Some argue that three gifts are adequate because that is all the newborn Jesus received. Others follow the "rule of four," or the "rule of seven," or the "rule of ten." And other parents enjoy celebrating excess and want Christmas to be a time of joyous excess in contrast to the rigors of everyday life. Thus, they may give their children dozens of gifts.
The traditional number of gifts for children at Christmas is between eight and twelve. It used to be called the "number of gifts" because that was considered a suitable number for children to receive. Now it is called the "number of gifts for children." That sounds like a waste of money! But since Christmas has become such a commercial holiday, companies sell products specifically for children at this time of year. They often have themes for each gift: cars for a boy, computers for a girl. These products should be selected with care so as not to confuse the child. For example, if he likes playing video games, get him a computer game but not an electronic calculator or a mobile phone because these are tools for adults not for children.
There are various ways of dividing up the gifts for children. Some families divide the gifts equally among the children, some give one special gift and others give two or more. What matters most is that you give them all away by Christmas Day!
And now for some real questions about Christmas. Where do babies come from?
After years of investigation, I've discovered that three Christmas gifts is just the quantity they require to feel like they've gotten some big riches while remaining involved in every single item they get. More than three, and their eyes begin to blur... It devolves into an unsatisfying game of quantity over quality.
The best thing you can give a child for Christmas is yourself. The only gift that truly matters comes straight from your heart: love.
The four-gift rule states that you should restrict the number of presents you purchase your children to four, one from each of the four categories: something they want, something they need, something they wear, and something they read. It's a simple method to educate your children that they can't always get what they want. This teaches them that they have to be content with what they have.
The first gift you give your child should be something they want. This could be anything from toys to games to accessories. If you know what interests your child most then you should be able to find a gift that will fit their needs as well as their desires. For example, if your child likes playing video games then you should look into getting them a gaming system or game. This will allow them to play when they want and not have to worry about you coming home and finding them in distress because they didn't get a chance to finish their game in time for bed.
After you have given your child something they want then you can move on to giving them something they need. This could be books, clothes, shoes, or any other item that may be missing from their collection. If you know what types of things they like then you can search for items that match these preferences and save yourself some time.
Three presents: One for me, one for my father, and one for my mother.
The reason I give him three gifts is because my parents love Christmas too and they should not miss out on any of the fun. Also, he needs a little something for every day so I try to get them something special every week.
I start the year off by making a list of what they like and want. Then, I look through stores for matching gifts and find something that they will love. Finally, I wrap them up in individual packages and drop them under the tree.
This is how everyone loves Christmas more than anything else: You just have to bring out their loving side. Give them things they can use or enjoy and they will feel loved.
So the next time you see Santa coming down your street, stop him and ask for advice on how to be a good boy or girl this year!
Experts chimed in on how many presents a youngster should receive beneath the tree in general, according to Deseret News. Every family has their own criteria for how many gifts to give, but developmental pediatrician Dr. Mark Bertin argues that although we want children to appreciate receiving gifts, we don't want them to acquire a sense of entitlement. He suggests giving kids 10 gifts and letting them pick one or two favorites.
A study from the University of Michigan concluded that kids need about 15 different toys to be happy. Psychologist Jean Piaget believed that the younger you are, the more gifts you need. When you reach the age where you start thinking about future goals, then you can start cutting back. "But most children do not receive enough playthings," says Piaget. "If they do, they become passive instead of active; if they are active, they tend to be aggressive instead of peaceful."
So if you think your kid is getting too many gifts, consider this as well: They might just need more toys!
Each youngster receives four presents, one from each of the four categories. While this technique does not precisely limit the amount of money you spend, it nearly always results in long-term savings. Honestly, unless you're spending far too much in each area for each child, this strategy is rather reasonable.
The key here is to avoid buying kids' gifts that they like too much, or that are expected by their parents. This way, they'll want to play ball with you again next year, and the year after that. Also, make sure that you don't give your children a sense of entitlement by constantly handing them out cash instead. They need rewards beyond just money, but making ends meet is also important for their growth and development.
So how much should you spend on kids' gifts? That's up to you! But keep in mind that you can never have too much fun, which means you shouldn't worry about costing too much. Just make sure that you don't go over your budget. If you find yourself struggling, take out a small personal loan until you get back on track.
Instead of adopting Dudley Dursley's mentality of "it's never enough," my husband and I aim to raise children who are appreciative for what they have. So, following that Christmas, we conducted some study and decided to stick to the four-gift guideline. It's been working out well so far!
The main reason we gave up on getting everyone gifts is because it became too expensive. We're not rich people, but we do our best to give everyone in our family a gift each year. This usually means buying one present for someone to share. You can see how this would cost us a lot of money!
Also, coming from a family where receiving gifts was not appreciated, giving them just felt wrong.
Finally, limiting ourselves to only four gifts meant that many people got something they really wanted or needed. There were a few cases where we went beyond four gifts but those were rare occasions.
In conclusion, sticking to four gifts or less is reasonable. It will keep your budget intact and still allow you to show someone you care.
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