These are GREAT Christmas gift ideas for little girls!!
We give our girls three gifts at Christmas. This is something we started when our oldest–now 5 1/2–was an infant.
And let me assure you: They do not lack for anything!
We do not limit the gifts our extended family give to our girls (we feel that is their business, you know?), so they still end up getting a lot of gifts at Christmas.
But in our immediate family, we want the focus to be more on giving–and on celebrating Christ’s birth. As I explained in my post “Keeping Gift Giving Simple,” we give our girls:
1. Something they want.
2. Something they need.
3. Something to nourish spiritual growth.
These are the gifts we are giving our girls this year:
images from Dollie and Me and Target
Something They Want: Dollies
A few months ago our oldest started talking about wanting an American Girl doll. My first thought was: “Ack!! Those dolls are expensive–and so not in our budget!!”
We then discovered Dollie and Me. This is a much more affordable brand of dolls that look very similar to the American Girl dolls.
Around this same time, I actually received an email from the company asking me if I would like to review one! I told them I would only do it if I could review two because my 3-year-old wants everything her big sister has!
So we didn’t even have to buy this present for the girls–and it was something they had been wanting! Our oldest will get a redheaded doll with blue eyes, and our second will get a redheaded doll with brown eyes. (They look just like them!)
We’re giving our 1-year-old a Little Mommy doll we also got at Target.
images from Amazon.com and Mighty Nest
Something They Need: Sheets & Sippy Cups
These aren’t just any sheets–these are princess sheets! Our big girls are in dire need of new ones for their bunk beds, and a few months back my husband found some nice ones marked down at Home Goods.
The baby is getting a new stainless steel cup.
images from Christianbook.com
Something to Nourish Spiritual Growth: Bibles with Bible Holders & a Noah’s Ark Shape Sorter
We have several children’s Bibles that we read together as a family, but both of our older girls have started asking for Bibles they can take to church.
Our oldest also started mentioning she wanted a “purple butterfly bag” to carry her Bible in! We do not know exactly what she was envisioning in her head, but we ordered a butterfly bag for her and a ladybug for our second from this Etsy shop.
Our 5-year-old is getting this Bible, and our 3-year-old is getting this one. They fit nicely in the bags!
We had a hard time coming up with a spiritual gift for our 1-year-old–since it seems her sisters already have everything she could ever possibly want or need! We ended up deciding on this Melissa and Dough Noah’s Ark shape sorter!
Stocking Stuffers: An Assortment of Smaller Things
Even though we just give three main gifts (which still seems like a lot to me!), we still fill the girls’ stockings with smaller items.
This year, their stockings are filled with the likes of character bandaids (does anyone else’s kids LOVE them?!), organic suckers and hair bows.
I also snagged an amazing deal on two little girl aprons when Flirty Aprons had a sale last week. They match my apron, so the bigger girls will get these rolled up in their stockings as well.
What are you getting your kids for Christmas this year?
charity
I think this is a great idea. We will likely use it in the future. Our sons are getting a little spoiled at Christmas this year simply because we can. At the time they were born we were going through rough times with health issues and then money issues. This is the first year since they were born that times have not been tough at Christmas. They have seen friends get more gifts while they have gotten very few. Never have they complained about it– That makes me want to spoil them. So my husband and I are having a lot of fun spoiling them a little. We have not gotten them big expensive items (we are not going to go hog wild on spending when we want to put some money away in case of tough times in the future). They are getting a lot of dress up clothes (bought several thrift store costumes in October) as they enjoy making up their own performances of what they are learning in history or literature being read plus books, underwear and a couple of little toys. They have several little gifts to unwrap this year. It is going to be fun to watch them unwrap. However, after this year we will need to think through a little more, but I am enjoying this fun year.
Erin
Praise God for His provision for your family, Charity! I am sure your boys will be so excited on Christmas morning! Merry Christmas!
Alexandra
We do 3 gifts plus stockings as well. We did our stockings at the beginning of the month. Both boys (ages 3 and 1) got pjs, an ornament, and a candy cane (although one year can’t eat candy canes yet). Older one got a veggie tale DVD and younger got some bath squirt toys. For their three gifts, 3 year old is getting a shopping cart (got on sale online on Black Friday), a RC Thomas train (got used at a consignment sale), and a board game. One year old is getting a submarine for the bath tub, a ride-on toy (got on sale online as well), and oball car.
Erin
I love the idea of giving stockings before Christmas–with the pjs, ornament and candy canes! What a great way to usher in the season!
Merry Christmas!
Deanna
Such fun gift! I bought one of those aprons for my daughter’s birthday in February. I’m going remember those dolls for if my daughter starts asking for an American Girl doll.
Have you used those sippy cups before? Have you tried any other stainless steel or glass sippy cups? I’m researching which brand to get for my 7 month old.
Erin
Deanna,
I bet your daughter will love it! I was so excited to snag that deal!
We do have several of that brand of sippy cups. We love them! I recommend the smaller size with handles for a 7-month-old. That is what we actually have now for our 16-month-old. They handles are removable, so you can start out with them and them remove them for an older baby.
If you do end up getting any from Mighty Nest, you can get 10% off using code homemaker10.
Merry Christmas!!
Starla Jones
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas to help transition down from overly extravagant down to realistic and homey. We have always had the means and therefore Christmas has become the awful overly done. We are beginning to hate it. We started to wind things down a bit this year by doing a family secret Santa gift exchange as a way to wind down the parents from us the parents, but Santa expectations are really high. I would really like for Santa to be a small affair instead of a giant display of consumerism.
Erin
How old are your kids, Starla? I would imagine it would be harder to transition (we started out with this–thanks to a friend who gave us the suggestion!). Are they old enough to understand those who are less fortunate in other countries (and even our own)? Can you start educating them on this over the course of the coming year and talk about how for Christmas 2014 you are hoping to give more the gift of “time” to each other with a few very special gifts–and use the money you will save by not getting as many gifts to those in need? Merry Christmas!
Starla Jones
We have a 14 year old girl and 12 year old boy that have both been introduced to the secret adult Christmas club and a 10 year old girl and 5 year old girl that have not.
charity
Before I had children I worked at a bank. Our Customer Service Manager was concerned that her children not get the feeling of entitlement and did not want them to get ruined from too much stuff. So every year after Christmas for every toy they received they had to donate one to children who were not as fortunate.
Erin
That’s a great idea, Charity!
Lisa
A little late for a reply, but for others that come after and wonder…
We scaled way, way back this year. The kids are used to waking up to a huge pile of presents from us and some from Santa. I got tired of buying things that sat in the closet un-played with so I asked the kids why they wanted that particular present at the time. Their answer surprised me, someone asked them what they wanted for Christmas, they felt compelled to name something (anything!) just to have an answer. I asked if they got the 1 thing they really wanted they said that yes, they really wanted 1 particular thing and they did, in fact receive it, everything else was just a box to open. This year we approached things differently and told them that they could pick 1 thing they really wanted with a price limit of around 50 dollars, and we would buy also some presents for less fortunate kids. They were really cool with that! They got to help us pick out toys/toiletries/comfort items for kids who really needed it. They did awesome and put a lot of thought into what they chose. I was pleasantly surprised that Christmas morning was just as fun/chaotic with only 4 presents for them to open (1 box for each kid, and a joint(share) present from Santa). We did our first credit card free Christmas ever, helped people that needed it and still made our kids happy. It was the best Christmas ever!
Sara
We do the same, our almost 3 year old is getting two bigger presents from us and then the necessities (pjs, pants, etc.) while our extended family doesn’t understand the use of practical items as gifts so we tend to pray that the gifts are meaningful and age appropriate. Santa is bringing her only two big presents which were all on sale and stocking stuffers are books and hair bows.
We too believe it’s not about quantity but about practical and useful gifts. As a family, we starred this early in our marriage and it has become easy and less stressful when it comes to shopping and enjoying the holidays. We make it about spending time together and not about who got what.
Erin
It does seem to make it way less stressful! It’s nice to have this built in boundary! Merry Christmas!!
Theresa W
We’ve been doing the 3 gifts + stockings for a couple of years now, and I love it! They have all they need, and receive so many presents from family that there is still a full tree to look forward to, but we’re not tripping over lots of junk that never gets played with. I think it helps them focus on what they really want instead of just asking for everything they see. What started out as necessary because of little money has turned into something I’m so thankful about.
Erin
We are so thankful for it, too! Merry Christmas!
Jill @ Jill's Home Remedies
All of my girls are getting dolls for Christmas this year too. 🙂 This year, I think each of them are getting 6 gifts from me. They don’t get very much from family, so I tend to get them a little more. I don’t spend very much though. Their Target and Aldi dolls are the most expensive gift they are getting, and the other gifts are just a small this and that. 🙂 I don’t buy them gifts throughout the year, and only spend a little at birthdays, so at Christmas I save up to buy them a little more. Merry Christmas to you, Erin! 🙂
Erin
Fun! Did you get them the 18-in. “American Girl”-like dolls at Aldi?! I saw those, and they are so cute!!
Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 🙂
Nickole
We always give three gifts…we used to do more, but since my children are getting a bit older, we have decided to cut down on the gift giving. They still play with a lot of the “older” toys they have. Legos for my son are still a fave and my daughter still plays with her Barbies.
This year we gave them something they needed, something they wanted and something we wanted to give them. Both my children received watches. It serves a purpose and has educational value. We found some inexpensive Timex velcro watches at Amazon.com. Then both received winter boots. My son will also get a Lego set he has wanted and my daughter is getting a zebra stripped bean bag chair for her room.
I love the idea of spiritual gifts. I have been looking for some good devotionals for the kids. I tend to give those out for Easter. However, I haven’t found anything I really like that is age appropriate for an 8 yo girl and an 11 yo boy. Either they are too mature, or too young for their ages. Guess that will be my task before Easter this year.
Thanks for posting.
Erin
It sounds like you gave some great gifts! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas! I always like to read the Amazon reviews when I am looking for books to buy! Enjoy the rest of your Christmas!!
Christy B.
I’ve heard “something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read” I love your twist to add something spiritual! Merry Christmas!
Erin
I love that! We are overflowing with books (and clothes) right now, but I’ll have to keep that in mind for the future! Hope you had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 🙂
Kristine
Did the exact same thing with my 5 1/2 year old daughter. She has been wanting the American Girl doll, which is way expensive (does not even include matching clothes yet, which she also wants several of!)so I was so glad to find the Dollie and Me doll brand.We were able to get her the doll plus 3 matching outfits for a price of just the doll on the other brand. We got her mostly books and craft kits and the gifts she received from friends and relatives we didn’t let her open it not until Christmas so she feels like she has a lot to open. I just had a little girl last October and we’ll be sure to think of creative ideas next year coz she ‘ll be wanting her own gifts by then! Happy New Year!!!
Erin
What fun! They are so similar yet SO much cheaper! So glad she liked it–and congrats on the new baby! 🙂 Happy New Year!
Noelle
I really like your idea and will be sharing it with my husband for possible future use with our family too! We have # 8 on the way and for the past 4 or so years we have given gifts of “family time” to our children. One year they each got a special day with dad and a lunch out with mom alone, they still talk about it! Then we also did various things like once a month skiing for (military Mondays were free in Alaska!) or family activities. Another year we purchased cross country skis for everyone so we could go out on the FREE trails all winter and build memories – that was FUN! Night skiing, -8 degrees and a few moose encounters still get talked about! Last year because of the generosity of a friend we took the kids to Mexico in Spring for Christmas (never be able to top that one I’m sure!) but the focus was family time together! This year we just relocated so each month we have arranged for a family activity based on the state to get to know our area better. We did tubing in Jan (baby coming in Feb nothing that month!), skiing in March (again low cost opportunity through my husbands employer!), farm visit in April to see baby animals, baseball games and football games in summer and the BIG trip is fall we will go to Six Flags (on homeschool day when it is deeply discounted!) We use tons of discounts, coupons, groupons etc to fund these so it may sound extravagant or expensive but we really have to keep the costs down! And always remind our kids the greatest gift given was not a thing but a person! I really like the want, need, spiritual growth idea we may do that next year, thanks for the great idea!!!!
Shasta
We have 5 kids. Our oldest is about to turn 22 and lives about 5 miles from us. We have always done one gift for each child, a box for them to share with books, movies, cd’s, games, etc., and a stocking with fruit, candy cane, and usually one small useful item. This year, everything was thrown out of whack because of the flu. My oldest son has wanted a particular horse to ride in our Civil War reenacting, but was unable to afford him. I spoke with the man who had this horse, and he was kind enough to come down on the price so that if my son paid what money he had set aside for this purpose, I could pay the other part. So that was his gift. I made my youngest a pair of pants, a shirt, and a frock coat; the middle son got a frock coat he had been eyeing at a reenactmen plus a “new” pair of pants that I had to tailor to fit him, and I took my younger daughter to pick out a pair of boots after Christmas. My oldest daughter got a gift basket with homemade soaps, bath fizzes, etc. that were locally made.
Erin
Thank you for sharing about your Christmas with us!
Maria Denney
I know this post is almost a year old now, but I found it back in April & thought the Little Mommy Doll was so cute! So needless to say there have been 2 of these dolls stored away in our closet for our girls’ since the beginning of summer. One of which is the same dolly you have posted! I love your gift giving philosophy!!
Tiffany
I know this post is a year old but I just found it today. We do Christmas a little different each year for our 2. Santa is always consistent though. So we don’t get carried away Santa fills only the stockings. Each kid gets an outfit and a big item. This year the big item is a joint gift (we have an unfinished room were fixing up for them as a play room.) They only get a handful of gifts (3rd less). They also get one box they open the night before together. It contains pj’s for that night, hot chocolate, marshmallows, and either a movie or a book related to Christmas. This year our main goals are keeping toys to a minimum and making sure it’s a family oriented gift.
Khristin
I saw this post last year and convinced my husband to try it this year! I want to try to focus more on Jesus at Christmas time, and would really like to celebrate St. Nicholas Day as a separate holi
Khristin
Oops!
As a separate holiday. My husband isn’t quite sure though so this year we are doing 3 presents from us (want, need, spiritual), a stocking, and a joint Christmas present from Santa (a mini trampoline this year! ).