Manage your children’s expectations around Christmas gifts

Families with young children often face high expectations about Christmas presents. Instead of getting yourself as crisp around the edges as the turkey in its basting sauce, think about Christmas as the perfect time to teach your kids some good life lessons about gratitude and giving rather than receiving.

Open their eyes
Way ahead of time, chat to your little ones about what they would like as a present and what their friends are asking their parents for. Ask about children at school who may not have much, and how they think they will feel when their moms and dads can’t afford to buy what they really want.

Broach the topic of charity and underprivileged families. Encourage the kids to think of how they can spread a little joy and love to another child before they think about their own presents. You can easily search for details of a charity or NPO in your area, and find out what is on its Christmas wishlist.

Making a gift for someone is the ideal way for the kids to spend part of their school holiday. But, the biggest take-away for them will be learning empathy and that giving is very rewarding. Shifting the emphasis from receiving to giving will also help children see the exchange of presents from a new perspective.

Be honest about finances
Parents want to see their children happy, and there’s nothing better than being able to tick off their wish list. But, you should set boundaries on what they can ask for. Children don’t think practically about gifts – they think fun and enjoyment in the right-now.

Get your child gifts mindfully, or pick one gift that’s a bit more expensive that they actually need or will get the most use out of. Christmas lists are great in helping parents cater to their children’s needs, but they shouldn’t be seen as set in stone, and children should know this.

A good way to approach the dilemma of affordability is to decide how much you can spend on each child then give them that amount in play money to “shop” with. This can help them understand how difficult it is to make choices and how far money goes.

If your child makes a list, ensure you set expectations that they may not get everything they have requested. Help them to understand that Christmas is about a lot more than Santa and gifts, and that every household has its own traditions. It can be fun to learn about these as a family by doing some research and looking at photos of Christmas traditions around the world.

Remember, children go to school with other children from a diverse group of cultures too, so start with their friends and let them maybe arrange a playdate to learn more about each other’s cultures,

Parenting coach Julie Romanowski said in a Global News report that materialism and potential greediness are tendencies mostly learned from the environment, which includes parents, friends and society overall.

She advises that vocalising being thankful more often with your kids could deter them from wanting a new toy simply because it’s trendy.

“This will make you reflect on yourself and helps you to be a role model for your child,” she said. “Are you materialistic? What’s your attitude around material things?

“Your child is always watching you and possibly absorbing your own behaviour or beliefs, so it’s important to be conscious about your own attitudes towards gifts and potential excess around the holidays,” said Romanowski.

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