If you’re anything like us, you’re wondering how the year could be almost over already! It feels like we’ve blinked and suddenly Christmas is around the corner, with a million things to prepare and do, especially when it comes to Christmas preparation, like choosing the best gifts for all the little (and big!) people in your life.
What if we told you it doesn’t have to be stressful? That you could actually enjoy finding things for your loved ones, like it’s supposed to be?
Fostering simplicity during this time of year seems to be the key for everything, including gift giving. Tracy from Raised Good writes a great passage on intention and the benefits for both us, and our loved ones:
“I’m conscious of the ever-increasing influence of our consumer-driven society. Children are easy targets for the trap of materialism, yet the experience of gift giving and receiving can be incredibly joyful and positive. As parents we have the power to limit the number of gifts our kids receive, so we can give them the space they need to appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity of others. By taking an intentional approach to the type of gifts they open on Christmas morning we can also promote free play, encourage imagination and foster connection within our families.”
So, with this power in mind, we’ve explored all of the different tips and tricks out there to help make gift-giving as meaningful and stress-free as possible, and have some of the best ones (and our own!) listed below to help make this time of year easier for you. (+ keep reading for a gift guide to kickstart your stress-free shopping experience!).
Ignore marketing tactics.
You know when you walk into (or even past) a store and there’s an abundance of big bright signs pulling your attention in every direction? Signs with one-time limited deals or sales that fill you with the pressure to not miss out on things you didn’t actually need in the first place? Well, that’s just one of the many marketing tactics out there that make the gift-giving experience overwhelming. To make this gift-giving season less stressful, and save your time and money, try to identify the different marketing tactics (or even just the ones you fall for the most) and seek to detach yourself from them. For example, don’t buy something just because it’s on a big sale, because it could be making you veer away from your carefully created and thought-through list. So, take your list shopping with you, and stick to it! PLUS, shopping with smaller, locally owned stores helps reduce big marketing pressure as well, allowing you to skip the chaos that becomes malls and big box stores and focus intentionally on what you need, and budgeted, to get. Remember, shopping small, shopping local, shopping Australian-owned, benefits the whole community.
Give practical gifts.
We’re not saying turn everything into a learning experience, but sometimes giving practical gifts is more beneficial, and can come in many different forms. For example, you can buy gifts for your children that help with their development, so that they can learn and play. Similarly, you may buy a gift they can share, so they start to prioritise sharing and spending more time working on their social skills.
Have gift limits.
One great limited gift idea sweeping the internet is the idea of buying only 4 or 5 gifts per child with clear intentions: one they want, one they need, one to wear and one to do. This helps them be more intentional and introspective as they learn to understand the differences between wants and needs, and giving them gifts they can use in different aspects of their life. You could also add in one or two other gifts with different categories, such as ‘Do/Experience’, or take inspiration from The Pragmatic Parent and add in a gift for the entire family to prioritise family connection.
Get kids involved in giving.
One of the best gifts you can give as a parent, caregiver or loved one of a child is spending time with them, and giving them the opportunities to really impact others. Get your children to pick out gifts for their siblings or understand the impact of giving outside of the home. Get them to help out with donating or volunteering around the holiday period and see how this impacts their mindset and growth. And remember, you don’t need to be the only giver in your family!
To further try and help make this time of year a little less stressful, we’ve put together our famous yearly Christmas gift guide with some of the best products we have in stock for this giving season. Perhaps try to tick off a practical gift on your list, or one that benefits the whole family!
Here's our FREE PDF printable too, with a 3-page Christmas To-Do, buy, make and bake checklist! Access it by clicking this link here, or the image below.
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Radio Flyer Classic Dual Deck Tricycle - Red
A durable tricycle that features a steel construction, spoked wheels, and real rubber tires. The double-deck rear step allows for easy on-and-off access, while the adjustable seat is suitable for children aged 2.5 - 5 years.
Speedy Monkey - Multi Activity Walker
This wooden multi-activity walker helps toddlers gain confidence and balance when learning to walk. It includes 9 activity toys and a storage area. The non-slip rubber wheels ensure safety and quiet play. The walker encourages imaginative play and learning.
Connetix Magnetic Tiles - 120 Piece Pastel Creative Set
Offers 8 pastel colours and a variety of shapes that foster limitless creativity, fun, and learning through play.
It is an excellent option for family play, building BIGGER Connetix creations, and expanding children's colour recognition skills.
Jellycat - Bashful Christmas Bunny
From pompom to bobtail, Bashful Christmas Bunny is a scrumptious festive treasure. With rich nougat fur, long cuddly ears and a red velour hat with fleecy trim, this gorgeous bunny is a timeless gift.
1:16 Man TGS Garbage Truck Side Loading
A new addition to the best-selling lorry model series is a refuse lorry with a side loader based on the LoToS system. It is a modern refuse vehicle that can be operated by a single person.
The side fold-out lifter grabs the refuse bins, two worm extruders transport the refuse into the collecting body, and the opened tailgate locks in place.
Kinderfeets - Tiny Tot Plus Trike
Is your little one eager to start exploring the world on wheels? The Kinderfeets Tiny Tot PLUS 2-in-1 Bike is a larger version of the favoured Tiny Tot 2-in-1 Bike - a vehicle that doubles as both a tricycle and a balance bike when children are ready.
Leapfrog Magic Adventures Globe
A 10" interactive learning globe for children. It features high-quality BBC videos, animations, and live-action videos that help kids explore new places, languages, cultures, animals, geography, and habitats. With over 5 hours of video content and three interactive games, children can immerse themselves in the curriculum and challenge their friends while having fun.
Discovery Kids Neon LED Glow Drawing Board
A drawing easel with a see-through surface can be used for translucent artwork and as a tracing board. It features built-in LED lights that bring doodles to life with vibrant colours.
FAO Schwarz - Fashion Designer
Provides the tools to design and create unique fashion pieces. Use the included plates, coloured pencils, and paper to draw and assemble outfits and accessories of various sizes. Suitable for expressing creativity.
Silverlit Robo Frog
The Silverlit Robo Frog is an interactive toy that mimics the movements and behaviours of a real frog, adding a touch of excitement and adventure to playtime. Featuring advanced robotic technology, it creates a captivating and immersive experience for children of all ages.
Little Live pets - My Puppy's Home
A toy for children that enables them to create a magical home and includes an interactive and playful pet puppy that reacts to touch and has over 25 sounds and reactions.
Sleeping Queens 2 - The Rescue
The Pancake Queen, Ladybug Queen, and other characters are back to rescue kings from dangerous situations. Players can enlist the help of a magical companion, but must be wary of obstacles like Wild Gnomes and Sleeping Willows. The goal is to save as many kings as possible and become the royal hero.
We've made this list a downloadable Christmas gift guide for you, which you can share with your kids to give them inspiration for what they may want. To get your own copy, click this link and it will be yours!
Good luck! And happy giving season!