Even little children can get swept up in the commercialism of the holiday season
The holidays are a joyous time, but they are also a time filled with stress, chaos, wanting, and spending, spending, spending. It’s really easy to get wrapped up in the consumerism of the season, even for small children. Kids can have wish lists a mile long and before you know it, your wallet is empty and the holidays have come and gone.
This year, savor the season as a family and avoid getting sucked into the commercialism of Christmas. Here are six ways you can avoid materialism and teach your children the true reasons for the season.
1. Focus on traditions
Doing things together as a family will create lifelong memories and allow you to focus on experiences as opposed to things. If you have young children, teach them early the value of quality time together instead of presents under the tree. You can include simple things like baking holiday treats, seeing a Christmas play, or having a hot cocoa taste test. Creating new traditions and making a big deal of them will be something they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.
2. Volunteer your time
Volunteer somewhere with your kids. Spending time doing something for someone else will help take the focus off of shopping and wish lists, and onto helping humanity. As a family, you can offer to wrap presents for a single mom, serve food at a local food bank, or visit the lonely at a nursing home. Contact a local church or non-profit organization, like The Salvation Army, to find ways you can help out. Showing kids that the world is bigger than them and that other people need help is a valuable lesson to teach them.
3. Have them give and not just receive
Teach children that the holidays are not just about receiving gifts, but also about giving gifts to those we love. You can give them a small budget and have them pick out items for their family members and teachers, or help them make small crafts or treats that they can give as gifts. Letting them put some thought into the presents and sharing in the joy of giving will bring new meaning to the season.
4. Create unique advent countdowns
Instead of having your kids countdown the days until they get to open all the presents, create an advent calendar that is full of experiences. You can make a random acts of kindness calendar where each day you do something nice for someone else, or a family fun calendar where each day you do a holiday activity together. Kids will enjoy doing the activities in the calendar and relish in the experiences that can come with the season.
5. Set expectations early on
Let your kids know that they may not get every single item on their Christmas wish list. Then, set a budget of how much you will spend and stick with it. If your son or daughter adds a last-minute must-have item after you’ve spent their budget, they will have to live without it. Overindulging in gift giving during Christmas sets a standard that you’ll feel you’ll have to live up to for years to come. It also does not teach kids the vital skill of being able to delay gratification.
6. Lead by example
As with most things in life, kids watch and observe what their parents do. If they hear you tell them that they each get only four gifts, but then they see you buying like crazy for dad or yourself, the message will not mean much. Enjoy serving, creating, and spending time together this holiday season and teach them that those are the things you value.
If cutting back commercially is a new concept in your family, then your children may resist it at first. So be persistent in focusing on building traditions, making memories together, and giving to those who are less fortunate. Soon enough, they’ll come to enjoy the family memories you are making and look forward to them each year instead of all the gifts they will receive.
You can read more advice from Kurt at Guy Stuff Counseling, Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.