I remember looking at the stack of presents under our tree last year, given to us (well, mostly the kids) by eager aunts and uncles and grandparents and friends and then Santa, of course.
And much as I clearly felt grateful for all the generosity and realized how lucky we are, part of me also felt like it is all a little too much.
By the time we had opened all the presents and were surrounded by a mountain of torn-up wrapping paper and ribbon and more toys than the average creche has at their disposal, I kept thinking to myself that I wish Christmas could be a little bit more pared back. It's very easy, I think, especially if you have children, for the holiday season to quickly spiral from a season of joy and merrymaking into needless materialism.
I know it is hard to strike that balance of being able to give my children what they wish for and have that moment of absolute amazement on Christmas morning while still making sure we don't spoil them. The thing is; I don't want my children to be spoiled. I want them to be grateful and compassionate people, who have their priorities straight and know that Christmas is about more than just presents and sweets.
5 ways not to spoil your children this Christmas
But how do you make sure of that? I don't want to be the Grinch by any means, but I am definitively going to give some of these great suggestions a whirl in the week before Christmas.
Start a Charity Drive
Do a blitz of your kids' rooms in the weeks leading up to Christmas and let them pick out some toys they no longer play with, for other little boys and girls to play with.
Make four-part wish lists
You don’t need a mountain of gifts under the tree to have a merry Christmas. I am currently loving the gift-buying strategy of “want, need, wear, read,” and plan to start a tradition of giving the kids one item from each category - in addition to the little things that come in their stockings.
Define "needs" vs. "wants"
Talk to kids about the difference between stuff they need (a new coat) and stuff they want (a watch that’s also a Transformer – or you know, something along those lines). Then set realistic expectations about the number of gifts they can expect to receive from each side of the list. We got a good tip from one of our readers about how price (when they see something in the shop or toy book that they want) translates into hours it takes for the elves to make that very thing. Meaning, if they ask for something very expensive from Santa, is a little bit unfair on all other children, as the elves will have to take so long just to make that one thing. Love this idea!
Send thank-you cards
We are sure even Santa would appreciate a little thank-you note, and all the grannies and aunties of this world probably would too. Plus it's a good way of teaching your children the nice habit of thanking someone properly for something they got.
And start early. Even preschoolers can pick out the stationery, help decide what to write, and sign and stamp the notes. They’ll love dropping them in a mailbox, too.
Teach everyday gratitude
Make it a habit for everyone in your family to talk about three things they are grateful for every day. Toddlers can listen, learn and begin to contribute and they’ll soon realize the most important things in life aren't material.
How do YOU make sure your children aren't spoiled at Christmas time? Do YOU think it's a good idea to try and make Christmas about something more than just the toys and presents? Join in the conversation with us on Twitter at @Herfamilydotie
