Our Minimalist Christmas Gift Giving Process
Kids are so easy to please when they are small. The smallest present would get the biggest reaction and I would feel like Mommy of the Year. When the kids started preschool, that began to change. They saw their friends making huge lists for Santa and getting lots of presents, and suddenly they wanted lots of presents too! This was going to be hard on us for 3 reasons. First of all, I had started the process of decluttering and trying to live as minimally as possible. I really did not want to undo all of that work by going overboard with Christmas gifts. Secondly, that can be expensive! I know it is once a year, but there is no reason to get out of control where spending is concerned. We have a budget, and I intend to keep as close to it as possible. And lastly, I certainly do not want the kids to grow up thinking Christmas is only about presents. It is so easy to get wrapped up in getting stuff and making stuff a priority over the true reason for Christmas. It is important for me to let the kids have fun with creating a Christmas list, sending it to Santa, and opening presents, while also keeping Jesus first and knowing Him!
I had read about a 4-gift rule and that got me thinking. Looking at the 4-gift rule and the Christmas Story for inspiration, I decided on a 3-gift rule instead. Now, I am a fan of either way. In fact, if you decide on 5 gifts, I think that is fine, too. Each family has to make a decision of what works best. But my thought was, there were 3 Wiseman that visited the newborn King. And, combined, they brought 3 gifts. It seems like the perfect number to keep the kids excited and happy, minimize the number of gifts and money spent on gifts, and keep the Christmas Story a focus for our family. Each child gets 3 gifts to unwrap on Christmas morning and they are thrilled!
The Process
1. Writing to Santa
The process starts with the kids letters to Santa. I have created a template that I use each year in which the kids write down 5 items that they would like for Christmas this year. It is made clear that Santa only chooses 3 items from the list. Of course, only if they are on the “nice” list. 😉 I have noticed that it encourages the kids to think about what they really want, or need, before they write something down.
2. Santa’s Response
Using another template, I write a personal response back to the kids. I like doing this myself because I can incorporate the good things that the kids have accomplished throughout the year. Helping around the house? It gets highlighted in the response letter. Studying extra to bring up a grade or pass a test? Also, gets highlighted. Doing something good to help a sibling or someone else? MOST DEFINITELY, gets mentioned in the response letter. Let me tell you, the kids are so excited when they read this and then they immediately start doing more!
3. Teaching the Christmas Story
Using a variety of media, we go through the Nativity story and we spend time as a family discussing what the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, means. Most days leading up to Christmas, we spend time reading the Bible and watching movies about the Nativity.
4. Christmas Morning
Christmas morning, the kids will open their gifts and immediately make the connection between the 3 gifts they receive and the 3 gifts that the Magi brought to baby Jesus. As a parent, it is so wonderful to see them making these connections.
How do we handle expensive gift request?
We treat expensive items as items as shared gifts in addition to the 3 gifts they receive. A shared gift is something that is a little more expensive, or bigger, that all of the kids to open together and to share throughout the year. For example, they can all share a gaming console. Then, they still have their 3 individual gifts to open.
What about us, the parents?
My husband and I decided early on that we will not buy gifts for each other. We focus on making this time special for the kids. We have everything we need and do not need to surprise each other with gifts. Instead, our gift budget goes 100% towards gifts for the kids. And we are both happy this way. There is no better gift in the world, than seeing the smiles and joy on our children’s faces Christmas morning!
I hope you are encouraged to develop your own minimal gift giving process for Christmas. If you try this process, I would love to hear how it goes! So far, we have had a positive experience.
