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Christmas, in the eyes of a child, is a grand affair. Children get to eat seemingly unlimited sweets, watch movies, and — most importantly to many of them — open presents. It’s easy to feel pressure to provide oodles of pretty packages with ribbons and bows for your little ones to tear into on the morning of Dec. 25. But kids don’t need a bazillion boxes under the tree to enjoy the season.

Enter the four-gift rule, a present-purchasing guide that demands you only buy a handful of quality-over-quantity gifts per child. To abide, simply hunt down and purchase four things: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.

Out with the countless easily trashed and potentially toxic plastic that lines department store shelves and Amazon warehouses this time of year and eventually finds its way under your couches and beds. In with meaningful packages that will not only excite children on Christmas morning, but also stand the test of time.

Whether Bidenflation shrunk your gift budget or you simply have minimalist taste, the four-gift rule ensures that the kids in your life receive a wide variety of presents that won’t turn into closet clutter by January. Here are some strategic purchases you can make to ensure your kids get the best Christmas ever without burning up your bank account or buying a storage unit.

Something They Want

On the hunt for an educational and unique gift that keeps on giving to the future “STEMmers” in your life? Look no further than CrunchLabs’ subscription boxes. The monthly kits created by famed GlitterBomb creator, NASA engineer, and YouTuber Mark Rober include materials for DIY toys and robots, instructions, and a link to a tutorial video led by the man behind the mini machines.

There is a “Build Box” option for kids and tweens who want to experiment with piecing together their own moveable masterpieces and a “Hack Pack” option for teens (or any curious adults) who want to try their hand at hobby engineering.

For a present that requires less assembly, consider gifting your youngsters a membership to the Adventures in Odyssey Club. The membership includes access to a library of hundreds of radio drama episodes and devotions that aim to cultivate children’s Christian faith and morals.

The Focus on the Family creators recommend the series for 8-to-12 year-olds, but characters like ice cream shop owner Mr. Whittaker, brainiac Eugene Meltsner, and Connie Kendall appeal to all ages.

If you don’t want to add another subscription to your plate, consider going old school by wrapping a thrifted CD boom box and physical copies of the AOC episodes, which can be found at a Christian bookstore near you.

Something They Need

Every child requires different things at different times, but money never goes out of style! Fill up a painted piggy bank with any loose change or bills you collect over the year, and give it to your kid on Christmas morning. You can give your him or her the choice to spend the money on something practical or open a savings account with the coins you collected.

Something to Wear

If your house is anything like mine, hats always seem to go missing right when winter hits. Keep the kiddos from blaming their siblings for their lost items by labeling them. I personally like the look of a knit beanie with a leather nameplate like these, but don’t be afraid to shop around Etsy for your favorite fabric and font.

If you’re organized enough to be set on headgear for the season, consider gifting a monogrammed tote bag like this one from Lands’ End that can grow with your children as they grow up.

Something to Read

Christmas is a great time to justify boosting your babies’ libraries. If you have infants or toddlers, I can’t recommend enough the children’s book collection by author Tabitha Paige. Her background as certified speech language pathologist and experienced watercolor illustrator makes for exceptionally educational and beautiful books that capture even the shortest of attention spans.

For older children who need a reminder about the reason for the season, I recommend The Advent Storybook: 25 Bible Stories Showing Why Jesus Came.

A less holiday-themed pick is The Mysterious Benedict Society series, which encourages children to embrace critical thinking, adventure, and truth over the messages transmitted by technology like screens. Ironically, the series was developed into TV show in 2021.

If more pictures and less words are more your child’s thing, consider ordering them a kid-friendly hobby magazine. Some of our favorites include Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. and Ranger Rick.

Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and producer of The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work has also been featured in The Daily Wire, Fox News, and RealClearPolitics. Jordan graduated from Baylor University where she majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow her on X @jordanboydtx.