I don't have kids of my own, but I have my nephews (my brother's sons). They get too many toys so I try to get them cool stuff to wear or an experience, but jus 1 item each. Last year I got the oldest one a Mandalorian jacket and the youngest a baby yoda jacket so they could be the characters. They literally wore the jackets out. This year the oldest is more interested in the game Fort Night (I think that's the right spelling LOL) and I found this great hoodie jacket of one of the characters from the story line of the game. For my younger nephew he's into Mine Craft and he got a mine craft sword for his B-Day so I found this belt on Etsy that is a kids utility belt and has a loop for the sword and a pouch for other things, like the Nerf grenades he made himself and likes to throw into every room and shout "Granade!" at his mom or brother. My brother is in the military so he had to learn not to do that to his Dad, but then Dad and son will do it together instead LOL. I think both boys will really like the gifts and they won't end up in the black hole of toys. 😁
My son, who will be 4 in February, is getting two puzzles (world map and body anatomy), a keyboard press and play book and a Lego set. Stocking is a few Lego people and a shark car that’s second-hand we saw him playing with at a store. All wrapped and it won’t all take up too much space. Family win!
That sweater!!! 18 year hard working boy wants clothes and beef jerkey. 10 year old homeschool daughter wants computer, softball glove and she’s getting a new budget binder with a purse. On our declutter journey now. Three rooms down.
Dawson is getting a remote control car, playdough, and car tracks ( thanks Madi). Ivy is getting a doll house, a stuffed animal, and an object permanence box...
I love how much thought you put into all the gifts. I feel like a lot of people just see something they think their kid will like and they get it and that's the end of their thought process, i see this with my nephews who have so many toys no one knows what they have, not them or their parents and they only play with a few. But you've really thought about who's playing with what and will they actuallyplay with what you got for them, where is this going to go in the house, etc.
I love this! We are super minimalist for Christmas. Partially because we don't love the clutter but also because we don't want to spend a huge chunk of money. We bought out oldest an interactive world map, our middle kiddo a bouncing ball with a handle to sit on and play, and our youngest is getting ball pit balls because she is obsessed. Our parents are buying them a few Montessori or homeschool based toys. And that's about it. :)
My mom once told me this story years later after it happened. When my brother and I were little everyone wanted to buy us things for the holidays, so my parents did, both sets of grandparents and also one of my aunts. Literally a pile of presents and gifts. After unwrapping a couple of presents and playing with those apparently we couldn’t bother anymore and my mom packed the rest up to put it away and donate it to other kids. Now that I am 31 the thing I remember most about the holidays are not the presents but just being together with the family and having fun. Kids really don’t need that much! A few thoughtful presents is more then enough :) if I ever have kids I wouldn’t overload them..
What I love about this most of all is how much you clearly know your kids. You know what they enjoy, what the get excited about, and these are gifts based on the experiences you've had together. That is a real accomplishment! I remember being about 10 years old when my mother bought me a look alike American girl doll. A freaking expensive gift! Trouble was she custom ordered the doll to have my hair cut at the time, a bob with bangs. This was a haircut my mom made me keep and something that made me feel very self conscious, as I did not like how I looked. If she had paid attention to the many times I had requested to grow my hair out, she'd know I wouldn't like that doll. I know, it's a silly thing and gift giving is difficult, but it really can reflect how well you know someone.
I absolutely love your thought process and the quality of the gifts you choose. It’s simple , meaningful, specific , special and fun. I wish I had your gifting ability. And to top it off it isn’t breaking the budget either. My kids are all much much older but I have cut back on what I pick each year and on the budget I spend. It’s definately true that they are much happier with less.
Would love to hear your advice on what to tell family members to get baby/ kids for Christmas….. We have lots of family members wanting to get gifts but can’t think of anything they really need! Also wanted to add, that I definetly haven’t considered myself a minimalist in the past, but have felt a lot of stress around clutter and keeping track of household items, having too many toys in the house, etc, having enough time in the day, and overall contentment. The last few days I’ve been watching your videos and feeling so inspired and at ease that there IS infact a way to slow down and be content in my home! I’m on a trip right now, but as soon as I get home, we’re gonna start to do some decluttering. Thank you for all your content and for bringing God into your videos too. Thank you thank you thank you for sharing your values and tips about life in such a way that is non judge mental and very thought provoking! You have a gift! Happy Holidays and thank you from my family ❤
Definitely! We try to just make an Amazon wishlist of things that we know our kids will like, but also we want them to have. Our relatives have done a good job sticking to that, but it’s not something that we are too legalistic about.
Your videos are the only contents ever that make me wish to have kids. I absolutely adore what you picked for them and the reasons why. Unfortunately not every parent knows their child as well as you do yours. Seeing your gifts makes me feel the Magic, and I feel enchanted (and a bit jealous!). You inspire me. I just wish someday I become a mom as incredible as you are
Just 5 minutes in but this is already so helpful 😂 thank youuuu 🌈 especially the part where toys have to get a home in the house and it can be astehtic for me as well when I see it all the time standing in our living room ☺️
U should be putting their reactions on receiving these gifts...that would be adorable... Found u today..... really nice n soothing videos.... Stay happy and blessed...lots of love from India ❣️
Wow I didn't know your kids were around the same ages as mine! My daughter is 5 years old next month and my son is almost 2.5 years! Love these gift ideas. I had to think about where the toys were going to go after I purchased them too. My daughter wanted a play tent and one of those small trampoline things, but the only place for them to stay was the middle of the room. Our apartment is too small for things like that 😂Also apartments here in Hawaii tend to not have closets or space for storage
I love your thought at the end about value. It’s so easy to compare, and it never makes me feel very good! I love all of your ideas. I got my 2yo magnet tiles, so I’m glad to hear they’re a hit! I love your Christmas calendar idea. I’ve been wanting to incorporate more experiences for my kids this year. 😊👌🏼
Hi Madi! I love looking forward to your videos every week! :) Would you consider doing a video on your experience cosleeping? My husband and I cosleep with our 15 month old and are a bit unsure how it will continue down the road, especially with more children. Would love your advice. Thank you!!
We only got our kids one gift each this year 😅. I made the mistake last year getting too many gifts while trying to be minimal and all of those items slowly went away after they were never played with.
I created a calendar event to watch this video next November to recreate that advent!! I LOVE it. My son is almost a year and a half, so next year he will love to do the advent with me 🥰 I just bought him some beautiful wood farm animal figurines on Etsy & I’ll fill his stocking with some clementines. I know he will get gifts from both grandparents so im keeping it minimal from us. Hope y’all have a happy thanksgiving!!
Ooh, your kids are going to love what you got them! I’m getting my 4yo daughter some Ella Bella Ballerina books, some craft supplies and a Ravensburger puzzle. Apart from that, I really don’t know. All she wants is more stuffed toys, which she already has so many of… For my 8yo son, I bought a Harry Potter Lego set he really wants, a basketball, a book and some colourful sharpies and art paper.
Everything is so nice! I’m just surprised because I always imagined you as a minimalist, and this is so many things… I only get one present to my daughter for Christmas and one for her birthday. She also gets a present from both grandparents, aunties and uncles, great aunties and uncles, great grandparents and also friend so in the end it looks like your gifts overall.😊
I would love to hear your thoughts about budgeting. I'm curious what a slow living budget looks like. You had mentioned in a video that budgeting is simpler now.
Love your balanced attitude in trying to get quality toys, staying minimal, but also trying to make the moment special for the kids, even if that means a few plastic or battery operated toys 😆 I got my 2 year old boy a pop up play tent, a train set, some magnetic cars, some magnatiles, a wooden tool belt with tools, some soft mice (like what your daughter has), and some books, plus some stuff in his stocking. I feel like it’s a lot 🤦♀️ but I kind of don’t care? Just want to make it special since we will be moving overseas soon and this is our last Christmas here for awhile.
Montessori-y, Waldorf-y, homeschool/unschool, slow living, not quite so minimalist friend here!! Great description would have immediately subbed if I wasn’t already subbed lol😂❤❤❤
Love your present ideas!!!! My daughter is also 5 so this was a massive help!!!! I’m doing my best to declutter before Christmas and be very mindful about what I buy for my kids this Christmas 🎄 again you post exactly what I need when I need it somehow 😅 thanks for another wonderful video Maddy❤
I love this video soooo much! I live in a tiny Japanese apartment so I REALLY think "OK... Where is this gonna live?". I have a five year old son and I love gifts that can be added to! So, his main 2 indoor loves are magnetic tiles and lego, each birthday and Christmas he likes to add bits like a marble run feature to the magnet tiles or the next level up of lego set.... Which can all be stored in the same place as last year's gifts 💕 I also ask myself "how many ways can this be played with?" if it only has one function... I avoid it.... But.... Kids (and sometimes me) really love it and I'm soft 😂💕 Thanks for the fantastic video.
We got our kids these strider bikes last Christmas to help teach them how to balance and they took to it like a fish to water. As soon as they hopped on the “big bike” they were off and running. No training wheels at all. amzn.to/3V1ROQc I cannot recommend the strider bike enough.
I love this book so much! I have a collection of children's illustrated books. And sometimes I think that I buy them for myself, and not for my child 🙈😅
Madi I’ve watched this twice in an hour. I’m just love your content and the intention behind not only what you got your littles for Christmas but your content too. I really appreciate you. Also 100% agree with the bag of sand and bucket comment 😅 our 15 month old is getting a sandpit for Christmas for this reason. 😊
I love all these gifts, such a good variety of ideas! I’m going to try stick to the saying something to wear, something to read, something you want and something you need 😊 to try and limit myself 😆 we don’t do stockings where I grew up so I’m trying to convince my American husband that consumables would be a better idea for that than little trinkets. LOVE the prisms! 🌈 happy Christmas!
I love these ideas so much! Fellow minimal mama over here and my kids are also obsessed with dirt, bikes and magnatiles 😊 And oh my goodness the frog and toad animals are so cute!!
6 yr old autistic daughter has a huge lego set, sensory fidget type items, 2 story books, an Appa cuddly (this 1 is a special interest)and a dinosaur dig up fossil kit. Stocking is mainly chocolate and sweets, bubbles, bouncy balls etc. The sort of items that dont stay in the house long😂 14 yr old son has a meerkat experience, a snow tubing and toboggan experience, lights for his room, minecraft plushies and a beanie hat. Same sort of items in his stocking. Lol both kids have birthdays in January. So Christmas items are always got.by end of November . As in Dec have to start on birthday items! Oh and a family game and hot choc and DVD for near christmas time
I love your philosophy behind Christmas presents. Knowing your kids and what they enjoy is such a blessing 🙌. I do have a quick question..... What tracks does your son play with? I am having a hard time finding some that I like.. Thank you 😊 💓
I love these ideas! I've gotten into consumables for stocking stuffers and the want, need, wear, read for Christmas gifts. My youngest didn't need anymore clothes or accessories, so we are getting him a neon colored Jenga instead. Also, where did you get your shirt?!
Thank you ❤️ the romper is from The Wholesome Store! I have a partnership with them where you can get 15% off your order with promo code MADISUN. thewholesome.store
Hey! I found who bought the Frog and Toad I was eyeing on Etsy! lol. I'm glad to know they went to a good home and will be put to a good use. (I'm still pregnant with my first for another couple weeks, so who knows if she would really like them anyway.) - I love your style of gifts! This is exactly what I intend to do for Christmas with my girl as she grows. :)
Madi, have your looked at the vagus trucks. Pricey but wonderful! I think your son would love one. We have the garbage truck! Love your gifts! Your children will have a wonderful Christmas!
Awesome ideas! Thank you for the reminder for days of Christmas notes / ideas! I started it and then forgot to wrote down more! Thank you so creative...so sweet..love!
I love all of these thoughtful gifts! Thank you for sharing the lizard gift! My six year old son is obsessed with lizards. We recently moved to Florida and he can’t get enough of them. Hopefully this will help him from letting them lose in my house every day. 😂😂
Loved your video. I've been a minimalist since my first pregnancy which was 16 years ago now, and I am really actually not always great at coming up with gifts because we live in an upstairs portion of a two family house and have little room. . .so for the past few years, we literally just give our kids money to put in their savings accounts for their future cars. We have taught them about saving and finances a long time. They have been wanting to drive cars since they were toddlers (my husband works for a car company and they have always been into cars). Our oldest is learning how to drive now and keeps talking about his car he'll finally buy soon. . .which will also be needed because I am pregnant and will need him to go on errands for me hahahaha. The good part of an age gap. The only thing I buy my kids are clothes, manga, and books. They are in the computer age where they have no toys anymore at all. They just like learning online or playing video games with their friends. I ask them often what they want and usually my one who is about to turn 14 likes to draw and do clay work so we get him what he needs for that. My boys don't ask for things and we have taught them to be so thankful for what they have that they really rarely ask for anything. . .and most of my friends don't understand that at all (theirs whine and plead for things all the time). Anyway, the gifts you got your kids are really wonderfully thought out and practical for them. I love the usefulness behind them. I used to get gifts of a similar sort for my kids when they were little (bikes, board games, books, ant farms, and hazel village animals my kids used to love to have a couple of each). We did buy our kids rabbits one year a few years back. I love the frog and toad gifts!!!!!!! They are so cute!!!
Such great gifts you have gotten for your littles. I miss my kids being little. It was so fun. They are grown now and so I just give them money so they can buy whatever they want. They are 25 and twins age 19. One of the twins asked for a stocking this year 😂. I guess I’ll do that. That will be fun.
That sweater is beautiful! My daughter has a knit sweater size 2 she still crams into even though she is now a size 6. Definitely going to check that Etsy account thank you ☺️
It’s so fun! It’s things like bake Christmas cookies, make hot chocolate, go to the snow, look at Christmas lights, live nativity, put up the tree, those Christmas season experiences. 🎄
I yelled out with joy when I saw Frog & Toad! A cherished childhood memory of mine. Wonderful gifts & I loved the comments about defining value at the end.
I love this video so much. I love how much thought you put into their presents and how they will be used. I'm trying to be more intentional about the toys I bring in the house. I'm a minimalist but struggle with Christmas because I love buying gifts for others. Going back and watching your older Christmas videos now ❤️
i noticed you have the little mice toys. Are those still loved? my daughter is 6 I am trying to decide whether or not to get them. Also! love the idea of lizard my daughter is also obsessed with lizards how funny!
Please move to Cambridge UK so we can be best friends?! Great video! Thank you 🙏🏼 I’m so excited to look a lot of these things up. Especially that beautiful jumper which I’m sure my little girls would love too! 🤞🏼 Pray it’s in the UK 🤣x
Balance bike is what it is called. Strider is a certain brand. But we actually bought a knockoff brand on Amazon and our kids have loved it! amzn.to/3VA5ZvA This has worked for our 2 and 5 year olds.
I'm just curious about your thoughts & approach with Santa? My son is only going to be 11 months, so he won't understand Christmas that well this year, but it's been on my mind how i want to approach Santa in the future. Guess i was really devasted as a kid when i found out the truth, so kinda don't want to do that to my kids, but I am super curious of your opinion. If anyone wants to chime in on this topic, I'm genuinely curious how other parents approach the mainstream tradition of Christmas?
I’ll chime in! Lol I was raised not doing Santa and had some really neat traditions and loved it. However I wanted my kids to experience Santa since they would be in public school and didn’t want them to feel left out. Santa was fun for a couple years but it got exhausting, especially trying to explain that Santa has a budget 😂 or the elves couldn’t make any more toys bc they had a lot of other kids to make for. To wrap it all up my kids ended being devastated that Santa wasn’t real. Called me a liar and are still mad about it to this day and they are all teens. 😮 I’m am definitely shocked about that. 😅 I guess I would just look at what kind of lifestyle you want to live or instill in your children. I do not feel that Christ was the center of Christmas bc we focused too much on Santa. But I have seen others more balanced with this. It is definitely a tricky thing. I too would love to hear Madi’s take on this. If I personally could have a do over I’d of homeschooled them the beginning yrs and not of done Santa.
GREAT question! I had the same thoughts as Mallory was getting to that age. My husband and I did not feel right about lying about Santa. So we do not do Santa in the sense of "be good, or else" or that he is real. But we also don't cancel Christmas. We just talk to our kids about how a lot of people pretend Santa is real and its just fun. But we still read all the Christmas books about Santa and we don't avoid it at all. But he is just a fun character during Christmas, not someone who cares if they are "naughty or nice." I hope this helps ❤️
We don't tell our kids Santa is real... We just tell them it's like a fun game that people play... Everyone still has a blast, and I don't have to worry about lying to them.
I think comparison is a learned societal trait and not innate for kids, so no they haven’t done that. Our parents and relatives usually stick to the Amazon lists that I give them. But if they don’t that’s okay too ❤️
That's so many gifts! Is it the norm in the states? I thought of getting just 1 thing for my son. There always are extra gifts that come from extended family (I've asked them to get books and puzzles)
What are you getting your kids for Christmas?
I don't have kids of my own, but I have my nephews (my brother's sons). They get too many toys so I try to get them cool stuff to wear or an experience, but jus 1 item each. Last year I got the oldest one a Mandalorian jacket and the youngest a baby yoda jacket so they could be the characters. They literally wore the jackets out. This year the oldest is more interested in the game Fort Night (I think that's the right spelling LOL) and I found this great hoodie jacket of one of the characters from the story line of the game. For my younger nephew he's into Mine Craft and he got a mine craft sword for his B-Day so I found this belt on Etsy that is a kids utility belt and has a loop for the sword and a pouch for other things, like the Nerf grenades he made himself and likes to throw into every room and shout "Granade!" at his mom or brother. My brother is in the military so he had to learn not to do that to his Dad, but then Dad and son will do it together instead LOL. I think both boys will really like the gifts and they won't end up in the black hole of toys. 😁
My son, who will be 4 in February, is getting two puzzles (world map and body anatomy), a keyboard press and play book and a Lego set. Stocking is a few Lego people and a shark car that’s second-hand we saw him playing with at a store. All wrapped and it won’t all take up too much space. Family win!
That sweater!!!
18 year hard working boy wants clothes and beef jerkey. 10 year old homeschool daughter wants computer, softball glove and she’s getting a new budget binder with a purse.
On our declutter journey now. Three rooms down.
10 year old- tix to basketball game and books. 7 year old Yoto and bike helmet. 7 month old first doll and shape sorter.
Dawson is getting a remote control car, playdough, and car tracks ( thanks Madi). Ivy is getting a doll house, a stuffed animal, and an object permanence box...
I love how much thought you put into all the gifts. I feel like a lot of people just see something they think their kid will like and they get it and that's the end of their thought process, i see this with my nephews who have so many toys no one knows what they have, not them or their parents and they only play with a few. But you've really thought about who's playing with what and will they actuallyplay with what you got for them, where is this going to go in the house, etc.
Yes! I love giving them gifts they will love ❤️
Exactly this ❤ My mum is wonderful at gift giving and is always so thoughtful with her gifts at christmas for all of us.
Can confirm that a bag of sand and a shovel is a game changer for a two year old! Loved all of these gifts❤
❤️
I love this! We are super minimalist for Christmas. Partially because we don't love the clutter but also because we don't want to spend a huge chunk of money. We bought out oldest an interactive world map, our middle kiddo a bouncing ball with a handle to sit on and play, and our youngest is getting ball pit balls because she is obsessed. Our parents are buying them a few Montessori or homeschool based toys. And that's about it. :)
My mom once told me this story years later after it happened.
When my brother and I were little everyone wanted to buy us things for the holidays, so my parents did, both sets of grandparents and also one of my aunts. Literally a pile of presents and gifts. After unwrapping a couple of presents and playing with those apparently we couldn’t bother anymore and my mom packed the rest up to put it away and donate it to other kids. Now that I am 31 the thing I remember most about the holidays are not the presents but just being together with the family and having fun.
Kids really don’t need that much! A few thoughtful presents is more then enough :) if I ever have kids I wouldn’t overload them..
Kids are the masters of simplicity ❤️
The handmade Frog and Toad are the most adorable ever!!
They really are ❤️
What I love about this most of all is how much you clearly know your kids. You know what they enjoy, what the get excited about, and these are gifts based on the experiences you've had together. That is a real accomplishment! I remember being about 10 years old when my mother bought me a look alike American girl doll. A freaking expensive gift! Trouble was she custom ordered the doll to have my hair cut at the time, a bob with bangs. This was a haircut my mom made me keep and something that made me feel very self conscious, as I did not like how I looked. If she had paid attention to the many times I had requested to grow my hair out, she'd know I wouldn't like that doll. I know, it's a silly thing and gift giving is difficult, but it really can reflect how well you know someone.
Thank you ❤️
I absolutely love your thought process and the quality of the gifts you choose. It’s simple , meaningful, specific , special and fun. I wish I had your gifting ability. And to top it off it isn’t breaking the budget either. My kids are all much much older but I have cut back on what I pick each year and on the budget I spend. It’s definately true that they are much happier with less.
Kids are masters of simple if we let them ❤️
Would love to hear your advice on what to tell family members to get baby/ kids for Christmas….. We have lots of family members wanting to get gifts but can’t think of anything they really need!
Also wanted to add, that I definetly haven’t considered myself a minimalist in the past, but have felt a lot of stress around clutter and keeping track of household items, having too many toys in the house, etc, having enough time in the day, and overall contentment. The last few days I’ve been watching your videos and feeling so inspired and at ease that there IS infact a way to slow down and be content in my home! I’m on a trip right now, but as soon as I get home, we’re gonna start to do some decluttering. Thank you for all your content and for bringing God into your videos too. Thank you thank you thank you for sharing your values and tips about life in such a way that is non judge mental and very thought provoking! You have a gift! Happy Holidays and thank you from my family ❤
Definitely! We try to just make an Amazon wishlist of things that we know our kids will like, but also we want them to have. Our relatives have done a good job sticking to that, but it’s not something that we are too legalistic about.
Your videos are the only contents ever that make me wish to have kids. I absolutely adore what you picked for them and the reasons why. Unfortunately not every parent knows their child as well as you do yours. Seeing your gifts makes me feel the Magic, and I feel enchanted (and a bit jealous!). You inspire me. I just wish someday I become a mom as incredible as you are
❤️this is so sweet. Thank you.
Just 5 minutes in but this is already so helpful 😂 thank youuuu 🌈 especially the part where toys have to get a home in the house and it can be astehtic for me as well when I see it all the time standing in our living room ☺️
I’m so glad ❤️
U should be putting their reactions on receiving these gifts...that would be adorable...
Found u today..... really nice n soothing videos....
Stay happy and blessed...lots of love from India ❣️
Great ideas. My kids never liked the magna tiles. I wish they did. I bought a set a few years ago and they played with them once.
Love the thinking of where will that toy go in our house after it is opened!🙌🏽
Wow I didn't know your kids were around the same ages as mine! My daughter is 5 years old next month and my son is almost 2.5 years! Love these gift ideas. I had to think about where the toys were going to go after I purchased them too. My daughter wanted a play tent and one of those small trampoline things, but the only place for them to stay was the middle of the room. Our apartment is too small for things like that 😂Also apartments here in Hawaii tend to not have closets or space for storage
Sweet gifts. My kids love frog and toad as well, what cute little critters. We also love magna tiles too.
Thanks Jessica ❤️
I love your thought at the end about value. It’s so easy to compare, and it never makes me feel very good! I love all of your ideas. I got my 2yo magnet tiles, so I’m glad to hear they’re a hit! I love your Christmas calendar idea. I’ve been wanting to incorporate more experiences for my kids this year. 😊👌🏼
Hi Madi! I love looking forward to your videos every week! :)
Would you consider doing a video on your experience cosleeping? My husband and I cosleep with our 15 month old and are a bit unsure how it will continue down the road, especially with more children. Would love your advice. Thank you!!
Thanks Gabriella. Thanks for the suggestion ❤️
Omg thank you!! Our mini land has been naked for so long!!!
We only got our kids one gift each this year 😅.
I made the mistake last year getting too many gifts while trying to be minimal and all of those items slowly went away after they were never played with.
I created a calendar event to watch this video next November to recreate that advent!! I LOVE it. My son is almost a year and a half, so next year he will love to do the advent with me 🥰 I just bought him some beautiful wood farm animal figurines on Etsy & I’ll fill his stocking with some clementines. I know he will get gifts from both grandparents so im keeping it minimal from us. Hope y’all have a happy thanksgiving!!
Thanks for your support ❤️
Good idea I love that ❤
We are planning to do magnatiles, yoto player and maybe spot it.
Ooh, your kids are going to love what you got them!
I’m getting my 4yo daughter some Ella Bella Ballerina books, some craft supplies and a Ravensburger puzzle. Apart from that, I really don’t know. All she wants is more stuffed toys, which she already has so many of…
For my 8yo son, I bought a Harry Potter Lego set he really wants, a basketball, a book and some colourful sharpies and art paper.
This all makes me laugh. These are the things I got my kids when they were little right down to the spin top!
Glad you enjoyed ❤️
Love your advent calendar idea!! And what a fun Christmas you put together.
Thank you!
Everything is so nice! I’m just surprised because I always imagined you as a minimalist, and this is so many things… I only get one present to my daughter for Christmas and one for her birthday. She also gets a present from both grandparents, aunties and uncles, great aunties and uncles, great grandparents and also friend so in the end it looks like your gifts overall.😊
Minimalism is just a tool ❤️
Magnetic tiles are played with every single day here too! I found magnetic people that go with them on Amazon. 👍🏻
Kids love them ❤️
I would love to hear your thoughts about budgeting. I'm curious what a slow living budget looks like. You had mentioned in a video that budgeting is simpler now.
Love your balanced attitude in trying to get quality toys, staying minimal, but also trying to make the moment special for the kids, even if that means a few plastic or battery operated toys 😆
I got my 2 year old boy a pop up play tent, a train set, some magnetic cars, some magnatiles, a wooden tool belt with tools, some soft mice (like what your daughter has), and some books, plus some stuff in his stocking. I feel like it’s a lot 🤦♀️ but I kind of don’t care? Just want to make it special since we will be moving overseas soon and this is our last Christmas here for awhile.
Christmas morning is an experience ❤️
I'd love a video about how to make the advent calendar; and hearing more about your Christmas traditions
Good idea!
Montessori-y, Waldorf-y, homeschool/unschool, slow living, not quite so minimalist friend here!! Great description would have immediately subbed if I wasn’t already subbed lol😂❤❤❤
😂 thank you
Those plane gliders just brought back so many memories 😱😱😱 Also your hair has been so cute lately!
Same 😂
My son is the same way! I love the sand and shovel saying. He can literally just get a stick and be outside forever just digging in the dirt. ❤
They are so sweet ❤️
Love your present ideas!!!! My daughter is also 5 so this was a massive help!!!! I’m doing my best to declutter before Christmas and be very mindful about what I buy for my kids this Christmas 🎄 again you post exactly what I need when I need it somehow 😅 thanks for another wonderful video Maddy❤
Thank you for your support Britany ❤️
Waldorf doll handmade
Love those ❤️
I love this video soooo much! I live in a tiny Japanese apartment so I REALLY think "OK... Where is this gonna live?". I have a five year old son and I love gifts that can be added to! So, his main 2 indoor loves are magnetic tiles and lego, each birthday and Christmas he likes to add bits like a marble run feature to the magnet tiles or the next level up of lego set.... Which can all be stored in the same place as last year's gifts 💕 I also ask myself "how many ways can this be played with?" if it only has one function... I avoid it.... But.... Kids (and sometimes me) really love it and I'm soft 😂💕 Thanks for the fantastic video.
Wow thank you so much for your support!
Oh my gosh! I know it’s not your normal content, but I’d love to know how you taught your kids to ride the bike!
We got our kids these strider bikes last Christmas to help teach them how to balance and they took to it like a fish to water. As soon as they hopped on the “big bike” they were off and running. No training wheels at all.
amzn.to/3V1ROQc
I cannot recommend the strider bike enough.
I love this book so much! I have a collection of children's illustrated books. And sometimes I think that I buy them for myself, and not for my child 🙈😅
Thanks for watching ❤️
Madi I’ve watched this twice in an hour. I’m just love your content and the intention behind not only what you got your littles for Christmas but your content too. I really appreciate you.
Also 100% agree with the bag of sand and bucket comment 😅 our 15 month old is getting a sandpit for Christmas for this reason. 😊
Thanks Olivia ❤️ I’m so glad you enjoyed
A train set, yoto player, play dough, Christmas books and a new Christmas ornament. Almost 3. For our 3 month old, a lovevery kit for his age range.
I love all these gifts, such a good variety of ideas! I’m going to try stick to the saying something to wear, something to read, something you want and something you need 😊 to try and limit myself 😆 we don’t do stockings where I grew up so I’m trying to convince my American husband that consumables would be a better idea for that than little trinkets. LOVE the prisms! 🌈 happy Christmas!
Merry Christmas thanks for watching ❤️
I am loving your hair in this video ❤
Thank you ❤️
I love these ideas so much! Fellow minimal mama over here and my kids are also obsessed with dirt, bikes and magnatiles 😊
And oh my goodness the frog and toad animals are so cute!!
Thank you they are ❤️
Oh my gosh. My in laws have a red mini and my son has like four matchbox ones and loves spotting them out on he road. It’s definitely a thing. 😄
My kids are OBSESSED 🤩
6 yr old autistic daughter has a huge lego set, sensory fidget type items, 2 story books, an Appa cuddly (this 1 is a special interest)and a dinosaur dig up fossil kit. Stocking is mainly chocolate and sweets, bubbles, bouncy balls etc. The sort of items that dont stay in the house long😂
14 yr old son has a meerkat experience, a snow tubing and toboggan experience, lights for his room, minecraft plushies and a beanie hat. Same sort of items in his stocking.
Lol both kids have birthdays in January. So Christmas items are always got.by end of November . As in Dec have to start on birthday items!
Oh and a family game and hot choc and DVD for near christmas time
Sounds like some great gifts 🎁
I love your philosophy behind Christmas presents. Knowing your kids and what they enjoy is such a blessing 🙌. I do have a quick question..... What tracks does your son play with? I am having a hard time finding some that I like.. Thank you 😊 💓
Thanks for watching Amanda. Here is his track: amzn.to/3GIP4mm
@@MadisunGray Thank you Midisun! You are a life saver ❤️ 🙌 💕
Awesome gift ideas!! Your kiddos will love them :)
Thank you ❤️
I love these ideas! I've gotten into consumables for stocking stuffers and the want, need, wear, read for Christmas gifts. My youngest didn't need anymore clothes or accessories, so we are getting him a neon colored Jenga instead. Also, where did you get your shirt?!
Thank you ❤️ the romper is from The Wholesome Store! I have a partnership with them where you can get 15% off your order with promo code MADISUN. thewholesome.store
Cute jumper☺️
Rainbow maker!! Amazing, this will be such a great gift thank you!
So glad ❤️
I got magnatiles for my younger daughter this year as well! She told me it is her absolute favorite thing to play with at latchkey!
They are the best.
good for you it makes each item special as oppose to so much they cant focus
Yes! Kids are the masters of simplicity.
You always pick such good gifts! You are doing the right thing and that is what counts!
Thank you!
Hey! I found who bought the Frog and Toad I was eyeing on Etsy! lol. I'm glad to know they went to a good home and will be put to a good use. (I'm still pregnant with my first for another couple weeks, so who knows if she would really like them anyway.) - I love your style of gifts! This is exactly what I intend to do for Christmas with my girl as she grows. :)
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Such wonderful gifts, you are such a lovely thoughtful mom :)
Madi, have your looked at the vagus trucks. Pricey but wonderful! I think your son would love one. We have the garbage truck! Love your gifts! Your children will have a wonderful Christmas!
Thanks Debbie. I will look into those ❤️
@@MadisunGray Fagus trucks
I love these videos! Those frog and toad stuffy 😍😍 ugh so stinkin cute!
Frog and Toad are my favorite 🤩
Awesome ideas! Thank you for the reminder for days of Christmas notes / ideas! I started it and then forgot to wrote down more! Thank you so creative...so sweet..love!
Thank you for your support Christina ❤️
I love all of these thoughtful gifts! Thank you for sharing the lizard gift! My six year old son is obsessed with lizards. We recently moved to Florida and he can’t get enough of them. Hopefully this will help him from letting them lose in my house every day. 😂😂
Thank you Emily ❤️ my kids saw another kid with that lizard at the park and they were sold.
@@MadisunGray love love love it!
Love this! Would love to see a video on your daily rhythm with two kiddos. I would learn so much from it!
Good idea 👍🏻
Have you heard of geopuzzles? Puzzle and geography in one 😊
Sounds amazing ❤️
my nephiew has the rovo alive and its seriously super cool they live it and im always surprised how realistic it is
I can’t wait 😂
Loved your video.
I've been a minimalist since my first pregnancy which was 16 years ago now, and I am really actually not always great at coming up with gifts because we live in an upstairs portion of a two family house and have little room. . .so for the past few years, we literally just give our kids money to put in their savings accounts for their future cars. We have taught them about saving and finances a long time. They have been wanting to drive cars since they were toddlers (my husband works for a car company and they have always been into cars). Our oldest is learning how to drive now and keeps talking about his car he'll finally buy soon. . .which will also be needed because I am pregnant and will need him to go on errands for me hahahaha. The good part of an age gap.
The only thing I buy my kids are clothes, manga, and books. They are in the computer age where they have no toys anymore at all. They just like learning online or playing video games with their friends. I ask them often what they want and usually my one who is about to turn 14 likes to draw and do clay work so we get him what he needs for that. My boys don't ask for things and we have taught them to be so thankful for what they have that they really rarely ask for anything. . .and most of my friends don't understand that at all (theirs whine and plead for things all the time).
Anyway, the gifts you got your kids are really wonderfully thought out and practical for them. I love the usefulness behind them. I used to get gifts of a similar sort for my kids when they were little (bikes, board games, books, ant farms, and hazel village animals my kids used to love to have a couple of each).
We did buy our kids rabbits one year a few years back.
I love the frog and toad gifts!!!!!!! They are so cute!!!
Thanks for watching ❤️
Such great gifts you have gotten for your littles. I miss my kids being little. It was so fun. They are grown now and so I just give them money so they can buy whatever they want. They are 25 and twins age 19. One of the twins asked for a stocking this year 😂. I guess I’ll do that. That will be fun.
Thank you ❤️
Fabulous ideas and love your balance!
Thank you ❤️
Your hair 😍
🤎
That sweater is beautiful! My daughter has a knit sweater size 2 she still crams into even though she is now a size 6. Definitely going to check that Etsy account thank you ☺️
She is the best ❤️
Doctor play set :))
Also I was wondering - how often do you give gifts to your kids? Only birthdays and Christmas?
We try not to be so legalistic, but we really jus try to give them things that help them explore what they are interested in learning.
A train set, large wooden blocks some books and crafty bits - she’ll be almost 2, wanted to keep it simple
Kids are the masters of simplicity
First time watching you and I find you absolutely hilarious!
😂 thank you
I'm so glad you decided to do this video! Thanks for the ideas!
Thanks for watching Amanda ❤️
My son has that states puzzle and he plays with it for hours.
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Love your gift ideas!!!! And absolutely adore your advent calendar!!!! ❤️
Thank you so much ❤️
What wonderful thoughtful gifts! ❤Love this!
Thank you 🙏🏻
I love your content! Question: How do you discover such perfect books for your kids?
Library is a great resource to test out books!
Will you share some more of the things you put for the homemade advent calendar, I love this idea!
It’s so fun!
It’s things like bake Christmas cookies, make hot chocolate, go to the snow, look at Christmas lights, live nativity, put up the tree, those Christmas season experiences. 🎄
@@MadisunGray love! I wish we had snow to see we are in Florida lol but thank you for sharing. Definitely going to try this out this year
I yelled out with joy when I saw Frog & Toad! A cherished childhood memory of mine. Wonderful gifts & I loved the comments about defining value at the end.
Me too. I remember reading as a kid ❤️
Great gifts and video! But why so much...we are not minimalist and we buy only 2 presents for our 5 years old boy ( one from us and one from 🎅)
Wow this was so helpful! Thanks 🙏🏻
So glad!
“Ball is life” - Tennessee
I love this video so much. I love how much thought you put into their presents and how they will be used. I'm trying to be more intentional about the toys I bring in the house. I'm a minimalist but struggle with Christmas because I love buying gifts for others. Going back and watching your older Christmas videos now ❤️
Thank you Ally! For me minimalism isn't nothing, just less. ❤️
Would you be able to link your children’s helmets?
Thanks for another great video. We appreciate you!
Here you go Morgan: amzn.to/3F1kIJx
Thanks for your support ❤️
i noticed you have the little mice toys. Are those still loved? my daughter is 6 I am trying to decide whether or not to get them.
Also! love the idea of lizard my daughter is also obsessed with lizards how funny!
They are! Kids always dress them up.
Please move to Cambridge UK so we can be best friends?! Great video! Thank you 🙏🏼 I’m so excited to look a lot of these things up. Especially that beautiful jumper which I’m sure my little girls would love too! 🤞🏼 Pray it’s in the UK 🤣x
😂 thank you for much for your support.
So helpful thank you
Thanks for watching Brooke ❤️
I love how intentional you are! Do you buy them much through the year or do you wait until birthdays/Christmas to get them things they want?
Thank you. Mostly birthdays and Christmas unless it is something that they need or are super interested in learning about.
Is a strider bike a brand or just a type of balance bike? Suggestions for my 2 year old?
Balance bike is what it is called. Strider is a certain brand. But we actually bought a knockoff brand on Amazon and our kids have loved it! amzn.to/3VA5ZvA
This has worked for our 2 and 5 year olds.
🎄🎄🎄great video
Thank you 🙏🏻
Omg
Londji makes beautiful puzzles, check them out, I think you’ll love them
Thank you!
New subscriber here!! 😁👋👋
So glad you are here ❤️
I'm just curious about your thoughts & approach with Santa? My son is only going to be 11 months, so he won't understand Christmas that well this year, but it's been on my mind how i want to approach Santa in the future. Guess i was really devasted as a kid when i found out the truth, so kinda don't want to do that to my kids, but I am super curious of your opinion. If anyone wants to chime in on this topic, I'm genuinely curious how other parents approach the mainstream tradition of Christmas?
I’ll chime in! Lol
I was raised not doing Santa and had some really neat traditions and loved it. However I wanted my kids to experience Santa since they would be in public school and didn’t want them to feel left out. Santa was fun for a couple years but it got exhausting, especially trying to explain that Santa has a budget 😂 or the elves couldn’t make any more toys bc they had a lot of other kids to make for.
To wrap it all up my kids ended being devastated that Santa wasn’t real. Called me a liar and are still mad about it to this day and they are all teens. 😮 I’m am definitely shocked about that. 😅
I guess I would just look at what kind of lifestyle you want to live or instill in your children. I do not feel that Christ was the center of Christmas bc we focused too much on Santa. But I have seen others more balanced with this. It is definitely a tricky thing. I too would love to hear Madi’s take on this. If I personally could have a do over I’d of homeschooled them the beginning yrs and not of done Santa.
GREAT question! I had the same thoughts as Mallory was getting to that age. My husband and I did not feel right about lying about Santa. So we do not do Santa in the sense of "be good, or else" or that he is real. But we also don't cancel Christmas. We just talk to our kids about how a lot of people pretend Santa is real and its just fun. But we still read all the Christmas books about Santa and we don't avoid it at all. But he is just a fun character during Christmas, not someone who cares if they are "naughty or nice." I hope this helps ❤️
We don't tell our kids Santa is real... We just tell them it's like a fun game that people play... Everyone still has a blast, and I don't have to worry about lying to them.
Do your kids ever compare what they get to the amount their friends get? Do you have any issues with excess gifts from relatives?
I think comparison is a learned societal trait and not innate for kids, so no they haven’t done that. Our parents and relatives usually stick to the Amazon lists that I give them. But if they don’t that’s okay too ❤️
Such thoughtful gifts! Where's your cute top from?
It’s from The Wholesome Store. I did a partnership with them a couple videos ago.
Promo code MADISUN for 15% off. thewholesome.store
Soo cute, mahalo ❤
Do you have a link for the doll??
amzn.to/3BqCmFv
That's so many gifts! Is it the norm in the states? I thought of getting just 1 thing for my son. There always are extra gifts that come from extended family (I've asked them to get books and puzzles)
Christmas is definitely my weak spot ❤️
Yoto players, play doh, and stepping stones
Cool man 🤟🤟🤟🤘🤘🤘
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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I need older 13 16 and 23.