Spreading out the birthday gift excitement! (WFMW)
September 6th, 2006Lil’ Duck would be thrilled if he got a box and a sheet of stickers for his birthday - he can play with these for hours. However, he has many relatives and friends who love to buy him lots of gifts (he’s the first grandchild on every side, so he gets tons of things). Saving them all to open on his actual birthday is just too much for the little guy (and for us, honestly, how much assembly of millions of parts of little toys can you handle in one day?). So we spread them out!
We started celebrating his birthday several days beforehand, only because Daddy has very limited time off of work and it was the one day he could spend celebrating. We took him out to Toys ‘r’ us and let him pick out his own gift, partied the rest of the day, got him a few little things around Disney. Then we waited a few days, letting him enjoy his new toys, cycling them around so it wasn’t too overwhelming, keeping the other gift boxes hidden.
Next, one set of grandparents and family came over to bring him gifts and have a small party. Again, a few days. Then all the other gifts (which arrived by mail) are being spaced out over several days/weeks as he loses interest in his “old” gifts. Obviously we can’t wait TOO long to actually open these, as we have to make and send thank-you cards.
For Christmas, he got some toys that were just a little old for him, great things but not quite what he was into at that moment. We put them away in a box in his closet and brought them out months later, and now they are played with every single day. I anticipate the same thing happening for his birthday - some of the toys will be opened but then put away for a while, probably brought out in that lull between being bored with all his toys and Christmas gifts in November/December.
Lil’ Duck is in baby heaven doing it this way, he gets to focus on each gift without being overloaded, but still has new things to explore without having to buy him anything else for a LONG time ;).
That definitely works for us! What do you do to help deal with birthday and Christmas overload?? Tell me about it in comments and then go visit the rest of the Works For Me Wednesday tips for other great ideas! Be sure to also visit Mama Bee who has her very first WFMW tip up!!
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Shorty’s b-day is January, so just about every year at Christmas we put a couple of the many, many presents he gets (from aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.) away to give him as b-day presents. Works-for-us too.
Great idea! It is always pretty overwhelming - this si a smart way to handle it. Happy Wednesday!
good idea! this would work if my 3 year old didnt know the UPS man’s truck and the doorbell ring during the holidays and what it brings…..LOL
This is a great idea! I am always looking for ways to simplify - and I love this idea! Thanks for your comment on my post as well!
I, too, love the idea of holding some gifts back for even a month or two. It makes the excitement last.
We do similar things even though my kids are older. Grandparents send packages and we open them on whatever day they arrive. Usually they arrive on the exact day, but we also have a family party on the birthdate and the a “friend’s” party on another day. That helps to spread out the gifts and the mess.
I use to do something very similar. When my tiny tots got things to old I would put them away for the next holiday or rainy day. I can’t wait to buy for my little granddaughter! FUN!
Love the idea- our kids get way too many presents as well- I don’t ever want them to expect all that so holding some back would be a great idea!
Great tip!!
Spreading out gifts is a great idea! Snuggle Bug gets a TON of gifts in December because it’s his birthday and Christmas that month. He’d be so overwhelmed if he had all the gifts given to him at once, so we tend to spread things out a bit too.
Thanks for your comment on my WFMW baptism gift tip.
We always did this at Christmas it keeps anyone from having a meltdown and makes the gifts more special but not the focus of the day
What a great idea! Thanks for the tip =)
This is a great idea, and we do the same thing with our daugther. The only thing that we have encountered is when all the presents are opened, she asks why there aren’t any more. She doesn’t understand why, after days and days of celebration and presents, that they don’t keep coming every day of the year!