item or anything they'd like.

Here we have a set amount we are going to spend on each equally. We chose from each list accordingly. It may be alot of small items or one expensive one. I would never buy my kids just anything they wanted.....it has to be within reason and the set budget

We don't always buy just gifts, sometimes we do trips, activies, or special outtings along with. Most years its alot but we enjoy it and we focus it on the one time a year bash. Its Christmas, we celebrate. We decorate big, we visit family, have many dinners and get togethers, buy gifts for others and invite people over who have no place to go.

One of my favorite Christmas things is the looks on my childrens faces as they are doing something special for someone else and the way I can see it feels good to them and how they feel about themselves doing it. Its not all about the gifts regardless of whats under the tree. Its what you make of it aside from. We have many gifts, but thats not all we have.

**lovelyinkedlady...... I suppose you may be right in some cases but parents who don't focus on their children are in my opinion least likely to slurge at the hoildays. If they cared about those happy faces they'd care all year. Those faces don't just pop out once a year. I spoil my kids all year, but with gifts just at Christmas. I spend 90% of my time with them and they are 15 and older now. Prior to that it was all my time. Because my kids are the entire focus of my life is why I so enjoy splurging at Christmas.

By the way, this isn't just limited to my children, it spills over to neices and nefews and friends grandchildren, friends of my children, and grandparents. We also try to help other familes annoynomously, at least one. Usually 2. We also invite others to dinner and pass out baked goods, cookies we usually decorate as a family and then pies and banana bread too. Its CHRISTMAS, I don't feel bad for sharing!!

Answer 10

yep i agree ive done i for the last time this year i spent £350+ each on my 2 oldest and i wont be doin it again they have got 2 piles of toys in there bedrooms still in packaging while they have played constantly on a nintendo ds and a playstation i really dont think they would be bothered if i hadnt of got them much more i will be learning from this for next year.