How Many Gifts Should Santa Bring Each Child?
Find out the perfect balance for the number of gifts Santa should bring to each child in our upcoming article.
When you’re just starting out with the Santa tradition, you might be curious as to how many presents Santa is supposed to bring.
Here is what we do in our family, and why.
Christmas time is so exciting and magical. The anticipation for father christmas on Christmas Eve coming down from the north pole gives kids joy.
But if you’re new to the scene of Santa Claus at home, then you might be wondering what the protocols of it all for christmas morning.
Although Christmas may appear to be a cheerful and joyful season, there are always problems that arise around this time. This is especially true when it comes to christmas presents.
Everyone attempts to find the right present for their child; some parents go overboard, while others are content to acquire just one item that their child has requested for christmas day.
For many parents, it is a stressful process that leaves them with more questions than answers.
Many families suffer financially throughout the year, and when the holidays arrive, they are concerned about whether they will be able to provide their children with the presents they desire.
All families celebrate Christmas a little bit differently, and there is not right or wrong way to do it.
See also: 49 Brilliant Gifts For Kids That Aren’t Toys
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Santa Brings One Gift To Each Child – Plus Stocking
In our family, Santa brings one gift for each child plus a stocking filled with chocolates and small goodies.
The reason we do this is because we know that not all parents are able to afford a big gift from Santa Claus for their children, and when the kids go back to school and talk about number of gifts they received there could be some hurt feelings and even a loss of belief.
A child’s christmas haul can be large for sure, but when it comes to what Santa brought, I always like to keep it at one gift. After all, Santa wouldn’t allow an uneven distribution of kids to good children, would he?
The magic of santa’s sleigh travelling at the speed of light led by santa’s reindeer to bring new toys to boys and girls could get ruined, the kids could get upset and it could really just turn into an ugly situatio with the loss of children’s christmas joy.
Because of this we leave the expensive, bigger gift and the rest of the presents as from mom and dad / other family members and then Santa brings a $20 – $40 gift.
The real meaning of christmas isn’t about the presents anyway and one gift from Santa brings in a little christmas magic that kids love.
Benefits Of One small Santa Gift
It’s Cheap – Which Is Great For All Families
Christmas is an expensive time of year and if you have a lot of family members to buy for then it adds up quick, so the actual number of gifts that Santa should bring is simply 1.
It’s Consistent Year Over Year
No more worrying about “well last year Santa brought me five gifts and he only brought me 4 this year!” conversations with your children. If the precedent is set to 1 gift from Santa then there is no fighting from seemingly “ungrateful” children.
It also makes your life easier since you don’t have to remember how many gifts you bought last year, you simply need one gift from Santa to leave under the christmas trees.
The Wrapping Paper
Having one gift from Santa is a great thing because you don’t need as much special Santa paper. We usually spend a little extra on shiny wrapping paper for the Santa gifts, and since we only wrap one gift for each child per year, it tends to last a few years – and that works out for me very well.
Do you wrap gifts in special Santa paper too? I feel like that’s the best way to do it because it keeps the magic alive.
It’s A Good Reminder
Having only one gift from Santa is a good reminder to children that Christmas isn’t just about gifts. It’s about the joy of giving and taking the extra time to get close to family. It’s about the traditions, the magic, and religion.
One gift from Santa reminds kids that Santa is a model of generosity – and we should all aspire to become like him one day.
That’s The Way The Movies Show It
I know it’s silly but, in the movies, Santa Claus only brings one gift. We watch a LOT of Holiday movies and I don’t recall ever seeing a Santa Claus who delivers multiple gifts to any family. It’s one gift, down the chimney and back out.
I mean Santa is so busy hopping down all those chimneys, he really only has time to deliver one gift and a few stocking presents!
How Many Gifts Should You Get Your Child Overall
According to a survey children should get 3 presents from the parents as well as one from Santa Claus.
One of the key reasons is because after three, it’s just a jungle of unwrapping gifts. Children become so engrossed in ripping off wrapping paper that they fail to notice what they have unwrapped. It becomes less about genuine memories and satisfaction and more about objects.
We do not follow that rule, we often get many presents for the kids since I tend to shop year round to save money at Christmas time. In fact – here is a list of the Christmas presents my kids got this year.
Every family has its own rules regarding how many gifts to give, but developmental paediatrician Dr. Mark Bertin argues that although we want children to appreciate receiving gifts, we don’t want them to acquire a sense of entitlement.
When it comes to Santa presents, it turns out that number isn’t as important as quality. According to USA Today, expecting youngsters not to return to school and “compare” notes about what they received for Christmas is impractical. What we need to consider is what Santa brings to the kids.
This approach not only assists youngsters in being more appreciative of and grateful for their presents, but it also assists parents. Following the 3-present rule saves parents a lot of time and money, as well as helping them financially.
If mom and dad want to get their child a big-ticket item, it’s OK, but they should make it from “mom and dad” rather than Santa; the added benefit is that you’ll be the finest parents on the planet.
How Many Presents Does Santa Deliver Bottom Line
Depending on your financial situation and your Christmas beliefs, it is up to you on how many gifts you should be giving your child for Christmas. As far as Santa’s journey goes, it should be one gift plus one stocking for children’s gifts, in my opinion.
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References
- Happiness from Christmas Experiences: More happiness is reported during Christmas when family and religious experiences are emphasized, and lower well-being occurs when spending money and receiving gifts predominate. This suggests that focusing on the experience and family aspects of Christmas, rather than the number of gifts, may lead to greater happiness (Kasser & Sheldon, 2002).
- Impact of Materialism: The materialistic aspects of Christmas, such as a focus on gifts and spending, can undermine well-being, while environmentally conscious consumption and spiritual activities can enhance satisfaction (Kasser & Sheldon, 2002).
- Gender Roles and Gift Shopping: Research has found that women are generally more involved in Christmas gift shopping than men, and this activity is often seen as “women’s work” (Fischer & Arnold, 1990).
- Children and Economics of Christmas: Studies suggest that the presence of children has a positive impact on Christmas gift-giving, indicating the significance of children in the economics of the holiday season (Tremblay & Tremblay, 1995).
- Parental Involvement in Gift Giving: Parents exhibit different levels of involvement in Christmas gift giving, and this is not significantly related to giving branded items as gifts. This indicates that parents prioritize the act of giving itself rather than focusing on popular brands (Clarke, 2006).
- Brand Requests and Children’s Wishes: Children often express brand-oriented requests in their Christmas wishes, demonstrating an awareness of brands and a desire for specific items (Waiguny, Pevny, & Terlutter, 2012).
- Gender Differences in Gifts for Children: Research shows significant gender differences in the types of toys and gifts requested and received by children at Christmas, with boys and girls having distinct preferences (Bradbard, 1985).
- Importance of Rituals in Family Happiness: Family rituals, including the exchange of gifts at Christmas, play a significant role in creating family happiness and well-being (Wulf, 2013).