How to Combat "Parenting Decision Fatigue": Gift Giving
"Decision fatigue" is ever-present in parenting... Let's avoid that fatigue by setting up systems to reduce the number of decisions we make - we'll start with lessening the work of gift giving!
Have you heard the term “decision fatigue”? That phrase basically means that we make so many decisions in a day that after a certain point we get worn down and worn out, and then we start making poor choices. Not only that, but the overwhelming exhaustion of making so many decisions in a day can affect our mood. I’m sure many of you have experienced this! When I think about how “decision fatigue” could affect my life it inspires me to find ways to reduce the number of decisions I have to make in a day.
Gift giving is an area that new parents don’t often consider when they’re imagining all the extra work that comes with parenthood. But, giving gifts comes up again and again when raising kids - either through gift giving holidays, through your own kids’ birthdays, or through other kids’ birthday parties. Deciding what to give for all of those events definitely adds to decision fatigue!
In my family, school has been back for two months and because I have three kids, we are in the full swing of attending multiple birthday parties each week! Right after we had our first son N(10) we started getting invited to our friends’ kid’s birthday parties. Then once he started school there were even more kids parties to attend. It’s amazing how once you have kids, birthday parties start to fill up your family’s social calendar. There seems to be at least one (or more when you have multiple kids) every weekend!
Each time we get a birthday party invite I first look at our calendar to see whether or not we can attend, whether or not siblings are included, and once I have that information I make a plan (if we’re going as a family or if we’re not then which parent will go to that party). Then a week before the party (usually when I’m filling out our weekly wall calendar aka our Map of the Week on Sunday) I decide what gift we’ll give the birthday kid.
All that planning, plus the regular everyday planning and decisions we do as adults and parents, adds up fast and can feel overwhelming. In looking for ways to avoid decision fatigue in my life, I came up with two ideas that have lessened the amount of decisions I have to make around gifting:
I compiled a list of standard birthday gifts that kids love so that I can easily purchase gifts without too much thought.
I have a closet shelf with gifts ready to grab and go when it’s time for a party.
Below is a list of high-quality birthday party gifts that my kids have either loved receiving or have loved giving. I’ve compiled these to help you quickly buy a gift the birthday kid will love (and that will last) without having to think too much about it, or to purchase to have at your house ready to grab for any gifting occasion. Another way to use this list is when you’re invited to a party for a kid who is older than your kids and you aren’t sure what kind of gift to purchase this list will give you great ideas! None of these are cheap plastic throwaway gifts - instead I focused on well-made interactive and entertaining gifts for kids. I hope these can help you as you streamline the work of parenting!
Quick tip for last minute gift purchases! If you forgot to get a gift and realize the party is that day or the next day (and you don’t have anything on your shelf of gifts or time to get a gift, and you don’t want to give a gift certificate) - consider giving a subscription gift! A subscription is a great interactive gift that you can order online and it will send the email gift notice to the party hosts right away. I’ve listed subscription gifts at the bottom of each age category as another great option!
TYPE A MOM’S GIFT GIVING LIST
Ages 1-2:
Board Book Sets:
Toys:
Subscription gifts:
Ages 2-4
Books
Building Toys:
Games & Puzzles:
Arts & Crafts:
Subscription gifts:
Ages 5-8
Books
Games & Puzzles:
Stuffed Animals:
Building Toys:
Arts & Crafts:
Clothes:
Subscription gifts:
Ages 8-11
Books
Building Toys:
Board Games:
Arts & Crafts:
Subscription gifts:
I hope that having a standard birthday gift list to choose from, and having gifts at your house ready to wrap and take to a party, means you spend less time thinking about gifts and more time doing fun things with your family!
Have a great time at all the parties you’ll go to with your kids - it’s fun to celebrate with other families and to create memories together🎉❤️