Presents

I've been to parties where the rule is that all presents have to be under $5. The presents were FANTASTIC and the birthday child loved them. When parents are given a 'budget' that is under $5 that means a few things:

1. There is no discomfort when one guest has bought something extravagent and another gives something inexpensive
2. The guests tend to be more creative when present buying because they still want their present to be something the birthday child will like
3. You don't tend to end up with big noisy toys that are hard to store
4. The day remains more about the birthday/Christmas than about the presents.

Not saying this is ideal for everyone, but it is something I have seen work :)

No Christmas related - but when I was little my father traveled a lot and would always bring us back a present when he came home.
Most of the time it was large sheet of bubble wrap 1mx2m - which we would jump on until all the bubbles were popped.  We were all easily amused Children.

We had pretty much the same experience with our first baby.  We bought him all kinds of things his first few Christmases and not only was he more interested in the boxes and paper, the experience was also completely overwhelming.  He had so many presents the Christmas that he was two that he finally cried that he didn't want to open any more.  He just wanted to play.  We put the rest up and he finally opened the last one in March!

Now that our kids are older (7,4 and 8 months) we have learned to go easy on Christmas.  We are going to go with an idea I heard from a friend - they will each get 4 gifts -

1.  Something they want

2.  Something they need

3.  Something to play with

4.  Something to read

We believe that one or two toys from us is pleny, as they will also get more toys from other family members.