Anyone else have to buy kids' gifts? **update pg 5

[disneyofcourse]

When I was a kid it was very normal in our daycare and Elementary school for each parent/child to bring in small gifts for all the other children. I remember play doh, Barbies, Hot wheels, coloring books, crayons, stickers and small gifts you could buy for under $5 a piece. Good memories.

 

[vettechick99]

Well you will not believe the facebook message I got today. One of the moms said she had been talking to another mom and they were thinking of drawing names - what did I think of the idea.

What do I think? Hmm. What do I think?

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Uh, yea!

 

[maggiew]

See! You weren't the only one feeling that way!! I hope it works out for you.

Maggie

 

[hffmnheidi]

Maybe even go with the idea that each child/family purchase a book for the daycare center. The kids get to see their gift every day and enjoy it with their classmates.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Maybe even go with the idea that each child/family purchase a book for the daycare center. The kids get to see their gift every day and enjoy it with their classmates.

Our center does somthing simmlar (were a huge center though) each classroom makes a list of things they would like for there classroom. they give the list to the office who types them up and puts each on a colored ordment (green for apples, blue for buds....) and puts them on the tree. Parents then pick what they want to give, buy it, wrap it and the kids open them before christmas for the classroom. For months after the kids will comment "I bought that for our classroom." its cute.

 

[vettechick99]

I love the idea of buying stuff for the center.

Another small update: I emailed DDs teacher at her school and mentioned either drawing names or buying a gift for a needy child - she loved the needy child idea! She said she could do a lesson on giving, since it's the season of giving and this is a church school, after all. So as long as all parents agree with it, DD and I will be shopping with a purpose. Finally! And now we can afford a gift for her best friend. So I'm extra happy now!

And thanks to maggiew who offered to pay it forward.

Happy Holidays!!

 

[MrsPete]

Completely ignoring the financial issue, I don't want my child 1) getting the idea that everyone in the world should give her a gift and 2) bringing home so much junk. It's a perfect example of over-commercialism.

I'd suggest that the kids have a used-book exchange at their little Christmas party. Everyone brings one already-owned, already-loved book from home, and you play a trading-type game, which leaves everyone with a "new" book to take home. Everyone already has at least one age-appropriate book they can trade, so it won't cost money. And it gives the kids the idea that they can have a fun, festive time without shopping.

 

[micheleq]

I love the idea of buying stuff for the center.

Another small update: I emailed DDs teacher at her school and mentioned either drawing names or buying a gift for a needy child - she loved the needy child idea! She said she could do a lesson on giving, since it's the season of giving and this is a church school, after all. So as long as all parents agree with it, DD and I will be shopping with a purpose. Finally! And now we can afford a gift for her best friend. So I'm extra happy now!

And thanks to maggiew who offered to pay it forward.

Happy Holidays!!

This is a great solution and one that keeps with the spirit of the season.

When DD5 was a baby, our playgroup had a xmas party at my house. The little gifts were kinda silly. The next two years for our xmas party, and for her 2nd and 3rd birthdays, we either adopted a child (at the holidays), or I had friends bring non-perishables for our local food bank.

 

[DisneyScraps]

Great solutions! The needy child one really would be an awesome thing for everyone involved.

Lisa

 

[vettechick99]

I'd suggest that the kids have a used-book exchange at their little Christmas party. Everyone brings one already-owned, already-loved book from home, and you play a trading-type game, which leaves everyone with a "new" book to take home. Everyone already has at least one age-appropriate book they can trade, so it won't cost money. And it gives the kids the idea that they can have a fun, festive time without shopping.

Love this idea!

 

[PiperPizzaz]

My friend does an exchange with all the kids in her family. The boys bring a boy gift and the girls bring a girl gift wrapped in appropriate wrapping paper or marked boy/girl. Then they just go by age or draw names and let them pick one out.