• Home
  • About
    • Our Family
    • Our Purpose
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our Christmas Letters
    • Other FAQ’s
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Flanders Family Homelife

Living, Loving, & Learning Together

  • Home
  • Love
    • Respect your Husband
    • Love your Wife
    • Keep the Peace
    • Get Along with In-laws
    • Find Time for Intimacy
    • More on Marriage
  • Learn
    • Why Homeschool? Our Family’s Reasons
    • Occupying Toddlers
    • Kindergarten Plan
    • Choosing Curriculum
    • Report Cards
    • High School Transcripts
    • CLEP/ Dual Credit
    • High School Diplomas
  • Parent
    • Tips on Potty Training
    • Wipe Out Whining
    • Stop Sibling Squabbles
    • Chore Assignments
    • Computer TIme
    • Adult Children at Home
  • Eat
    • Breakfasts
    • Breads
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sides
    • Main DIshes
    • Desserts
  • Celebrate
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Easter
    • Summer Vacation
    • Independence Day
    • Back to School
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Save
    • Kids Eat Free
    • Budgeting Tips
    • Secrets to Garage Saling Success
    • Earn Cash Back w/Ebates
  • Read
    • Recent Reads
    • Books We’ve Authored
    • Reading Rewards
    • Free Books!!
  • Travel
    • Vacation Planning
    • We Flew FREE to Europe
    • Sample Itineraries
  • Organize
    • General Tips
    • Goal Setting
    • Mom’s Notebook
    • Kitchen
    • Bedrooms
    • Toys
    • Garage
  • Print
    • Calendars
    • Chore Charts
    • Coloring Pages
    • Math Drills
    • Prayer Guides
    • View All >
You are here: Home / Holidays / Christmas / Large Family Gift Giving

in Christmas· Holidays· Mailbag

Large Family Gift Giving

My inbox is backed up, so I’ve been using Mondays to respond to readers’ questions. This week, my Mailbag Monday column deals with large family gift giving. Keep reading to see how our family handles this important tradition at Christmas time.

Monday Mailbag Q&A

Question:

Hi, Jennifer.

What do you all do for presents with such a large family for Christmas? I find that I love giving gifts and want to encourage my kids to give, as well. But sometimes it becomes a burden. I thought you might be able to shed insight.

Sue

Answer

Hi, Sue.

When people count our kids, they assume Christmases at our house must be crazy and chaotic. They envision gifts stacked to the ceiling all around our tree. Wish lists as long as our arms.

They might be disappointed (or maybe relieved!) to see how small scale our gift giving really is.

Large Family Christmas: What do you do about gifts?

I feel the same way you do about wanting to encourage giving. But I, too, would get a little overwhelmed coordinating gifts for so many. And having to find homes for all those gifts once the holidays are over? That would compound the stress exponentially. We’ve maxed out our limited storage space, as it is.

That’s why, for well over a decade now, I’ve taken a minimalist approach to family gifting.

How it Works:

I fill a stocking for each child and put a single family gift under the tree that everybody shares. Every stocking is different. I fill each one with small trinkets chosen especially for that child.

Large Family Christmas: What do you do about gifts?

The boys might get a T-shirt or a small toy in their stocking, the girls a pair of earrings or a new doll. But most of the contents are consumable: Favorite food items. Gift certificates for a free smoothie or ice cream cone. Band-Aids, Scotch tape. Stationery. Or toiletries that will (eventually) get used up and tossed.

That spares me having to find long-term extra storage space for lots of bulky items — a plus when three kids share one closet.

Large Family Christmas: What do you do about gifts?

As for the family gift, some years I choose a new game. Some years a book we can read aloud. Art supplies are always a big hit. A few years back, it was a slack line — an immensely popular gift that still sees lots of action.

Large Family Christmas: What do you do about gifts?

Our kids also exchange names for “Secret Santa” gifts. They’ve been doing that for seven or eight years now. That ensures everybody has an individual gift to open under the tree, too.

Large Family Christmas: What do you do about gifts?

Additionally, I wrap the same Christmas books we read every year into 25 packages — a literary advent calendar, of sorts. The little ones take turns opening one of those every day throughout the month of December, then we enjoy reading whatever books were in the package together.

This tradition keeps the tree from looking too lonely with only one or two gifts underneath. The younger kids don’t care that they’re opening the same books they opened last year (and the year before and the year before). So it’s a win-win.

Why it works

Several things about our family allow these practices to work well (and make them somewhat necessary):

  • We don’t see many commercials.

    We haven’t had television reception for over twenty years, which means our kids haven’t been constantly bombarded with ads trying to convince them they need the latest and greatest offerings on the toy aisle of the nearest Target or Walmart. That fact alone does wonders for a child’s contentment. We also toss most of the catalogs and circulars that come in the mail before the kids ever see them. The older ones will sometimes spot something they’d like online now, but they also have ways of earning money and usually just save up to buy it themselves.

  • We replace things as needed.

    Part of the reason there were so many gifts around my tree as a child is that my mom was a very savvy shopper and would squirrel things away for Christmas all year long. As Christmas drew near, she’d also take note of any items that my sister and I had worn out or outgrown — socks, underwear, hairbrushes, blue jeans — and wrap up the replacements for us to open Christmas morning, as well.

    I loved that and fully intended to do the same thing with my children, only my husband would beat me to the punch every time. When Christmas rolls around, there is seldom anything that needs replacing or updating, because that gets done just as soon as he notices the need.

    Same goes for sporting goods and technology and bicycles. Doug is an early adopter, and every day with him is like a holiday. There’s no outdoing that fact at Christmas, so I’ve given up even trying.

  • Our kids are really creative.

    Do you know what happens when kids don’t have a lot of toys and stuff crowding for their attention? They learn to make their own fun.

    Leaf tag is loads of fun!

    Most of our children are masters at this, and the fun they find usually doesn’t cost a cent: they’ll rake the leaves into intricate designs then play tag through the maze; they’ll hike through the woods and bring home long poles of bamboo which they’ll use to build a teepee to sleep in; they’ll make amazing works of art out of toilet paper rolls, tin cans, or egg cartons they rescue from the trash (then enter their creations in the fair and win cash premiums for them)!

    Win cash premiums on craft projects in the State Fair

I know a single gift and a stocking may seem like a scant Christmas celebration to a lot of folks, but it works well for our family. It helps keep our focus off what we we’re going to get, and places it more on what we can do. Not just on Christmas morning, but all month long through service projects, letter writing, bell ringing, carol singing, memory making, party hosting, puzzle working, game playing, and all the other fun things our family does together during this most wonderful time of the year.

Don’t forget we’ll be starting our series on “Keeping Christ in Christmas” tomorrow. I hope you’ll join us!

Keeping Christ in Christmas - A blog series to help us focus our hearts on the real reason we celebrate.

Leave a Comment

« Behold A Virgin Shall Conceive Coloring Page
Advent Christmas Chain (Free Printable) »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

meet the parents

Doug & Jennifer Flanders - www.flandersfamily.info

We love Jesus, love each other, love our 12 children, and love the life God's given us. We started this blog as a way to share resources with others who want strong marriages, happy families, & healthy homes.

Read more

looking for something?

freebies in your inbox

Subscribe for immediate access to our library of 350+ free printable resources.

connect with us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

most popular posts this week

  • Plant a Garden Coloring Page
  • Number Writing Practice Sheet (Free Printable)
  • Free Editable High School Transcript Template
  • Armor of God Coloring Page
  • In the Word on Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
  • Free Chart for Keeping Track of Medications
  • April Holidays & Quirky Celebrations
  • God Makes Seeds Grow (Coloring Page)
  • Free Printing Practice Sheets
  • 2021 Calendars for Advanced Planning

unleash your child’s creativity

free starter set

free starter set from Grove

Readers' Favorites

Name that Line - Christmas Movie Game

Name that Line Christmas Quiz

Shares: 23059

How Well Do You Know Your Christmas Carols

How Well Do You Know Your Christmas Carols?

Shares: 26323

Age-Appropriate Children's Chore Chart - IG

Age-Appropriate Chores for Children

Shares: 92527

Make Every Month More Meaningful

Make Every Month More Memorable

Shares: 50664

start your day right

make over your mornings

If your mornings don't run as smoothly as you'd like, this course can help. Good for night owls & early birds alike!

join the conversation

  • Jennifer Flanders on Conversation Starters for Thanksgiving
  • Jennifer Flanders on Free Printables
  • Jennifer Flanders on Conversation Starters for Thanksgiving
  • Jennifer Flanders on Remembering Reformation Day
  • Jennifer Flanders on Remembering Reformation Day
  • Jennifer Flanders on Mailbag: Scripture Copywork in Manuscript
  • Jennifer Flanders on Free Printable Home Health Care Chart
  • Jennifer Flanders on How to Write a Thank You Note

earn free books and bibles

Tyndale Rewards Club

This is a great program, and it's FREE! Bonus: when you sign up through this link, you get 25 points (& I get 10 -- so, thanks!).

Christian Family Blogs
  • Home
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Food
  • Fun
  • Freebies

visit jennifer’s blog

Jennifer Flanders' Blog: Loving Life At Home Loving Life at Home

visit doug’s blog

Doug Flanders' Blog: All Truth Is God's Truth All Truth is God's Truth

privacy policy | disclosure statement

shop our books

25 Ways to Communicate Respect to Your Husband 25 Ways to Show Love to Your Wife
Sit Down & Eat Get Up & Go

thanks for dropping by

Thank you for visiting our website Let's Get Social
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

looking for something?

recommended resources

as seen on:

America Tonight ABC Australia BBC Tyler Morning Telegraph

“An encouraging word cheers a person up”...and “An encouraging word cheers a person up”...and so does an afternoon picnic by a secluded stream.  #familypicnic #cheeseandcrackers
Enjoying sunshine and spring blossoms at the Arbor Enjoying sunshine and spring blossoms at the Arboretum. #dallasblooms #flandersfamilytravels
On this day 34 years ago, Doug asked me to marry h On this day 34 years ago, Doug asked me to marry him, and I said YES — one of the very best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.  I thought he was the absolute best back then, but he’s somehow managed to get better and better with every passing year. And the love, appreciation, and respect I feel for him continues to grow deeper, broader, and higher every day, as well.  #tbt #everydaywithyoudear #issweeterthanthedaybefore #happilyeverafter #thehoneymoonisstillnotover
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We’re celebrating wit Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We’re celebrating with our traditional green cuisine.  #flandersfamilyeats
Ben introduced us to a great new (to us) park toni Ben introduced us to a great new (to us) park tonight. The kids will all be ready for bed tonight after playing so hard.
For moistest and most flavorful roast you’ll ev For moistest and most flavorful roast  you’ll ever eat, brown both sides of the meat, then lay it in the bottom of a crockpot on a slice of onion to lift it off the surface. Sprinkle with 1 pkg Ranch mix and 1 pkg Au Jus Gravy mix, lay a stick of butter on top, and cook on low for 3-4 hours. Super easy and delicious!  I cook potatoes and carrots in the same pot and serve with dinner rolls and a salad. Yum!  #flandersfamilyeats
All aboard! I’m so glad I kept a good supply of All aboard!  I’m so glad I kept a good supply of the classic toys my kids used to love, even after they outgrew them, because now they’re delighting a whole new generation of grandkids.  Considering the fact our train sets had already been enjoyed by somebody else’s children when I bought them secondhand for my own little ones decades ago, I’d say they’ve served their purpose well (and are still going strong).  What kind of classic playthings will/did you keep for future generations to enjoy? Anything you got rid of and later wished you hadn’t?  #briotrains #atrainrunsacrossthistrack #redcabooseattheback #classictoys
Oops! I forgot to post this one here when I first Oops! I forgot to post this one here when I first published it on my blog on March 1. But there are still plenty of special days this month to celebrate. Click on the link in my profile to download free resources related to many of them.  #makeeverymonthmorememorable
Homemade tamales. Yum. 🫔 #newskills #alwaysle Homemade tamales. Yum. 🫔  #newskills #alwayslearning #flandersfamilyeats
Animal Farm. If you look closely enough, you can s Animal Farm. If you look closely enough, you can see Old Major in the barn addressing Boxer, Clover, Benjamin, Muriel, Jessie, Bluebell, Snowball, Squealer, Napoleon, and all the others. Abby arranged this scene  herself — proof that she was paying close attention when I read George Orwell’s classic aloud to my kids last week.  It has been more than 75 years since Orwell first penned this political fable, yet it remains as relevant today as ever. Wish our elected officials who seem so inexplicably enamored with Socialism would take time to read and ponder its message.  #fourlegsgood #twolegsbetter #flandersfamilyreads

Copyright © 2021 · Market theme by Restored 316