“Too much love never spoils children. Children become spoiled when we substitute presents for presence.” – Anthony Witham
Before my daughter’s first Christmas, Nick and I sat down and said what do we want Christmas to look like. What kind of tradition do we want our kids to come to expect at Christmas? After talking to other parents we decided that we would have a 3 present rule. I joke and say if Jesus got three presents then that is enough for my kids. This ensures that we pick out 3 things they will enjoy a majority, of the year. The 3 Gift Rule also helps manage clutter and keeps them from becoming overstimulated with too many toys to the point they don’t know what to play with.
Also, my friend Megan Davidson had a great idea that their best gift would come from Mom & Dad, not Santa. I want to teach them that Mom and Dad work hard to make Christmas special. Also, when they would go to school their may be friends that did not get lavish gifts from Santa and they could relate by saying Santa brought me a soccer ball as well, instead of an American Girl Doll. This is what we decided and works for us. You have to do what works for your family.
Here are some ideas for Clutter-free gift ideas for kids:
Subscription Service: I love the idea that your kiddos could receive a gift all year long. One of my favorite subscription services is Young Wild and Freedman. They do subscription playdough kits and sensory boxes. They are so cute and will keep your kids busy for hours.
Pay for classes or lessons: This could be lessons for a sport, art classes, music lessons. And gift them the supplies or outfit to go along with the lessons so they have something to open.
My Mom did this for my daughter’s birthday. She paid for a couple of months of Tippi Toes class and bought her a few outfits to wear. My daughter loved this gift and continues to love Tippie Toes. Tippie Toes has given her such confidence and teaching her to work at something. She wakes up early Tippie Toes day because she is so excited! If this is something you would like to do I am collaborating with Tippi Toes of Southern Kentucky & Tennessee and they are offering 30% your registration fee to our followers. Use code Thankful30!
3. Passes or Tickets: I love any opportunity to get out of the house and make memories with my kiddos. If you are local Beech Bend runs a great deal on their season passes at Christmas. Other ideas are passes to the Zoo, science center, movie. You could also get season tickets to see a sports team.
4. Plan a trip: Give your kiddos something to look forward to. This could be a day trip or weekend getaway. I have heard great things about Sound Waves in Nashville. Honestly, your kids would love to go to a hotel locally and swim in an indoor pool. You don’t have to break the bank with a trip.
5. College Fund: This is my favorite! We have been doing this for a while. We have given family members the login to our kid’s college fund. For their birthdays they will give them a small gift to open then put the rest in their college savings account. What better gift then investing in a child’s future!