What is your family getting your LO for Christmas/holiday?

[femalephish]

I'm getting my daughter a handmade broom from etsy.com for Christmas and I'm making her something and I think we're going to spend time cooking as a family. I'm excited about it but.... I have 5 brothers and sisters and all of them, and my parents, want to get my daughter something for Christmas. I'm trying to be very thankful for all the love they want to show her but I'm overwhelmed. They LOVE loud, plastic toys that I hate and I just don't know what to say to them. I don't want to squash their enthusisam, you know? I hate feeling like I'm a wet blanket telling people 'I don't want too many gifts' 'we would rather Jo have less, not more, toys."

I'm getting alot of pressure feeling like my family thinks I don't want my daughter to be happy just because I don't want her to have a lot of crap! How are you handling this?

Thanks,

-Courtney

[RollerCoasterMama]

What worked best for us was encouraging books or craft supplies or clothes if they don't know what else to do. 

The first year, a few loud plastic toys snuck through...but after that, it's mostly XH's grandmother that picks out something loud at Walmart.  Everyone else seems to have realized that it's not just a passing phase.  And if they really don't know what else to do and they want to get him a gift, they go for books and puzzles.  :)   Even my brother came around last year and tried to comply---he gave DS a large dump-truck...which wasn't plastic, so he was really trying hard.  And DS loves it!  AND (miracle) a little wooden set of tools!  When I can convince my brother, it's finally sunk in!  I think it's easier for main-stream families because brands like Mellissa and Doug are everywhere.  They might not hold up the best, but they are certainly handy for helping transition into a less blinky-loud holiday!

One thing that I really emphasize is that fact that we don't NEED anything! 

After that, you have to decide your own boundaries.  Personally, when a well-intentioned battery powered toy comes into the house, I don't make a fuss.  Someone gave it to DS because they love him and want to give him something they think he'd enjoy.  Those toys might be first in line for the good-will box 6 months from now, but not if he truely loves it and plays with it regularly.

The less you stress yourself out over things, the happier your holidays will be! 

[elus0814]

Our families are starting to get the idea about fewer and natural toys. I've been trying to explain for years that for the price of those two obnoxious dora and diego toys with all the little plastic bits that will end up in the goodwill box in a few months they could get one wonderful ostheimer figure that will be played with a treasured for years then passed down.

I have found that asking for very specific things is the only way to avoid an onslaught of toys that will hardly be played with. Amazon wish lists are great for this. They don't have ostheimer figures but they do have plan toys, wooden train sets, board games, car seats (that several people can go in on), books, art supplies, haba play food, etc. Just do a search for 'waldorf' or 'wooden toys'.

No matter what we say or do the kids, all four of them, still get some really awful toys from the family members who just don't take the hint. Asking for cash towards a big gift (like saying you're saving up for something) or asking for saving bonds in another great way to go.

[crunchy_mommy]

Could you ask them to all pitch in on one big item? Or request things like books, craft supplies, clothes, etc.? Of course the 'experience' gifts are awesome (museum/zoo memberships etc.) but my family just wouldn't go for that, plus that can get pricey for most of our family members.

DH & I are making DS's 3 gifts except for some wooden animals that are going in his stocking. I told my mom straight out to not go overboard this year, that we'd rather one or two nice, good-quality gifts than a whole bunch of junk (obviously I didn't state it quite like that ). I also have casually talked to her about cleaning out & selling most of DS's toys so she knows we're paring down & getting rid of the junk & we won't keep things that don't fit our vision. I also provided amazon wish lists to both sets of grandparents. I'm not really sure what to expect come Christmas day... I *think* my family has a pretty good grasp on keeping things simple but I am pretty sure the inlaws will bombard him with a bunch of, well, junk. I don't know what I'll do if that happens because DS gets anxious around noisy blinky toys so I'll probably put them in the upstairs toy room (which isn't used as much) and then sneak them in a donate box unless one or two are really loved. I kind of want to invite the inlaws down before Christmas so they can see the kinds of toys DS plays with but I don't think that's going to end up happening (plus would probably backfire on me somehow lol). Also, if DS gets a bunch of good quality toys then I will donate/sell some of the stuff he has now. I really wish I could say NO gifts but I know it wouldn't go over well so I'm feeling a little apprehensive about the whole thing.

[mommariffic]

I ask for craft supplies every year :) We can never have too many, and each year DD is psyched to get more glue sticks, markers, crayons, construction paper, kids scissors etc. So from my husbands side that's what we get. My other family will get her clothes [which we need! Jammies especially!] and things for the dress up kit I am making her.