7 Ideas to Improve Our Children's Christmas

A Christmas of Gifts

Juan and Óscar go to class together and are already starting to talk about Christmas, the letter to the kings, the holidays. They are very excited, they love Christmas and above all the gifts. Juan asks Óscar:

• Have you done your letter to the kings yet?? says Óscar
• What did you ask for??
• A remote-controlled car, a game for the PlayStation, a tablet, a magic set, and I think that's it.
• Wow!!!
• And you??? What are you going to ask the Three Wise Men for???

Juan paused thoughtfully and said:

• Can you ask them for time??
• Time??? Well, I don't know… Why??
• I want to ask them for an afternoon with my parents.

This story may reflect Christmas in any home in a developed country of this century. Many of us see ourselves identified, and few of us do anything to remedy it. Our children have so many toys that they get bored and don't value them. If we knew the disservice we do them by buying everything they ask for, perhaps we would stop doing it. How many toys do the Three Wise Men bring to your house? More than two? More than two may already be too many. Then there will be one at each grandparents' house, another at the aunt and uncle's house, another at the godmother's house, and another at your cousin's house. In total, 10 or 12 gifts per child on Three Kings' Day. We still have to add those from the caga tió and Santa Claus. Too many gifts to be able to play with them all, too many to be able to appreciate them, too many to be able to play a good while with each one. Have you noticed how children open their gifts? They open one and quickly another and another, until they finish; they don't stop for a moment to look at them. They see the box and keep going, they don't assemble them, nor open them, they don't even look at them for more than a minute and on to the next one.

We fill their day with activities and their rooms with toys, but we don't give them time, time to play with them, time to enjoy each other, time as a family.

I believe there are many parents who have already seen what I am saying, they have seen it by looking into their children's eyes. But to be able to change it we are going to need to do something more:

7 ideas to improve our children's Christmas:

• Write the letter to the kings with them: guide what they ask for, tell them to choose well because they can't put them all down. The Three Wise Men will be very loaded if they have to carry 10 gifts to each child! This way they learn to prioritize, to give up things, and to choose what they like best.

• A letter is not finished if a wish is not made: don't let your children's letter contain only toys, encourage them to make a wish, a real wish, a wish that can't be touched, a wish that is not material.

• Encourage altruism: have them ask for something for others. For their brother or sister, for grandpa, or for poor children—it doesn't matter for whom, but make sure they don't only ask for themselves. They must learn to think about others too, and about what gift another might like.

• Give time as a gift: the caga Tió can bring some tickets to go to the theater together or a day as a family. Santa Claus can bring a very beautiful letter explaining how important it is to be together at Christmas, or can give time to use as they choose. Do your best to spend time with them, quality time.

• Show them the other side of Christmas: the lights, the nativity scenes, the excitement, the cold, the family meals… Have them notice other things that are part of Christmas and that are not toys.

• The rule of 3: no more than three gifts per child. Hard to keep, right? Well, store the rest of the toys in a closet and bring them out throughout the year. Let them enjoy three, let them play with them until they get tired, and within a month they will have another new toy to enjoy. This way they will dedicate to each gift the time it deserves.

• Give originality as a gift: teach them that gifts can be something more. Give things they don't ask for, give a story and tell it to them, give imagination, theater, music… Give a poem or a treasure hunt in the mountains, or around your house, where they have to find the hidden gifts. Give an outing to see a river, give crafts to do with you or board games. Whatever you give, make it something that can be shared with everyone.

I already know what I am going to ask the Three Wise Men for this year: TIME to dedicate to my children.

Merry Christmas