Ah, kids’ gifts on Christmas morning. Well-meaning family and friends love seeing the joy in kids’ eyes as they unwrap a bounty of oversized and extravagant toys. But for me? It used to fill me with dread. An oversized Batman robot? A ride-on truck to go with the other ride-ons parked in our makeshift carpark / hallway? And more stuffed toys to add to the overflowing baskets in our kids’ rooms? Where would all this stuff go?! As Christmas rolled around, each bigger than the last, we’d be stuck with a mountain of kids’ gifts that took up more space than Santa's sleigh on Christmas day. I’m not alone. As the holiday season approaches, many parents are dreading the influx of new toys their children will undoubtedly receive. With playrooms already overflowing with toys, books, games, and puzzles, it can be difficult to find space for even one more thing. But there is a better way. This Christmas, take control of the toy overload. Here are our top tips to help you get started.Why less is more when it comes to kids’ gifts Here’s five reasons why kids don’t need a lot of toys.Too much stuff can overwhelm kids. We’ve all seen it: kids are showered in dozens of gifts, but they’ll pick out two or three of their presents as key favourites and ignore the rest. What’s more, kids actually play better and learn more if there are fewer toys around them. With all that money and effort put into buying gifts, it would be a shame if most of them went to waste. Plus, too much “stuff” can stifle imagination and creativity in kids by providing them with too many predetermined play options. With fewer objects to choose from, kids are forced to use their own imaginations to create new ways of having fun (and make up stories) with the toys they have on hand! Too much stuff can overwhelm you, too! When kids get too many gifts, it’s not just overwhelming for them - it can also be overwhelming for us parents! We can only fit so much in our homes. Plus, more toys = more tidying up. It’s as simple as that.It’s hard to keep track of all the toys. Toys have a way of multiplying overnight. And losing bits. How many board games / Lego sets / half-naked Barbie dolls do you have at home with missing bits and bobs? The more stuff you have, the harder it is to keep it all together and in good, playing condition. Kids get bored when they have lots of toys. Yes, you read that right. How many times has your kid sat in your toy-strewn house and said, "I'm bored. There's nothing to play with." Frustrating, huh? Kids get bored when they have lots of toys. It seems counter-intuitive, but it’s true. A playroom overflowing with toys can make it hard for kids to choose a toy and focus on it. Too many options can be paralyzing (just like it is for us adults trying to pick out a loaf of bread at the supermarket!). Plus, the science is pretty clear: fewer toys lead to richer play experiences.Our planet doesn’t need more toys. It’s true, kids’ toys are really bad for the environment. From the plastic packaging to the batteries that power some of them, it’s all taking its toll on our planet. The toy industry is the most plastic-intensive industry in the world. Every small change counts in helping cut back our massive plastic problem.Create new gifting traditions this Christmas – one gift is all they need! So, it’s time to get selective about what comes in and out of the house. But how can you do that when family and friends want to shower your kid with well-intended Christmas gifts? (I’m looking at you, over-indulgent grandparents!) Setting rules around gifting is not a new concept - many families have been doing it for decades! The easiest way to make a big change is to ask everyone to focus on giving the lucky kids in your lives just one special gift each, or – even better – one group gift from the entire family. Sounds easy, right? Here’s our top tips on how to take back control with kids’ gifts and embrace new gifting traditions.Think about the ‘why’ behind Christmas gifts for kids. Acknowledge why your relatives give gifts in the first place. More often than not, it stems from pure love and wanting to show the little ones in their lives just how much they mean to them. Keep this is mind when changing gifting habits--it'll be a lot harder if you don't. It might help if you recognise how much joy and excitement their gifts bring to your kids, but that it might be time to shift the focus to one special gift, rather than an accumulation of things. Something like, "Janey loves all the gifts you buy her. But we're finding it hard keeping track of everything and store it all. Can we make a plan to simplify things and still show her how much you care?" Get in early and make it clear to everyone. If you wait too long to tell your family that you want to do something different for Christmas, some of the more organized members may have already started filling their Santa sacks. Get a head start and tell them your plan as soon as possible. And make sure it’s clear that this is an approach that applies to everyone – not just one particular family member. No one likes to be singled out. Make it an AMAZING gift. If you’re cutting back the gifting, you’ll want to make sure it’s a mind-blowing gift your kid will guarantee to love. Kidzta can help with that! With Kidzta wishlists, you can create a list of all the items and dream gifts your kids want and share it with family or friends. If some big-ticket items are out of reach, don’t forget you can split the cost of expensive gifts and family can chip in for one special group gift. Not only do Kidzta wishlists take the guesswork out of gifting for others, but family will be able to see how excited kids can be to receive one EPIC gift that they truly wanted. Best part of all? Kidzta wishlists help control what comes into your house after Christmas day. Win, win!So, this holiday season, let’s look at kids’ gifts differently and focus on quality over quantity. It will not only help kids better engage with their gifts, but also save us from some stress (and maybe even some clutter!) in the process.