Hellobee Boards

1. We pass out all the gifts, and then go from youngest to oldest opening one at a time. So DD opens one, then DS, then DSD, then mom, then dad, and back around again.

2. If I give the same gift, they just open them back to back, I usually tell the kids which gift to open going from smallest to largest. They both get crocs, so dd will open hers, then ds open his right after.

3. Thats tough! This year I was able to spend the same on the little's even though their gifts varied in price. We kind of x any really expensive gifts though (like DS wanted an xbox, not happening). I told him that the parts to make it are really expensive so Santa can't gift an xbox.
We also gift the majority of the presents from us, and Santa just brings 1 or 2 things, If one was more expensive, I'd just gift another cheap item so they have the same amount to open.

1. I do one gift at a time, also. Its how I grew up and I like it. My husband grew up the same as yours, but he likes the slow open now, too. Basically, we open presents for hours if you count the time when we go to my mom's in the afternoon. We will totally drink coffee and even take a small break to bring the breakfast in.

2. I haven't gotten to this situation yet, but I like the idea of all the kids opening up the same gift at the same time. I will do that. Thanks!

3. Yikes. I know what you mean about dollar amount and wanting gifts equal. I'd find a way to still make it equal. So, get your little guy a pricey gift, too. Or, get little guy a gift equal in size, even if its not equal in dollar amount. Or, get your little guy less gifts. I don't know. And I don't think the kids will really know the difference right now, unless little guy is opening gifts a lot longer than the big boy. Best of luck! You sound like such an awesome mom and I'm sure your Christmas morning is going to be great. Sounds like you are doing your best to keep the magic alive.

1. We kind of do a mix. Growing up it was a little bit of free for all but we always paused to show what we got to the family and see the excitement. Our youngest is still small so we let our oldest help find and pass her presents, making sure she’s not left out. We never have as much for ourselves under the tree as the kids so as parents we typically watch the kids or guide them on what to open next, opening a few here and there so we aren’t the last ones opening.

2. We pass these out and have them open at the same time. I don’t want the surprise spoiled and I like them seeing they’re getting something matching

3. In our house Santa brings 1, maybe 2 if they go together, reasonable gifts - the rest is from us. So we still may have to balance requests someday but this really helps when we talk about other wish list items, dollar value, and number of presents. The discrepancy isn’t so noticeable right now so I’m glad to read other responses!

Growing up it was kind of a mix in my family - each person was handed a gift, we all opened them at the same time, showed them off, would be handed another gift, and repeat. It kept things from taking a super long time but wasn't chaotic either. DH's family just did a free for all. We do a mix of how my family did it and every one going one at a time. I really like to see DD's reaction to gifts, so I don't like to be distracted while I am opening mine.

When I opened gifts with my cousins there was typically at least one thing we all got that was the same or a variation of one thing. We would open them at the same time. I don't think it's a big deal either way. You could also choose to wrap the items together with both names on the package, then they would open it together.

I think when kids are little it's more important to have the same number of gifts since they don't fully understand value. Your older LO is right on the cusp of that. Maybe try to wrap up some super small inexpensive gifts to keep the number of presents similar? Though like others, santa only brings one (or maybe two small) things, parents and other family members bring the rest. So talking about budgets is easier.

When my kids have matching gifts I have them open them at the same time. I match number of gifts, not price point, because that's what matters to kids I think. If there's going to be a huge discrepancy, like when my older one wants a fancy LEGO set, I might group more than one small gift that belong together into one box for my younger child. But I also keep it pretty small. In our house Santa fills the stockings, the kids get one gift from me that they share (toy kitchen, guinea pig, fancy swing, etc) and then they get usually about two more gifts each from me and that's it.

1. We open one at a time, the presents are organized into one pile for each kid (DH grew up with presents that way. I don't think it's a great idea if one kid gets a lot of big gifts, but it's not a hill I am willing to die on....yet). Growing up it was a free for all, but my mom goes crazy on Christmas so if we did one at a time we would be opening gifts until New Years.

2. Same gifts are opened at the same time.

3. Same as others have posted, I make sure that the kids have roughly the same amount as each other. I spent way more $$$ on my 5 year old than my almost 3 year old, but they have the same number of boxes to open. The baby has less....but he's too young to know.

@alphagam84: Smart!!!