How many presents does Santa leave at your house?

[Jasperann]

Santa brings everything here. Except for the presents the siblings get each other, and what they get us parents. Each child has their own special Christmas paper each year. It is usually a favorite character etc. The big presents like bikes, Doll houses don't get wrapped. Santa brings our Christmas tree and presents after everyone goes to sleep. I figure they have a lot of years in the future to know about budget and mortgage payments. They only have the "magic" for a couple of years. this was always my families tradition growing up, and we have gleefully continued with it. I don't have a set number of presents. The kids all get the same amount of presents, but not the same amount spent. That was too hard.

This is exactly how we feel about Christmas too. It is about the 'magic' for the kids. They will know when they are older that it was bought with real money. They don't need to know that stuff when they are little. It didn't effect me any differently to 'believe' in Santa while I was a child. I still know how to budget my money. lol It would be strange for me if the gifts were from us. We as their parents get them 'gifts' during the year. It is Santa's turn on Christmas. I don't need any of the credit! My reward is watching them wake up and see all the gifts under the tree.

Edited to add: We also do the 12 days leading up to Christmas. They get one dollar store gift in their stocking each day. This was started when I was a child to go along with the wise men moving up our tree for the 12 days before Christmas (to reach the star). My kids look forward to this every year.

 

[Jasperann]

I was surprised by all the different responses, figured most people would do things the same way, very cool.

At any rate, I do about half and half, the "big" gift is always from Santa, plus some clothes, books, other smaller items and her stocking. It's just the way my Mom did it when I was growing up. After I stopped believing in Santa, I knew how hard my Mom must have worked to get us such nice Santa presents (our $$ was tight growing up too), and have always appreciated it..it's not something I feel like I have to get into my daughter's head now. When she gets older, she'll know, and I think that's soon enough

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

Santa leaves all the gifts at our house, the stocking is on her door knob when she wakes up and the unwrapped presents are in a pile on the couch near the tree. There's no room under the tree because it's full of gifts from family and friends. DD5 opens her stocking on our bed and then we all go out to the tree and she looks at Santa's gifts. Sometimes we eat some breakfast and then we unwrap the other gifts. There are no presents from Mom and Dad, I never really thought about it until now because that's how it was in both my husband's and my family growing up. DD5 has never asked about a giift from us There's not a set number of gifts, nothing very expensive. Less than 10 gifts plus her stocking

 

[Zeebs]

We (Mum and Dad) buy one gift to each of the kids although this year it is a gift to share.

Santa brings a sack full of stuff, something that they have asked for although the eldest knows this isn't a given and he needs to have some backups.

The rest of the sack is full of bits and bobs like a puzzle and game, electric tooth brush, a book are some of the wee bits this year.

Kirsten

 

[mom23boys]

Santa gets almost all the praise in our house. He brings all but one of the presents all wrapped under the tree, plus stockings, around 7 gifts for each of our 3 boys.

We give them one item each, this year we are doing a family gift of PS3 and they are each getting a PS3 game from us.

 

[Tiger926]

Just a few gifts and something in stocking.

Santa 'communicates' with mommy and daddy about what is appropriate to buy, mommy & daddy have the final say and then Santa sends mommy & daddy a bill in the mail. Our kids have learned about boundaries and budgets - lifelong lessons that will carry them well into adulthood.

We don't do wish lists (I think it's very tacky) either - Santa leaves a few gifts if the kids have earned them. If not, no gifts from Santa.

Tiger

 

[blana]

I voted 1, but it's really 1 plus the stocking.

 

[LWatson]

At our house, the kids get presents from Mommy and Daddy, siblings, Grandma and Grandpa, Cousins, etc. Santa brings one large ticket item that is under the tree when they awake Christmas morning.

That is exactly it here. He leaves either one medium sized gift per kid or one large gift for both (this year its a bouncy ball pit w/ slid), and he fills the stockings. The rest are from us.

 

[Misty89]

Santa brings 2 or 3 for each DD,( my girls are 10 &18, they go along with the Santa thing yet, i think just to humor me ) and a big gift for the enitre family.
we do not hang stockings.

 

[ZPT1022]

I voted all but that's not entirely accurate. Santa brings all the toys and fun stuff, Mom and Dad give books and clothes. Santa also fills the stockings. We don't have a set number of gifts or a set amount to spend, usually just what we feel like/can afford that year. This year we tried to cut back, just because we have sooooo much stuff in our house.

I do try hard to keep the amount the same between the kids but it's hard when my oldest is getting into more expensive things- my younger daughter's biggest wish could be purchased four times for what my oldest wants most, but I am trying to keep at least the amount of gifts similar between the three

 

[kim_o]

Santa brings 1 gift per child because there are so many boys and girls in the world and Santa only has so many elves and so much sleigh space ;-) So, when we go to visit Santa, they tell Santa the one item that they want (this year both boys wanted scooters) and santa wraps it in special paper. Mom/dad, grandparents, etc. then try to cover everything else on their wish list.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Everything under the tree, about 20 gifts for each of my 3. Stockings are filled with small gifts & candy ~ All from Santa

Christmas was magical for me when I was little and it is magical now for my little ones

They each get one gift from us parents and they trade with each other.

We are the same way - about 10-15 per child from Santa (3 kids). I think it is so magical to have a treeful of presents from Santa on Christmas morning. During the year we are wise with our money and do ont waste it. The kids are learning the value of a dollar but at Christmas I don't want my kids to think about $$$.

On Christmas eve we do the same as above - on gift from parent to each child and they trade with each other. The parent gift is always new PJ's and slippers so we look cute on Christmas morning for picture.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Santa sends mommy & daddy a bill in the mail. Our kids have learned about boundaries and budgets - lifelong lessons that will carry them well into adulthood.

WOW - Santa sends a bill.

Our families are opposite. We practice the value of $$$ all year long and my kids have a really good respect for $ at a young age but for our family Christmas is a time to leave reality behind and enter a dream land of magic. For us, life does not always have to be a "lesson". Magic and dreams are great and who knows they may come true.

 

[nicki.momof3]

We also do the 12 days leading up to Christmas. They get one dollar store gift in their stocking each day. This was started when I was a child to go along with the wise men moving up our tree for the 12 days before Christmas (to reach the star). My kids look forward to this every year.

Love this idea - I think I am going to have to steal it for next year - thanks

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Santa leaves 3 gifts for each child in remembrance of the 3 gifts given to Christ by the wise men.

 

[Tiger926]

WOW - Santa sends a bill.

Our families are opposite. We practice the value of $$$ all year long and my kids have a really good respect for $ at a young age but for our family Christmas is a time to leave reality behind and enter a dream land of magic. For us, life does not always have to be a "lesson". Magic and dreams are great and who knows they may come true.

I'm a teacher, so most of life is about lessons. We do practice the value of money all year long - why change for Christmas? Leaving reality behind is what gets most families in trouble, IMHO. The whole idea of a magical man with an endless budget, just doesn't sit well with us, so we have taught the kids about limits as we feel that is very responsible and necessary in this excessive holiday season.

On the opposite side, my hubby's family is very financially challenged - no jobs, losing homes, etc., yet they continue to spend thousands on Christmas presents that aren't necessary. Why? Because they are continuing to leave reality behind - just as they do all year long. Perhaps your situation is different, but most people I know way overspend at Christmas due to the 'magical' sentiment you mentioned.

Happy holidays to all, Tiger

 

[Jasperann]

Love this idea - I think I am going to have to steal it for next year - thanks

You are welcome to it. It is a great tradition. Makes Christmas last longer.

 

[DawnM]

Does reality come back in January when the bills are due?

Dawn

WOW - Santa sends a bill.

Our families are opposite. We practice the value of $$$ all year long and my kids have a really good respect for $ at a young age but for our family Christmas is a time to leave reality behind and enter a dream land of magic. For us, life does not always have to be a "lesson". Magic and dreams are great and who knows they may come true.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Does reality come back in January when the bills are due?

Dawn

NO - we only spend what we can afford. We always budget our money so we can pay for what we want and pass on what is not needed. In our family buying for holidays is not just a Dec. thing. We pick up stuff year round when it is on sale. We use the same budgeting method with vacations - we save all year if we know something is coming up.

Budget wise year round is the best lesson for our children. Teaching them if you have a large expense coming up (say a vacation or holiday) you save for it.

 

[DawnM]

Ok, then I think you mislead in your post that you leave reality behind....this sounds very much like a LESSON to your children and that you indeed do not leave reality behind.

Dawn

NO - we only spend what we can afford. We always budget our money so we can pay for what we want and pass on what is not needed. In our family buying for holidays is not just a Dec. thing. We pick up stuff year round when it is on sale. We use the same budgeting method with vacations - we save all year if we know something is coming up.

Budget wise year round is the best lesson for our children. Teaching them if you have a large expense coming up (say a vacation or holiday) you save for it.