Caring For Our Kids
Kids, consumerism and Christmas
December 2011
Kids, consumerism and Christmas
December 2011
Every year it seems we start celebrating the holidays earlier and earlier. I noticed in October that Target had Halloween candy on one aisle and Christmas ornaments and wrapping paper on the next. Mid-November brought the influx of clothing and toy catalogs, all prompting me to get my shopping done early. With young children, it can be very hard to shield them from all the consumerism and greed that seems to accompany the joy and excitement of this time of year. Here are some simple suggestions for your family that I hope will help keep your holidays meaningful, enjoyable and affordable!
Reason for the season:
Making this time of year meaningful for both you and your family requires a little bit of time and thought. I suggest taking a moment to think about or even write down what you want the holidays to mean for your family. Once I have figured this out, I try to find activities that will convey this, especially to our children. We want them to know that this time of year is just as much about giving as it is about receiving. So we try to balance the excitement of gifts and Santa by adopting a family in need or by finding some sort of service project we can all do together. While I do not want them to feel guilty about making a list for Santa, I do want them to remember that not everyone is as fortunate. This can be a great teaching moment and a catalyst for them to find simple ways to be involved in their community.
Make it enjoyable:
There is always a lot of talk about the stress the holidays seem to bring – the parties, the shopping, the travel – and sometimes, if we are too busy running around, we forget to slow down and enjoy it all. Children pick up on this; if we are enjoying ourselves they will too, but if we are stressed and frantic they will notice this as well, which can make the holidays feel unbearable for everyone. In our house, we try to focus on experiences instead of things. Some of our favorite activities to get into the holiday spirit are ice-skating at Embarcadero Center, attending a tree-lighting ceremony, and just walking around Union Square looking at all the decorations. My daughter has a tradition that each year she attends the Nutcracker ballet with her grandmothers. My son loves when we drive to Novato to look at all the houses with their thousands of Christmas lights. My hope is they will remember these experiences for a lot longer than they will that doll or truck they begged for.
Limit what they see:
One of the best ways to keep the holidays affordable is to limit our children’s exposure to the constant barrage of messages that they “have to have” certain things. This is not always easy – our mailboxes are inundated with catalogs and advertisements appear everywhere. For younger children, toss the catalogs in the recycling bin before they even see them, and try to have them watch commercial-free television or shows on your DVR. For older children, have a conversation with them about what is being marketed to them and why. As parents, a good way to avoid succumbing to the marketing ploys is by making a list before you shop and allowing plenty of time. This will help avoid those last-minute impulse purchases.
Keep it affordable:
Don’t to be afraid to keep it simple. Try tapping into your inner Martha Stewart by giving handmade gifts like jars of jam, ingredients for cookies, or a hot chocolate or s’mores sets. We have a large extended family, so we draw names for the cousins so we only have to buy one gift instead of nine. For my brothers and sisters, we always pool the money we would have spent on gifts and use it to plan a fun “parents’ night out.” Gifts of time or gifts from the heart can be fun to give and receive.
As with most aspects of parenting, not caving into the consumerism of the holidays is something we can model for our children. We can help set the tone so that no matter what holiday hysteria comes our way, we will not be swept up with it all. Through it all, try to remember that this magical time of year should be enjoyed with our loved ones.
Happy holidays!
Reason for the season:
Making this time of year meaningful for both you and your family requires a little bit of time and thought. I suggest taking a moment to think about or even write down what you want the holidays to mean for your family. Once I have figured this out, I try to find activities that will convey this, especially to our children. We want them to know that this time of year is just as much about giving as it is about receiving. So we try to balance the excitement of gifts and Santa by adopting a family in need or by finding some sort of service project we can all do together. While I do not want them to feel guilty about making a list for Santa, I do want them to remember that not everyone is as fortunate. This can be a great teaching moment and a catalyst for them to find simple ways to be involved in their community.
Make it enjoyable:
There is always a lot of talk about the stress the holidays seem to bring – the parties, the shopping, the travel – and sometimes, if we are too busy running around, we forget to slow down and enjoy it all. Children pick up on this; if we are enjoying ourselves they will too, but if we are stressed and frantic they will notice this as well, which can make the holidays feel unbearable for everyone. In our house, we try to focus on experiences instead of things. Some of our favorite activities to get into the holiday spirit are ice-skating at Embarcadero Center, attending a tree-lighting ceremony, and just walking around Union Square looking at all the decorations. My daughter has a tradition that each year she attends the Nutcracker ballet with her grandmothers. My son loves when we drive to Novato to look at all the houses with their thousands of Christmas lights. My hope is they will remember these experiences for a lot longer than they will that doll or truck they begged for.
Limit what they see:
One of the best ways to keep the holidays affordable is to limit our children’s exposure to the constant barrage of messages that they “have to have” certain things. This is not always easy – our mailboxes are inundated with catalogs and advertisements appear everywhere. For younger children, toss the catalogs in the recycling bin before they even see them, and try to have them watch commercial-free television or shows on your DVR. For older children, have a conversation with them about what is being marketed to them and why. As parents, a good way to avoid succumbing to the marketing ploys is by making a list before you shop and allowing plenty of time. This will help avoid those last-minute impulse purchases.
Keep it affordable:
Don’t to be afraid to keep it simple. Try tapping into your inner Martha Stewart by giving handmade gifts like jars of jam, ingredients for cookies, or a hot chocolate or s’mores sets. We have a large extended family, so we draw names for the cousins so we only have to buy one gift instead of nine. For my brothers and sisters, we always pool the money we would have spent on gifts and use it to plan a fun “parents’ night out.” Gifts of time or gifts from the heart can be fun to give and receive.
As with most aspects of parenting, not caving into the consumerism of the holidays is something we can model for our children. We can help set the tone so that no matter what holiday hysteria comes our way, we will not be swept up with it all. Through it all, try to remember that this magical time of year should be enjoyed with our loved ones.
Happy holidays!
Liz Farrell is the mother of two young children. She was formerly a television producer in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. E-mail: [email protected]
