What to Give at Christmas? The Psychologists' Opinion

Christmas is already approaching, you can tell in the shops and in the streets. Everything fills with lights and the frenetic shopping race begins. Soon Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men will come loaded with gifts, and we parents will have to decide what to choose from that endless list our children have written with such excitement.

If there is something all of us psychologists agree on, it is that we must control the number of gifts that children receive during these holidays. An excess will make them not value the toys, get bored more easily, and not pay attention to anything. Often, it is even recommended to put them away as soon as they open them so as to give them back later, so they have new gifts every 2-3 months.

When we give gifts we also educate, which is why we must think carefully about what we are going to buy. Following the rule of avoiding excess, we could set the number of gifts at 3:

- Something they want

- Something to read

- Something to share

This would be a good way to choose the gifts. You can even help your children decide from the very moment they write their letter to the Three Wise Men. In the post 7 ideas to improve our children's Christmas we talk about how to help write the letter to the Wise Men and about original gift ideas.

1. Something they want

This is the easiest one. Choose that toy they are so excited about this year, even if you know it is one of those that will end up in the deepest part of a drawer, sad and forgotten. But, just because of the face they will make when they open it, that is already enough. Of this type, one is more than enough.

Christmas is excitement, isn't it??

2. Something to read

If you follow our blog, you will already know the importance we give to reading stories (post 10 reasons to read stories with our children) with our children. That is why a storybook cannot be missing at Christmas. There are very interesting books depending on the age of our children. In the post 5 books to read with our children that any psychologist would recommend you have some ideas.

But there are many, many more. Choose one appropriate for your child's age and teach them to enjoy reading.

3. Something to share

This one is very special. It is about a gift to share as a family: tickets to the circus, the theatre, or a musical. A weekend at an amusement park or a special outing. The important thing is that the gift involves time together enjoying an activity.

At Christmas there is a very varied offering, and we should take advantage of it.

CONCLUSIONS

Now all we have left is to control the gifts that the rest of the family give. But remember, if your child receives many gifts, they will not value them. We live in a consumer society, where often happiness is confused with having, having more money, more toys, or a bigger house. As parents, we cannot allow those values to seep into our children, because we will condemn them to unhappiness, to the emptiness of consumerism and immediacy.

Take advantage of this Christmas to educate in values. Gifts are a good way to convey them.

Remember that Christmas is not only consumerism, it is solidarity, it is the value of family and generosity. It is everything that means something to you and that you want it to also mean to him/her.

There are many ways to convey it:

- Donation of toys

- Make a special gift together for someone. This way we encourage the handmade gift

- Donation of food

- Prepare a Christmas carol for Christmas Day. Or a special costume

- Help in the kitchen. Have them cook with us, set the table, or make beautiful Christmas decorations to hold the napkins.

- In the letter to the Wise Men always include a wish that is not for myself, that is for someone else: peace in the world, food for poor children,… or a wish for a family member who is going through a hard time. This way you encourage altruism

In short, take advantage of this Christmas to educate and to enjoy. Do you remember these dates when you were children? Today we are shaping the memories they will have when they are adults.

I invite you to add more ways to convey values at Christmas: Leave us a comment and share with us that special thing you do at your home at Christmas