I love seeing my children's eyes light up when they finally get a long-coveted stuffie or toy truck. I spend hours with my children building Lego bricks, getting messy with new slime kits and art sets, and being too competitive while learning the rules of a new board game. I like to think that these gifts help my children feel special and help us create core memories together.
However, it seems that every year, as soon as Christmas is over, I am bombarded with ads and blog posts suggesting the perfect Valentine's Day gifts for kids. Soon enough, these Valentine's Day ads are replaced with suggestions for the perfect Easter gift, last day of school presents, and so on in a relentless stream throughout the year.
They expect gifts almost every month
My son became accustomed to expecting gifts on a near-monthly basis. Once, on Mother's Day, he asked me what he was getting for Child's Day, a holiday he assumed meant that even more gifts would be coming his way. It was clear that for my children, getting gifts at all had ceased being something special and started to be something they had a right to receive regularly.
I had enough. My children are fortunate enough to have access to a wide range of toys, games, and enriching activities. It was time to put an end to the gifts-for-every-occasion mindset. I am privileged enough to be able to buy a seemingly endless supply of gifts for my children, but that doesn't mean I should.
By succumbing to the pressure created by social media algorithms, marketing executives, and influencers with affiliate accounts, I was teaching my children that the only way to show love, celebrate a holiday, or mark a special occasion was with material goods. I had created a sense of entitlement.
I was done with the clutter
Apart from being expensive, this mindset resulted in clutter from gifts, big and small. My children could be thoughtless and impulsive about what they requested from the Easter Bunny or Santa, knowing that they needed to wait no more than a month or two for another gift.
As the clutter accumulated in my home, all of these gifts created stress. They meant more time cleaning up and less time having fun. When I tried to donate unused toys, more often than not, I found they had to be tossed because a key piece or two was missing, rendering them useless. After I put yet more plastic in the trash, I felt guilty about adding to landfills and the climate crisis. I knew I needed to break the cycle.
I decided to stick to giving gifts only on birthdays and Christmas and went cold turkey. I haven't given up celebrating entirely, but we mark occasions differently.
We do activities instead
Now, when Valentine's Day rolls around, my family usually celebrates with chocolate fondue and extra hugs. With new traditions, my children look forward to our toy-free Valentine's Day each year.
When Easter rolls around, I happily stay up late stuffing eggs and wake up early to watch my children search for candy. I no longer perseverate over the perfect toys for Easter baskets and focus instead on creating a fun experience for my kids, albeit one with lots of candy.
On the last day of school, we might celebrate with ice cream, or I might just tell my children how proud I am of them. They shouldn't expect a gift for making it through the school year, something they are obligated to do anyway.
Limiting how often my children receive gifts has made their birthdays and Christmas all the more special. These occasions are my opportunity to spoil my children. They consider more carefully what they ask for, knowing it will be a while before they get another new toy. In-between we take photos and make notes of things they desire. They are hardly deprived.
Sometimes they can do chores to earn money for a toy they just can't wait to have. Sometimes I make a detour to the toy store for no reason at all, surprising and delighting them. I have found that a gift for no reason is appreciated much more than the one they feel they have the right to receive.
FAQs
Yes, just like at Christmas, little ones have come to expect a few small gifts in their Easter baskets each year.
What do you consider reasonable gifts to give children? ›
Ideas for Easy Small Gifts for Kids
- Treasure boxes. Any small box, tin, velvety jewelry box, or glasses case can be made special by decorating it and using it to store those secret treasures.
- Secret journals. ...
- Items to collect. ...
- Stamps and inkpads. ...
- Ribbons. ...
- Store-bought and homemade stickers.
Consider if your relationship status warrants a gift.
If you just had your first date on February 12, don't expect your new partner to surprise you with a bouquet of roses. Conversely, if you've been together for years, it's not unusual to skip Valentine's Day.
What age should kids stop getting Easter baskets? ›
Many responded that of course there's no limit on the tradition. Others thought that by a certain age, kids should outgrow egg hunts and a belief in the Easter bunny, but Easter baskets? The consensus was clear: No one is too old. And experts agree.
Do parents give gifts on Easter? ›
Is it a thing to exchange gifts on Easter as we do on Christmas? Yes, there is nothing stopping you from spreading love and joy during the Easter period. In most countries, Easter is the second-biggest holiday for giving gifts after Christmas.
Do parents give valentines gifts? ›
Yes, giving your child a Valentine's Day card or treat is a lovely thing to do. Those who include their children in Valentine's Day tend to go all out on presents and special meals and messages of caring and kindness. "We have little presents and special dinner," says Stephanie M. "My little boy calls it Love Day."
Should girls give gifts on Valentine's day? ›
Originally Answered: Does the girl/female give a Valentine's Day gift to the guy/male? Absolutely. I gave up on my recent ex because I knew she didn't love me anymore, but before her I always gave and received gifts and cards and flowers for Valentine's Day. Ladies give flowers to men, too.
What is the rule of 5 kids presents? ›
What is the five gift rule? In the five gift rule, the first four gifts are pretty straightforward - something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. Then, the last gift is where you can really have fun. The fifth gift is something they didn't know they wanted.
How many presents should a child get for Christmas? ›
There is no magic number but the general consensus seems to be between three gifts potentially up to around five. There will be many factors that contribute to this decisions; how many children you have, presents other family members may buy, how old your children are and, of course, budget.
What are the 4 rules of gifts? ›
The 4 gift rule is very simple: you get each of your children something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. Depending on your kid's age, you might ask for their input on some or all of these gifts, or you might choose them all yourself.
Driver's data finds those who are in one to two-year relationships are the most susceptible to high prices. They will be dropping $247 on average, whereas those together for less than a year will be spending $186. Those who've been at each other's sides for over ten years will spend about $189.
When he doesn't buy you a Valentine's gift? ›
Generally, some reasons why this embarrassing and heartbreaking event happened include: he's just too busy, your gift might still be in transit, or worse, he doesn't love you anymore. It might also be because he's planning a surprise for you or because he views valentine's as a “Hallmark Holiday.”
What does the average household spend on Valentine's Day? ›
Data taken from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics shows Americans, on average, spent $175.41 on Valentine's day, with an expected increase in the calendar year of 2023.
Is it normal to get gifts on Easter? ›
The tradition of giving Easter gift baskets dates back to ancient times when people exchanged symbols of new life in the spring. As Christianity spread, this tradition merged with the celebration of Easter, and giving decorated eggs became popular in the Middle Ages.
What happens at Easter for kids? ›
Easter Sunday marks Jesus's resurrection. After Jesus was crucified on the Friday his body was taken down from the cross and buried in a cave tomb. The tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers and an enormous stone was put over the entrance. On Sunday Mary Magdalene and some of Jesus's disciples visited the tomb.
What do people do on Easter for kids? ›
If you have little ones in the house, you might want to read them an Easter story. You could even play Easter games like Easter trivia or spend the afternoon making Easter crafts. There are also plenty of ideas that make the most of the spring weather, including planting flowers, playing sports, and having a picnic.
What to get kids for Easter besides candy? ›
Healthy Easter Basket Ideas for Kids
- Books (Here are some great book ideas!)
- Toys and stuffed animals (SNOObear!)
- Puzzles.
- Bubbles.
- Art supplies (Coloring books, crayons, pencils, washable markers)
- Tickets or “coupons” for a trip to the park, zoo, or movie theater.
- Stickers or stamps.
