My MG does exactly what Snack's group does for Christmas and b'days. Works really really well for us - it is not just about the money but the time to buy individual presents for everyone with 3 kids in tow is just completely out of the question. I also appreciate my kids only getting one present each and not having to take home a truck load of gifts.
Talk to your MG about it, you will probably find that many of them are feeling the same way that you are about giving presents to each and every child. Most people just want to invest most of their time, effort and cash into Christmas for their own kids so they will probably appreciate the suggestion of doing something simple for MG.
Our group does a secret Santa with a $20 limit. Although, it's not so secret because we all share who we drew out of the hat and ask that mum what to get for their little one.
This year I will be making each of the ids something as there is only 4-5 kids. When there gets to be more kids I will either suggest a Secret Santa type thing or give a family present of a batch of gingerbread biscuits or something.
I think I will make a summer hat or something. I think up to $10 is ok to spend, you could give balls, colouring books & pencils, a story book, soft toys, musical instruments (maracas, casstinets, bells, etc)
Maybe you could buy a heap of cheap T-shirts & some fabric paint & write "Merry Christmas 2009" or "MG09" (mothers group 2009)
Or if you a handy with a sewing machine, get a couple of metres of calico & some red & grenn paint, sew up some basic sacks & write their names on it
Our bubs are all having their birthdays b/w now and x-mas... well they started in Sept so we will stop buying b'day pressies right before x-mas.
I suggested like a secret santa for b'day presents but we had kind of 'missed the boat' as some ppl had already organised presents etc but am thinking as we are still buying presents as we wont have the cash maybe it's a suggestion for x-mas.
I am not sure if i should suggest it though, they might not want to do x-mas presents?
Hmm might bring it up at MG tomorrow and see what they want to do. thanks for reminding me.
Depending on the age of the kids maybe you could do handmade gifts, little tubs of playdough, finger paintings from your little on on canvases? etc etc?
We only did presents in our first year of MG, after that we weren't getting together so often so didn't bother. What we did though was presents just for the mums & we did a Secret Santa thing so we only had to buy one present. We did mums because we figured the kids would be spoilt by family & Santa () so it would be nice for the mums to get an extra pressie.
Last year we did a secret santa for the mums, suppose we should think about doing something again this year!!!! will probably do mums again but will need to see what group thinks, we have joined onto another groups playgroup so more to oragnise.
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) so it would be nice for the mums to get an extra pressie.
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