What Is a Gift Rule?<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\nA gift rule is a way to limit the number of gifts you\u2019re giving to your kids. It helps them appreciate the gifts they get and put more thought into what they\u2019d like to receive and give to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most popular gift rule is The Four Gift Rule. This rule lets your kids pick out four gifts they\u2019d like to receive. There are several takes on four gift rules. Some use the traditional \u201cone gift you want, one gift you need, one gift you can wear and one gift you can read\u201d as the basis for their gift giving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An alternative take to the traditional four gift rule is \u201csomething cool, something for school, something to wear, something to share.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Something Cool<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This gift can be something they want or a surprise gift they didn\u2019t know they wanted. It offers more flexibility for you to find something special your child didn\u2019t know about ahead of time. Consider getting your child personalized Christmas gifts. Buy a new ornament they can put on your tree or personalized Christmas stockings<\/strong> that celebrate each family member\u2019s<\/a> favorite part of the holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n- Something for School<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This gift doesn\u2019t just have to be a book. Any educational toy or board game counts as well. If your kid loves science, you can buy them a science experiment kit<\/a>. A gift that offers educational value or helps your child learn new skills fits into this gifting category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n- Something You Can Wear<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This rule includes any gift you can place on your body. Maybe your child needs a new winter coat or pair of gloves. Or they\u2019re hoping for some themed Christmas shirts<\/strong> or sweaters<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can buy one clothing item or a whole outfit. Your gift could even be an expensive watch or an activity tracker you wear on your wrist. Like the other rules, it\u2019s open for your interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Something You Share<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Give a gift that helps your child learn that the holidays are best celebrated together. Shared family gift ideas<\/a> can be as simple as a new board game or a streaming service so your family can watch movies together.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis gift rule is a great way to add more expensive gifts, like a family trip to Disneyland or other vacations. Gift your child an item they\u2019ll need for the trip, like a new duffle bag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can even give gifts that are meant to be shared with others outside the home. Shared gifts are meant to be experiences, not just items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/agiftidea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/image-4.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSource: 4 PM Production\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Benefits of Using a Gift Rule<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\nThere are plenty of benefits to using a gift rule over the holidays this year, regardless of your family\u2019s size or lifestyle. A gift rule can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Set Boundaries and Spending Limits<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
When your kids\u2019 Christmas list seems endless, it can be hard to rein in your spending and narrow down what you\u2019re going to buy. With a gift rule, you have a clearly defined capacity for how many presents you\u2019re purchasing, allowing you to manage your Christmas budget<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n- Reduce Holiday Shopping Stress <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If you have a clear number of presents you\u2019re shopping for, you won\u2019t be roaming the malls aimlessly at the busiest time of year seeking inspiration. Avoid the chaos by knowing exactly what you\u2019re looking for and limiting the number of stores you visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Save Time on Shopping and Wrapping <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can quickly and efficiently purchase the specific gifts you need online or zip into the store, buy them and be on your way. You also won\u2019t spend hours wrapping gifts and writing labels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Start Your Own Gift Rule<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\nBefore you can implement a gift rule in your household this Christmas, there are a few things you need to do and decide to make the idea successful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/agiftidea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/image-3.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSource: Rawpixel.com\/Shutterstock.com <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Decide on Your Gift Rule <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The obvious starting point for starting a gift rule this holiday season is deciding what that rule will be for your household. If you\u2019re going with the common idea of four gifts for your child across four categories, you\u2019ll need to decide what those are before you relay the idea to the kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Manage Your Child\u2019s Expectations <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
While the gift rule is an excellent way to stop your kids from asking, \u201cWhat else has my name on it?\u201d when they\u2019re looking at presents under the tree, the concept will be better received if you talk to your child about it ahead of time<\/a>. This is especially important if your child is used to receiving tons of presents at Christmas and the gift rule is your way of cutting back this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nExplain the value of the gift rule to your child when they\u2019re making their Christmas list and present the concept as coming from Santa himself. You can say that Santa is trying something new this year and he\u2019s bringing four presents, one in each category. Explain these categories to your child and help them select a present that meets the criteria for each. Get them excited about the prospect of having to narrow down their top choices to just four gifts on their list, and make the selection process part of the fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Stick to Your Idea <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019re clear on your gift rule and have communicated it to your child, stick with it. Straying from the rule and showering your child with more presents than expected might confuse them, especially if you presented the Four Gift Rule as coming directly from the North Pole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being consistent with a gift rule can turn it into a tradition that kids grow up cherishing. They may look forward to the four categories of gifts so much that they adopt the idea in their own family one day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Gift Rule Is Fun for Everyone <\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
This gift can be something they want or a surprise gift they didn\u2019t know they wanted. It offers more flexibility for you to find something special your child didn\u2019t know about ahead of time. Consider getting your child personalized Christmas gifts. Buy a new ornament they can put on your tree or personalized Christmas stockings<\/strong> that celebrate each family member\u2019s<\/a> favorite part of the holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This gift doesn\u2019t just have to be a book. Any educational toy or board game counts as well. If your kid loves science, you can buy them a science experiment kit<\/a>. A gift that offers educational value or helps your child learn new skills fits into this gifting category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This rule includes any gift you can place on your body. Maybe your child needs a new winter coat or pair of gloves. Or they\u2019re hoping for some themed Christmas shirts<\/strong> or sweaters<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can buy one clothing item or a whole outfit. Your gift could even be an expensive watch or an activity tracker you wear on your wrist. Like the other rules, it\u2019s open for your interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Give a gift that helps your child learn that the holidays are best celebrated together. Shared family gift ideas<\/a> can be as simple as a new board game or a streaming service so your family can watch movies together.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n This gift rule is a great way to add more expensive gifts, like a family trip to Disneyland or other vacations. Gift your child an item they\u2019ll need for the trip, like a new duffle bag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can even give gifts that are meant to be shared with others outside the home. Shared gifts are meant to be experiences, not just items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: 4 PM Production\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are plenty of benefits to using a gift rule over the holidays this year, regardless of your family\u2019s size or lifestyle. A gift rule can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When your kids\u2019 Christmas list seems endless, it can be hard to rein in your spending and narrow down what you\u2019re going to buy. With a gift rule, you have a clearly defined capacity for how many presents you\u2019re purchasing, allowing you to manage your Christmas budget<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a clear number of presents you\u2019re shopping for, you won\u2019t be roaming the malls aimlessly at the busiest time of year seeking inspiration. Avoid the chaos by knowing exactly what you\u2019re looking for and limiting the number of stores you visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can quickly and efficiently purchase the specific gifts you need online or zip into the store, buy them and be on your way. You also won\u2019t spend hours wrapping gifts and writing labels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you can implement a gift rule in your household this Christmas, there are a few things you need to do and decide to make the idea successful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: Rawpixel.com\/Shutterstock.com <\/p>\n\n\n\n The obvious starting point for starting a gift rule this holiday season is deciding what that rule will be for your household. If you\u2019re going with the common idea of four gifts for your child across four categories, you\u2019ll need to decide what those are before you relay the idea to the kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While the gift rule is an excellent way to stop your kids from asking, \u201cWhat else has my name on it?\u201d when they\u2019re looking at presents under the tree, the concept will be better received if you talk to your child about it ahead of time<\/a>. This is especially important if your child is used to receiving tons of presents at Christmas and the gift rule is your way of cutting back this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Explain the value of the gift rule to your child when they\u2019re making their Christmas list and present the concept as coming from Santa himself. You can say that Santa is trying something new this year and he\u2019s bringing four presents, one in each category. Explain these categories to your child and help them select a present that meets the criteria for each. Get them excited about the prospect of having to narrow down their top choices to just four gifts on their list, and make the selection process part of the fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019re clear on your gift rule and have communicated it to your child, stick with it. Straying from the rule and showering your child with more presents than expected might confuse them, especially if you presented the Four Gift Rule as coming directly from the North Pole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Being consistent with a gift rule can turn it into a tradition that kids grow up cherishing. They may look forward to the four categories of gifts so much that they adopt the idea in their own family one day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBenefits of Using a Gift Rule<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
How to Start Your Own Gift Rule<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Gift Rule Is Fun for Everyone <\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n