A few years ago we found ourselves anxious over the coming holiday season. A time that was always so joyful, light and exciting was now filled with stress! Stress over time, clutter in the house, and money. I love shopping for my kids throughout the year, so trying to come up with more gifts for them specifically for Christmas (from us and their family members) felt forced. Adding things to their list just for the sake of having enough “things” to go around from everyone meant our kids ended up with items they didn’t play with longer than a few weeks. We finally decided to try the 4 gift rule I read about in a magazine (remember those?). The 4 gift rule means each child receives 4 gifts, one from each of the following categories: want, need, wear, read. Do you HAVE to follow these categories? No! They’re more so a guide to help with more thoughtful gift giving.
I’ve read this method is effective because four is the perfect number for a child. They see four gifts and to them, it feels like a lot. But it’s not so many that it’s overwhelming. They’ll remember each gift and will be able to thoughtfully process each as they open them. More than four and they’re just ripping open paper, until they’ve opened them all.
Our kids do still receive one gift from Santa, as well as some small items in their stockings. They also receive gifts from close family members. Once we have decided what we are purchasing for them, the rest of the items on their wish lists go onto a Holiday Registry (yes, registry – I love to set up holiday registries for each of our children at Target) and that link is sent to our family members. It has allowed us to be intentional with the things coming into our home and keeps us from getting duplicates. I want meaningful toys that will last and that will keep the attention of my children for more than a few days. Whether that’s through a more intentional item or gifting an experience instead of a toy.
Girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for baby girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for 1 year old girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for 2 year old girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for 3 year old girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for 4 year old girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for 5 year old girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for 6 year old girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for 7 and 8 year old girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for 9 and 10 year old girls
- want, need, wear, read: the gift guide for 11 and 12 year old girls
- gift ideas for girly girls
Boys
- Want, Need, Wear, Read: The Gift Guide for Baby Boys
- Want, Need, Wear, Read: Gifts for 1 Year Old Boys
- Want, Need, Wear, Read: The Gift Guide for 2 Year Old Boys
- Want, Need, Wear, Read: The Gift Guide for 3 Year Old Boys
- Want, Need, Wear, Read: The Gift Guide for 4 Year Old Boys
- Want, Need, Wear, Read: The Gift Guide for 5 Year Old Boys
- Want, Need, Wear, Read: The Gift Guide for 7 and 8 Year Old Boys
