Your child, your choice. I find this sad too! Nothing at all is rather extreme.

I understand the intention but i find this sad. I think its a real joy of childhood. I always remember lying in bed the night before and being so excited with anticipation. I still love Christmas to this day and whilst i still enjoy getting presents what i love most about it is spending time with family. So i think I’ve turned out ok.

I love the concept, but no presents at all is a little sad. I don’t think by not buying ANY gifts reallys changes the idea rather then perhaps a couple of gifts from mum and dad. We buy gifts and still teach our kids to be grateful, they give gifts to their cousins, and never get angry or spoilt when they don’t receive something they want. I believe it’s all in the overall teaching.

I do agree with having experiences!

I can understand the theory behind this but I think no presents is a bit overkill. Maybe one present each to.open would be nicer. I’m curious if santa brings them presents as she said her 4 yr old believes in santa. If he gets nothing from Santa that would make him feel horrible seeing all his little mates with new presents from santa

i think giving gifts is also imp -but yes i did not give him very many gifts – i did a few things which he needed anyways… he’s turning 5 soon and starts school this year so yeah he was very happy with his gifts.

Well I don’t see how that would teach the children anything except that their parents don’t really care about them…

What a cruel thing to.do

Strange sort of logic – the children still get these presents, just not immediate family [her and her husband] so I don’t see how that is teaching them anything. Just my opinion.

I suppose it makes sense. Worth others buying gifts they are not missing out and it means they may appreciate the gifts they do receive more. I just reflect on Christmases where I got multiple Barbie’s so there would be a prettier one. If I didn’t have anything to compare it to it would have just been new, shiny and awesome.

I feel that Christmas has become a very expensive exercise and the real meaning of Christmas has been lost. I think that the children should get something for their birthdays and some small things for Christmas but peer pressure is going to make it very difficult once the children are a little older.

Its her choice I suppose but I think its a bit sad when he gets older and all his friends are receiving gifts and he isn’t. How is she going to explain that.

I couldn’t imagine doing this.. I love gifting, especially birthday and thank you presents.

I don’t get it! She talks about her son understanding about Santa – so does Santa bring presents or is she saying she doesn’t give a gift on top of Santa presents. We never received gifts at Christmas from our parents, just from Santa. What’s wrong with a small gift to celebrate a child’s birthday? I don’t think giving a few small gifts for birthdays and Christmas is setting a child up to be spoilt. Does she buy anything for the child during the year?

I agree to a point – by all means, teach the children charity and humility and get them to appreciate the everyday things, but one little gift – from parent to child – is such a special thing that I feel she is depriving her children of …..

As children we were sometimes given clothing which we needed when we had usually grown too much to wear our other clothes. We often had one new outfit to wear to special outings initially. There was often underwear and socks in our Christmas Stockings. Lollies were a rare treat sometimes we got a few wrapped lollies (not bags of them). We loved reading so we usually received books – some of them entirely or partially educational. We usually got one or two toys depending on he size and cost of them. I know a couple of families who give some of the presents to their children from Santa and some labelled from Mum & Dad. We usually ask the kids what they would like. They didn’t always receive what they asked for but it gave us some idea of interests we weren’t aware of.

Some good points but i think she is going too far. To get 1 or 2 presents for birthdays and xmas won’t make her kids spoilt.
Anyway each to their own

It’s a bit unfair if all other kids get presents and your own get nothing

She makes some good points but I think it is cruel not to buy the kids a present on their birthday no one is saying something extravagant but the excitement they have opening gifts at a young age is a gift in itself to the parents too

Fair call, it’s her choice. They aren’t missing out as others buy for them.
Might be hard for her as they get older and question their parents.