STILLWATER---Many
children have a long list of gifts they'd like to receive during the holidays.
Parents may be frustrated and feel the spirit of the season is lost in all of the
commercialism and hectic pace. Putting
these four ideas at the top of the list can make the holidays more meaningful
and memorable for everyone:
- Relaxed
and loving time with the family. During the holiday season, lives become
crowded with program practices, shopping trips, and parties. Even when
parents are at home, they are often busy with holiday chores, plans, and
money worries. Lots of gifts and attention when the holiday arrives won't
make up for your absence or stress now.
Set firm priorities so you can give your children the attention
they need. Consider turning down some social invitations to spend more
time with your family. Decide to order gifts by mail or the Internet to
save time shopping.
- Realistic
expectations about gifts. Children who think only about gifts at this
time of year can feel terribly let down when the holidays are over. Their
new toys can't possibly be all they thought they would be after they've
waited for them for weeks or months.
Make other parts of the holiday as exciting as opening presents.
Help define the celebration for children.
Talk with them about gifts and your own sense of values. Then plan
family activities in which gifts play only one part. Shift the focus from
receiving to giving by making special treats or crafts for neighbors and
friends, a homeless shelter, senior center or other community
program. Plan exciting family
activities to look forward to before and after opening gifts so that gifts
aren’t the only highlight. Help
children learn the difference between commercials and regular television
programs and that the purpose of advertising is to sell products.
- An evenly
paced holiday season. Because stores start
cranking up for the holiday season so early, children wait and wait for
the holidays to arrive. Then, when the last gift is unwrapped, suddenly
it's all over. Postpone some
activities and schedule important family traditions for about a week or so
before the holiday. Also, save a few special activities for the week after
the main event. For example, consider hosting a potluck dinner for family
and friends.
- Strong
family traditions. Traditions are important
to children because they give them comfort and security. They help
children understand how the season will unfold, and will bring back happy
memories of past holidays together.
Even simple traditions will do, like baking cookies or
singing. Ask children which
activities mean the most to them. Then, be sure to do them every year.
Give your children these four gifts and you'll give yourself a lovely
present as well. You'll spend more time doing the
things that really matter and feel less frenzied.
Prepared by:
Deborah L. Richardson Assistant
Specialist Child Development
104 HES, Room 233
OCES, Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078-6111
405-744-6231 dlricha@okstate.edu *Item can be filed in FR 2-6