Hey Guys,
With holiday season around the corner (some consider it now), many struggle with keeping their children balanced. For the past two years Kayden has had a low key Christmas. His gifts haven't been extravagant, but as he is getting older he is becoming more aware of what holidays are about.
Curtis and I are lucky that we are on the same page about what holidays should be about i.e. family and religion. Christmas can quite easily be about getting a bunch of gifts, rather then it being a celebration. I never want my child to be overly spoiled or ungrateful. I have seen families buy so many gifts for their children that they loose track of the gifts they have bought, and find them hidden somewhere months later, not my impression of the holidays.
Curtis has no family in Canada, and my family doesn't celebrate Christmas, even if they did they wouldn't join us. Christmas is always a special time for our family and regardless of our financial situation we have always made the best of it.
With Kayden getting older I wanted some guidelines on how to approach gift buying, this is what I found
Buy something they want
Every kid wants something impractical that usually costs a lot. This is what I consider to be the 'main gift'.
Get them something they need
This is what parents pick out for their children. It's usually practical and something that children dread seeing
Something they can read
Something they can wear
I love all of these categories. It allows children to receive presents, enjoy that aspect of the holidays but it also keeps them balanced. It gives children gifts they want as well as parents giving them what they feel they need. A little fun with a little education.
As kayden gets older there will be two additional categories.
Something to do as a family within the home
This includes a board game, movie etc. This gift benefits the whole family. It is usually something the whole family would enjoy and is non-stressful.
Something to do as a family outside the home
This may include a nice dinner out, going to the park, seeing a movie, playing mini golf etc. I know for many families going out and doing these activities is cobsidered special. Its nice to go out and not have to celebrate a birthday anniversary etc and do something out of the ordinary.
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