The 5 Christmas gift rule is an up-and-coming approach to holiday gifting that involves giving just 5 gifts for Christmas, each in a specific category. Learn how to implement the 5 gift rule for Christmas in your house, and grab a free printable Wish List template that’s perfect for highlighting the five gift categories!
If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer volume of presents under your tree, or if you’re trying to stick to your Christmas budget, then the 5 gifts rule may be the perfect solution for you!
There’s a good chance your kids already have more than they need and Christmas is right around the corner. Sometimes it’s tough to teach that this is a season of giving and not only endless receiving. Sometimes cutting down on the amount of presents that your children receive from Mom and Dad (or Santa) can help everyone in the long run.
Learn what the 5 Christmas Gift Rule for kids is, the benefits of using it with your family, and tips on how to make this your new tradition.
First, What is the 5 Christmas Gift Rule?
The “5 Christmas Gift Rule” is a simple way to make gift-giving more thoughtful and less overwhelming—for both parents and kids. It’s all about focusing on quality over quantity. With the 5 gifts rule, you give your kids five different gifts, each with a specific purpose:
1. Something They Want
This is the fun one! It could be that toy they’ve been begging for, a game they’ve had their eye on, or something else they’ve been really excited about. No rules here, just something they really want!
2. Something They Need
This category is for something practical but still nice. Maybe it’s a new backpack, a cozy winter coat, or supplies for their favorite hobby. It’s something they’ll use and appreciate.
3. Something to Wear
This could be a fun outfit, a pair of shoes, or even Christmas pajamas. It’s something essential but still special.
4. Something to Read
Find a book that matches their interests. A book, comic, or even a magazine subscription works great!
5. Something To Do
This one is not a “thing” that’s going to clutter up the house but instead is an experience. It’s anything you can do together— like tickets to a movie, a membership to the zoo, or even a weekend trip. It’s about making memories, not just collecting stuff. You can get some great ideas for experience gifts for kids here.
Why I Tried the 5 Christmas Gift Rule
A couple of years ago, I was sitting in the middle of my living room on Christmas morning, surrounded by wrapping paper, empty boxes, and a mountain of gifts.
The kids had been tearing through their presents like it was a race, no one paid attention to what the others got, no one seemed to appreciate the enormous pile of things they now had, and the kids were complaining “Is that it?!”. They seemed unsatisfied and overwhelmed.
Is THIS what they’d been waiting all year for? Is this what we’d been saving, buying, and wrapping for months for? It all felt… wrong.
That hit me hard. Here I was, thinking I’d done everything right by giving them “the best Christmas ever,” but it didn’t feel magical—it felt like too much. And the real kicker… they didn’t actually NEED most of it.
I realized I was setting this unrealistic bar for myself and for them and wasn’t doing anyone any favors. I started looking for ways to make Christmas more meaningful and stumbled across the 5 Christmas Gift Rule. It was like a lightbulb moment.
By giving fewer but more intentional gifts, I could still make Christmas special without the chaos. The next year, I tried it—and honestly, it was the best decision I ever made.
Reasons to Try the 5 Gift Rule for Christmas
If my story resonates with you, here are some reasons you might want to try it at your house:
1. Avoid Overwhelm: Kids can get overloaded with too many gifts. Too many gifts mean either most won’t get played with or the mess playtime makes will be completely overwhelming to clean up every day.
2. Save Money: Focusing on five gifts lets you stay on budget without sacrificing quality. You can buy nicer things when the amount of things isn’t the goal.
3. Reduce Clutter: All humans always seem to want MORE… then we get overwhelmed by clutter. Fewer gifts mean less “stuff” to organize and store. You won’t have to discard things just to make room for new things.
4. Teach Gratitude: It’s easier for kids to feel grateful when they’re not drowning in an avalanche of toys. You’d think with more things kids would be more grateful, but it doesn’t often work that way. Having more all the time makes them want and expect more.
5. Simplify Shopping and Wrapping: Sticking to five categories makes it easier to plan and shop without feeling overwhelmed. We spend so much time and energy shopping and wrapping that you can miss out on so many other fun holiday traditions you could be enjoying with your kids!
Tips for Switching to the 5 Gifts Rule for Kids
Making the switch to the 5 Gift Christmas Rule can feel impossible, especially if your family is used to the traditional “huge pile under the tree” approach. But trust me—it’s easier than you think, and it can lead to a more meaningful holiday. Here are some tips to help you transition smoothly:
1. Talk About It Early
This is not a switch to make in December… give your family time to digest this idea. The first step is to have a conversation with your family, especially if your kids are old enough to notice the change.
Explain the new approach in a way that highlights the benefits like being able to focus on gifts that are really special and meaningful, and being able to get nicer gifts in each category.
2. Involve the Kids
Let your kids help create their wish lists using the five categories. They don’t need to pick one thing for each category, they can make a list for each one from big items to small ideas. My free printable 5 Christmas gifts wish list is perfect for this!
3. Ease Into It
If you’re worried about a sudden shift, you can transition gradually. Start with the five gifts as the main focus and still stuff the stockings. Or begin with 5 gifts from Mom and Dad and have a small pile from Santa. Another approach would be 5 gifts from Mom, Dad, and Santa and letting the other family members spoil them as they normally do.
4. Focus on Quality Over Quantity
The 5 Christmas gift rule isn’t about giving less because you can’t afford it, it’s about avoiding the overwhelm and learning how to appreciate things. Since you’re giving fewer gifts you will have a bit more to spend on nicer things and can put more thought into each gift.
*One of my oldest daughter’s “something to wear” gift was a high-end designer purse that she had been wanting. Because we didn’t spend a ton of money on 30 smaller gifts like we normally do, we were able to get her this quality item that she’ll appreciate for years to come!
5. Get Creative with the Presentation of the 5 Gifts
To make the fewer gifts feel more exciting, focus on how you present them. Use special wrapping paper, add a handwritten note, or place the gifts under the tree in a fun or decorative way. You can even make a game out of it, like a Christmas scavenger hunt to find their gifts!
6. Emphasize Traditions
Fill the time you are saving shopping and wrapping with new fun Christmas traditions like baking cookies together, driving to look at Christmas lights, or reading Christmas stories.
Free Printable 5 Gifts Rule Christmas Wish List Templates
Want to try this 5 gift rule with your kids? I suggest that you start by printing out these free wish list templates using the link down below. This wish lists have space for kids to write five different things that they would like for each category, so that you have a few options while you’re out shopping. I also have my kids put a star next to the one item that they want the most for each category.
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