Whether you are looking to have a more simple Christmas, or are hoping to start a new Christmas tradition, you will love this Want, Need, Wear, Read Christmas printable list.
Kids of all ages can start getting a bit overwhelmed when creating their Christmas wishlist, after all, who doesn’t want a bunch of awesome Christmas presents!
If you want to get a handle on your Christmas shopping list, the easiest way to keep things in check is by limiting the number of gifts your kids can ask for.
A 4 gift rule is a great idea if you want to make sure your kids get Christmas gifts they really want without a load of junk.
It is a simple way to keep your kids on track when it comes to their holiday wish lists- plus it can make shopping for Christmas morning more fun and less stressful!
Read on for all our tips and our free printable Christmas wish list.
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Remember as a child how we would all pore through the Sears or Argos catalogue for hours choosing all things we wanted?
I could literally spend a whole weekend going through every page of the catalogs choosing what I wanted – My Little Pony, Barbie, Cabbage Patch dolls!
Let’s face it, through a child’s eyes, nothing beats going through the ultimate holiday gift guide and picking everything you want!
Even the little things like candy canes and chocolates are exciting.
While we all had a great time making out epic gift lists, not many of us actually got everything we wanted.
That’s why we have been doing the 4 gift rule for a few years now in our family. I love it.
It makes Christmas time that much easier.
What Is the 4 Gift Rule?
Sitting down by the Christmas tree, listening to Christmas music and writing our holiday wish lists is one of our favorite Christmas family traditions this time of year.
Whether you write your letters and then mail them to the North Pole or you get them to Santa some other way, you’ll love the Christmas gift list printables below.
By the way, if you want to add a new tradition to your family Christmas, you can send your Christmas lists to Santa the way we do in the UK – by throwing them on an open fire!
Don’t ask how they make it to Santa that way – it’s all part of the holiday magic!
Although I have lots of great templates for Dear Santa letters and free printable Christmas lists, one thing I was missing was a Christmas list for people looking for a more minimalist Christmas.
Everyone is looking for new ideas and a way to get the best gifts that people actually want.
That’s why I created this simple Christmas wish list template for your kids to jot down their gift ideas and wishes.
This want, need, wear, read Christmas list is a great way to get younger kids thinking beyond toys.
It encourages them to pick a great book, something they need and also some clothing items.
How The Want, Need, Wear, Read Christmas Printable List Works
Use the Christmas list free download and print out the wish list as many times as you need.
Then get your family members to sit down and create their list for the holiday season.
Let them take their time choosing the perfect gift for each section on the template.
I created this list in a simple design that will appeal to everyone in the family and you can print it as many times as you need.
While the want, need, wear and read idea isn’t new, actually using a printable template makes it much easier for the kids to see it and be able to write their wish list.
The printable is separated into the following categories, one for each gift.
- Something I want
- Something I need
- Something to wear
- Something to read
We started following this list last year in our house, and it worked out really well. It was an easy way to keep everyone’s holiday list on track and I felt that we didn’t spend as much money as we normally do during the Christmas season.
Here’s how we did it:
1. Something I want
The Christmas want is the free for all area where the kids can put the number one toy or board game that they hope to receive.
For my kids, this is where they put the big ticket items or what we call their “Santa gift”.
Young children always want something physically “big” like a Barbie Dream house
Meanwhile my older kids want electronics or even a gift card.
That being said, it doesn’t mean inexpensive items don’t belong in this section but the want list is really the space with no limits as far as toys or games go.
2. Something I need
The type of gift in this category really depends on the age of your kids.
Although it says “something you need”, save the socks and underwear for the adults in the family!
For example, teenage boys might want a new charger for their device or new sports gear for the season.
Meanwhile, younger children might need to be guided a bit more for this category.
Its a good idea to make notes on stuff they need in the run up to Christmas so you can give them some hints on things to ask for.
Here are some ideas:
- New markers and pens for school
- New ice skates or ballet shoes
- A new backpack
- New fancy “going out” shoes
3. Something to wear
Adding the something to wear category is a smart way to let your kids choose some clothing that they will actually wear!
This is the chance for them to add that fancy dress or new hoodie to their Christmas list.
I’ll be honest, I do try and steer my kids to something useful here such as a new swimsuit or Pjs but you can let older kids pick what they want.
As you know you will be buying some clothing for your kids, you can save some money by saving coupons or things like Kohl’s cash in advance.
4. Something to read
A favorite family tradition for us around the holidays is to take a trip to the bookstore.
This lets everyone can choose a book to put on their wish list.
My kids have a great time checking out the books and deciding which ones to add to their list
I let them add a couple of books each if they find a few they like.
Free Printable Christmas Wish List
Just click the link below to download the free PDF file then print it out as many times as you need.
You can print enough off for the entire family if you like!
No need to input your email address or anything, just click the link below to grab the printable.
Click here to download your Christmas gift list printable
Free Printable Want, Need, Wear, Read List: The Fine Print
Please note that this printable is for personal use only. They may not be sold or reproduced in any other way. Classroom use permitted.
