How much is enough -Xmas presents for a GC?

Sorry, but I find it all just too much- not just the 32- but the number of presents our grand-children get. They have their rooms full of toys, a playroom full of toys- and will get so many more again for Xmas. Bah humbug! I dream of Christmases without all this commercial pressure on all- truly.

LuckyDucky - your Christmas morning sounds almost identical to mine as a child (also in the 50's). When my Son was born I admit to being more excessive each year because I could. Now with the GD's I have to stop myself being OTT! But overall, I do think we buy too much (speaking for myself that is).

That's OTT, why are they doing it and how old is the child? DGC get one major present from parents, major, in the 'much wanted' meaning not the 'very expensive' meaning and one other and we all contribute pocket money presents for the stockings. Obviously they get presents from other family members, including us, but again on the 'one big, one small' basis. Lots of presents and magical excitement on Christmas morning but not overwhelming.

What is more their parents list each present and who has given it and during January thank you letters will be written to all present givers

I think we would have hit that mark sometimes with our kids. And definitely with the grandkids. Mostly little presents. But it definitely overwhelms them. Not doing it this year. For one thing, as they get older the things they want get more expensive!

I am a surrogate nanny to a 3 year old ...maybe a book and much needed clothes ..mum is a single parent

resident teenager has a limit may be half cash/half present

When I was teaching I couldn't believe how much parents spent on Christmas presents. One year I was telling my class how excited I was because I'd finally saved up enough money to buy a 26 inch TV. They had been very concerned about me when they found out that I only had a 14 inch portable lol. One of the boys was horrified when he found out it was a bog standard 26 inch. He was getting a 42 inch plasma for Christmas to play his PlayStation games on. This got the child talking about the electronic they owned. I was stunned how many had huge televisions, PlayStations, Nintendos, music centres etc. in their bedrooms. These were 7 and 8 year olds.

Another time a parent was complaining that she didn't know what to get her children. I made some suggestions but they had them all. I asked how much she wanted to spend. Then nearly collapsed when she said she spent at least £400 on each child.....she had 4!

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Aaargh!

Correction

Should have been a present from my maternal grandparents.

A dozen small gifts in a stocking (my children's stockings always included socks, undies, toothbrush and toothpaste), several books, a couple of CD's of children's songs and a couple of DVD's, a 'main' gift, slippers, new clothes....... maybe not quite 32, but yes, this is what my children would often get on Christmas day when they were younger. I used to set myself a budget and throughout the year always bought things in the sales, so I often got twice as much for half the amount of money.

However, many of my social work clients found it hard to believe me when I told them that my (limited) Christmas budget was fixed and always included clothes etc. Many of them watched TV ads and genuinely believed that a 'good' 'normal' parent would buy X-boxes, wii's and the latest 'must have' for their children. In fact I was told on many occasions that I was 'cruel' because my children not only didn't have the current fashionable gadget, but didn't even have a T.V.!

A toothbrush and toothpaste...sorry, ga, I appreciate that you were strapped for cash (as was I when the children were small) but I don't think basic hygiene items should be classed as 'Christmas presents'

Ana I haven't bought toothpasre, but I have put toothbrushes in stockings because they were 'character' ones (Little Miss Chatty etc) + character facecloths that are compacted and swell when put in water. Small children - well, my lot, anyway - get a buzz out of them

Those two things are fine. Not sure about toothpaste though! (sorry ga)

Yes, I agree - novelty or character toothbrushes fine!

This all makes me very sad. My GC's expectations upset me but I keep it carefully zipped. This is the first full year of 2 of my GC being in a split family and they will not be getting what they have had in previous years. I think they will learn a valuable lesson.

I used to work with a single mother with five children. She used to spend a fortune on Christmas presents. She would buy them early and hide them away and the youngest child used to ransack the house until she found her presents. This woman would then buy her an even more expensive present because the surprise of the first one had been spoiled! Some years rhis happened several times!

Surely some of the 32 gifts are stocking fillers.........a colouring book, colouring pencils, socks. They must be

Thirty two is definitely over the top although I think our GC probably get nearly as many. I give mine money for their bank account plus a couple of small gifts to unwrap. They mostly seem to have everything so it is not an easy task. When the eldest reached 13 I stopped the gift and upped the cash, which he appreciated.

I so agree with you. This situation make me reluctant to buy any gifts at all

I remember having to go to church with my dad, while mum stayed home to cook lunch. I was fuming as I had to walk past everyone playing with their new bikes, scooters, roller skates etc., I had to wait until after lunch to play with mine. As for 32 presents, I think it will overwhelm the child and it will end in tears.

My GS has more toys than you could imagine. DiLs family are big present givers and DH and I are overwhelmed by the number of presents he receives from her family....but..... I have never met a child with such a short attention span, he gets ont toy out for 30secs then discards it for another one, then continually repeats this without ever really connecting with any one toy. Then finally he tips up his toy boxes everywhere and goes back to watching TV. It saddens me.

All that wrapping . It would drive me potty. A game and a book from us. Love to spend time on Christmas Day or Boxing Day playing it with them. How many parents actually interact with their children and the toys I wonder. We also give money to DD to buy them something lovely to wear, and new shoes, it's better if she chooses.

Well, isn't that lovely and amazing - it seems we all agree, hurrah. But what to do about it?

Jamie has taken on healty food and sugar
Hugh is taken on food waste

who is going to do a series on the obscene commercialisation of Christmas and the huge pressure it puts on parents to get into debt to keep up with the Joneses- the effect on the parent/s ad the family and most of all, the children?