What do kids really want for Christmas gifts? I asked some WA state students for advice
This time of year many parents are stressed out about what to get their kids for Christmas. Being a mother myself, I understand the desire to try and nail every aspect of the leadup to Dec. 25, and Christmas morning in particular.
The struggle to please our children is not just about social pressure or the commercialization of holidays. It’s about realizing you could have been picking up great gifts all year, but instead, you’re staring down the barrel of dropping at least $300 per child, probably more, to make the magic happen.
Even with all of that, Christmas is special, particularly the magic of seeing a joyful child anticipating and then opening their gifts. It has always worked out in the past, but this year I was stumped about what to get my second and fifth grade children.
In my family’s case, my kids also celebrate Hanukkah on their dad’s side. That’s eight nights of magic - and a gift every night after lighting the menorah candles.
It would be one thing if they had a long list of gift requests, but they don’t.
What if I get the wrong toys or books? What if someone else buys them the same puzzle? And what are the items that I should avoid?
Most importantly, are socks still the worst present?
I had no answers, so I decided to enlist my children’s help to make an informal inquiry to their classmates.
What gifts do Washington children really want?
One morning before school, we wrote up a very short survey and printed copies for each kid to take to school. The unscientific, anonymous survey asked two simple questions: What are your five favorite holiday gifts, and what are your five least favorite holiday gifts?
A few surveys came back blank, or with notes from kids who said they don’t celebrate any gift-giving holidays in December. Several children said they are thankful to receive any gift and didn’t fill out the “least favorite” gift list.
One child said their favorite present is “Time with family.”
Children’s five favorite holiday gifts
There were a wide variety of answers about what kids want most for holiday gifts, but some of the most surprising wish list items include coffee, knives, a katana sword and a coding robot.
Many children mentioned that they like to receive “good” books, various types of art and drawing tools and supplies, legos and sports tickets.
“Anything that includes any type of knowledge,” one child wrote.
Other favorite gifts were more classic, including a variety of technology, such as gaming consoles and systems like Nintendo. The most-listed gifts in the favorite-five list were by far video games, tied only with stuffed animals and candy.
Kids also said they like to receive blankets, as well as Nerf guns and fishing gear. Several others said they like gifts that have personal meaning to them.
“Anything with or about wolves,” one child shared.
The five most-listed favorite gifts for children were:
Nintendo and other video games
Squishees and other stuffed animals
Candy
Art supplies of all kinds
Books
Five least-favorite holiday gifts
It’s just as important to know what not to get kids for Christmas as what they like. There are a few items that most of the kids I asked say should be avoided.
Most of the kids said they do not want to get socks as a gift. Or as more than one child called them, “stinky socks.” In fact, a number of clothing items were cited for being a disappointing present, particularly “itchy” items like sweaters.
The kids also said repeatedly that they don’t like presents that remind them of school. Within that group of items, there’s a particular disdain for workbooks and certain school supplies, especially pencils and erasers.
Many children also noted it makes them unhappy to receive cheap toys, or “$2 toys,” as one child called them. Underwear, “scratchy” bed sheets, stamps, and dark chocolate are also unpopular.
Here are the five holiday gifts children dislike the most:
Socks
Clothes
School supplies
Math workbooks
Cheap toys
This story was originally published December 20, 2022 at 9:39 AM.
