There will come a time when you child has a list for Santa that is long enough to make you wonder if Santa would indeed mind leaving you his credit card to help out with the wish fulfillment this year.
But before they get to the stage where they actually watch the ads between the cartoons and request to browse the Smyths catalog, there is a wonderful era (toddlerdom) where you can get away with not spending the best part of your month's salary on the Santa haul, and where they will, in fact, be happy with A LOT less.
If your little darling is still young enough to be excited by all sorts of things, there is no need for you to shell out your hard-earned cash or a short-lived, annoyingly expensive toy. Here are some money-saving options that are bound to go down a treat with your toddler:
1. An empty cardboard box
If you happen to just have bought nappies or something else that arrived in a large cardboard box, you are in luck! Wrap the empty box in some festive paper and look forward to hours of me-time come Christmas Day when you toddler climbs in and out of the box 7000 times in a row. #Winning
2. Keys
Just because he is young, doesn't mean your toddler won't be able to tell the difference between real car keys and the plastic toy variety. Solve this by actually getting him some real keys cut (cost next to nothing from your local homeware store or the shoe fixing place on the corner). Stick them on a key ring, and watch you toddler amuse himself for hours "opening" door and windows.
3. An unused keyboard
You know the way your toddler is always looking to get onto your lap when you are on the computer? The solution? His own keyboard. Any old discarded one will do. Now, sit back and let him go to town tapping away.
4. Plastic boxes of various colour and sizes
Got some old Tupperware bits lurking at the back of your drawers? Collect a bunch of boxes and lids and let your toddler amuse himself for hours finding the right matches or sorting them by shape, size, colour.... Hello, Christmas movies on the telly!
5. Paint (lots of it)
Water based paint is perfect for a toddler! You probably already have some at home in the hobby drawer, if not, pick it up on your next Supermarket haul. Undress toddler, plonk him in the bathtub (no water, duh!) and let him paint his heart out. Afterwards, you just hose the bathtub down. Pure joy.
6. Wrapping paper
Why bother with an actual pressie when you toddler will be equally happy with just lots and lots of wrapping paper?! Ripping it, scrunching it up, jumping in it; the possibilities are ENDLESS.
7. An unconnected light switch
Remember the day you taught your toddler how to flip a light switch? Bet you have regretted it ever since, no? Solution? Just get him his own flippin' light switch – available from Woodie's or Homebase or your local B&Q. Now, enjoy peace on earth and lights that stay on when you want them on.
8. Some sticks
Out to the park you go, and collect sticks of all shapes and sizes. Toddlers, in case you weren't aware, LOVE sticks (hey, mamas, how many sticks are you currently carting around in your handbags from your last trip to the park?!) and will happily play with them for hours – all the while you can put your feet up and enjoy some yuletide relaxing. Bonus: you can use the trail of sticks to work off some of the holiday calories — squat to pick them up! Win-win.
9. A roll of toilet paper
Does this need an explanation? They’ll love it. Trust me.
10. A dog food bowl
You know how you are forever shouting at your toddler NOT to touch the pet food?! Solution: Buy her a dog bowl of her own! Now, clearly I am not suggesting you feed your child puppy food, instead fill the dog bowl with raisins and Cheerios and blueberries and all sorts of toddler approved snacks. Bonus: No cleaning the high chair!
Now, relax, sit back and enjoy the fact that with a gifting budget this cheap, at least you have a head start on saving for that iPad they'll no doubt be looking for in a couple of years!
Clearly this was all a bit tongue-in-cheek, dear readers, we are not suggesting you actually give your children toilet paper for Christmas, but do YOU think we tend to overspend on young children in general? In cases where they might be just as happy with something a lot smaller and cheaper? Join the conversation with us on Twitter at @Herfamilydotie
