Invite your children to write thank you notes to those who gave to them, saying specifically why they’re grateful. Encourage the children to write thank you notesīoxing day is a great day to take stock of gifts and say thank you. It was a meaningful, wonderful gift that cost nothing but meant the world. The rest of that Christmas morning, he read, cried, laughed and reminisced. Then it dawned on him that there were 60 notes from his children. He reached in and pulled out the first note. Dad opened the jar and looked at us, perplexed. With six children, we had a total of 60 memories, each written on separate pieces of coloured paper, and rolled up into mini-scrolls and placed into a jar. One year for Christmas I contacted my siblings and asked them to give me 10 memories of special times with Dad. It might be better to purchase some games that require the family to interact, or perhaps some boogie boards for summer fun together. A new iPad might be fun, but it may lead to introversion (and fights). In a similar vein, gifts that encourage relationships are better than gifts that promote isolation. Perhaps a family holiday will be more memorable than yet more toys? One of the most remarkable findings from positive psychology research is that spending money on experiences brings more happiness than spending money on ‘stuff’. Son sitting on father's shoulders, enjoying vacation at the beach. Let them breathe in the excitement of the moment, rather than ripping into the next package and flinging their gifts aside. When the children open a gift, give them time to savour it. Savouring is the magnifying, or amplifying, of a positive experience. When opening gifts, take time to savour them Invite extended family to contribute to one meaningful gift, rather than lots of bits and pieces. ![]() This not only costs a fortune, but it can overwhelm children and leave them expecting more and more. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents and even siblings are all expected to buy for everyone. Some children receive gifts from everyone. So pick something great for them (within your budget), and help them enjoy it. A decision to not get anything can leave them feeling resentful, particularly when they see everyone else 'getting'. The reality is that our children DO want to get something exciting at Christmas. (It can be hard to do this well with six children and we’ve often been caught – but it’s always fun.) Then we watch with delight as someone gets an unexpected, anonymous Christmas surprise. After parking out of sight, we sneak to their door, place their gift on the doorstep, and bang on the door before sprinting for a hiding place. We wrap their parcels (often home-made treats), write thank you cards and drive to their home. It might be a teacher, a friend, a coach or church leader. We select a handful of people we want to give something to each year. ![]() Our children’s favourite Christmas activity is playing “knock and run”. Every year, we are asked for the date in advance so people can be available! We invite all of our neighbours for a barbecue and to sing carols. ![]() One of our favourite things to do is to host a neighbourhood Christmas party. Perhaps someone has just gone through a tough separation, and could do with a Christmas hamper to ease the pain (financial and emotional) that Christmas might bring. ‘Tis the season for fast-growing grass and gardens. Who are the people in your neighbourhood? Perhaps an elderly widow could do with a hand in her yard. Others I know love to visit the local RSPCA with supplies or donations, drop food, books, and toys into a women’s shelter, or donate a goat or chicken (or money for a well) to one of the many overseas charities that help those who are impoverished and in need. The family want to thank the people who work to keep us safe. This year one family I know is baking dozens of cookies and visiting the local police station, ambulance station and fire station to drop off some Christmas cheer. With this in mind, here are 10 tips for 'unspoiling' your children this Christmas.įirst off, focus on others. We wish they'd look beyond themselves and stop making Christmas all about "me, me, me." We max out our credit cards buying 'stuff', eat more than we should, eat fancier than normal and generally over-do it financially (and in other ways).Īt the same time that we spoil ourselves and our loved ones, we often bemoan the ingratitude of our children. Even in homes where getting by is a bit of a struggle, Christmas is generally a time of indulgence in Australia.
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