The Gift Conundrum: 7 Tips to Dealing with Present Overload

Birthdays, holidays, grandparents with shopping addictions, oh my! Ask any momma out there what presents to get for her kiddos, and you’ll likely get a blunt, firm, “NOTHING. THEY HAVE ENOUGH.” Unfortunately, this response is often laughed off and the gifts come anyway, whether you want them or not.

Sound familiar? With the upcoming holiday season, I know I’m stressed out every time a relative demands a wishlist or wants to know what new characters my children are into. Even if I list out necessities, like socks and underwear, or practical items like hats and gloves, inevitably the kids end up with stacks and stacks of wrapped presents, taller than they are, containing a multitude of toys that will make too much noise, light up like Christmas EVERY day, be the source of sibling wrestling matches, and find their way underfoot while trying to tiptoe in and out of rooms.

It can be overwhelming. After chatting with several parents in the same boat, I thought I’d share some of my more successful strategies for dealing with present overload, plus alternate ideas to have ready for those overly eager gift-givers.

• RE-GIFT: I have re-gifted SO MANY of the items bought for my kids. I don’t feel bad about it. It saves money and time, and it means fewer items in circulation (which invariably end up in our landfills). Hooray for being green!
• DONATE: I plan on giving surplus items to a toy drive this year. I literally have a whole storage tub full of brand new, unopened toys. There are kids out there that will get much more joy and use out of these things than we will.
• SEND TO GRANDPARENT/CAREGIVER: I recently re-homed several duplicate/bulky toys to my mom so she has stuff for my kiddos to play with when I bring them over. She has space, and it saves me from having to lug a bag of entertainment items every time we visit.
• EXCHANGE: I sometimes research where things could have been purchased, and then I’ll return for store credit. And guess what: I don’t always use that store credit to buy things for my kids ?? (Pro-tip: keep clothing tags on EVERYTHING until you use them. I find that my kids will outgrow most things before we can even incorporate it into their wardrobes)

As far as ideas to dissuade family/friends from buying too many toys and clothing items…

 

• ETSY: I really love the idea of putting unique artwork in the kids’ rooms. Start an Etsy wishlist and send that to your family members – fill it with handmade, quality clothing, independent book creators, illustrators, woodworkers, etc!
• GIFT CARDS: In the summertime, we like to go to those indoor play places (Catch Air, Monkey Joe’s, etc). But they aren’t cheap! Gift cards for fun, local, kid-central places are a great alternative to toys and clothes.
• MEMBERSHIPS/CLASSES: This is similar to the above idea, but better suited toward family members that like to get something a little ‘bigger.’ How about annual passes to amazing local attractions such as Zoo Atlanta or the Georgia Aquarium? Taking your kids somewhere fun and educational creates lasting memories! You can also ask for contributions to dance classes, swim lessons, or any other program that piques your child’s interest. These improve social skills, hone talents, and foster creativity. There’s not a big enough box to hold that kind of gift!

PHEW, that’s a long list! What ideas do you have? Are there any other ways you encourage gift-givers to avoid unnecessary, over-the-top presents?