The greatest gift is learning to give
Giving children a joy-filled Christmas doesn’t have to translate into showering them with a wealth of gifts.
Rather than focus on the material aspect of Christmas, Parents Centre New Zealand chief executive Heather Hayden encourages parents to put the meaning back into Christmas.
‘‘Christmas is a time to think about gift giving, not grabbing. It is a really important value to teach children, and the earlier we can instil those values the better,’’ she says.
Whether you are on a budget or are trying to discourage materialism in your family, it’s worth considering the four-gift rule.
It works like this: you buy something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.
It’s a gifting strategy that has taken the world by storm, the aim being to simply keep from overspending and to teach children that presents don’t grow on trees.
‘‘It’s discussing what is important to your child, building that relationship and vocabulary, and not just indulging them too much in the way of extra things,’’ says Heather.
This Christmas, Toyworld owner-operator Phillip Bramley expects Beyblades and LOL Surprises to be among the top sellers. Beyblades are collectable spinning tops that kids can trade, collect, build and then battle with them in a confined playing surface.
LOL Surprises feature dolls and accessories, but the big attraction is the unboxing, unbundling process that is involved to reveal the ‘‘mystery’’ items inside.
Toys on the Toyworld top 10 list are:
Poopsie the magical unicorn doll. The unicorn has a magic belly that creates surprise collectable unicorn poop. Treasure X single pack, where kids can rip, dig and fizz for collectable characters. Lego, the Harry Potter Hogwarts Whomping Willow set in particular.
LOL Surprise Under Wraps doll.
FurReal Ricky, the trick lovin’ pup.
Lil’ Gleemerz, an interactive toy with a rainbow light-up fur tail, glowing eyes and quirky sounds/phrases. Leap Frog Leap Pad Ultimate with carry case. Rainbocorn, which hatches from a bright mystery egg, revealing a unique reversible sequin heart that contains a magical surprise when swiped. Nerf Laser Ops Alphapoint, which fires single-shot and registers hits with lights and sounds.
Beyblade Battle Tower, where tops clash and collide in battles.
However, sometimes the best presents don’t come wrapped – think about giving a gift that encourages learning and imagination in other ways.
This could be a magazine subscription on a subject your child loves, be it sport, puzzles or pets, which is a good way to promote literacy.
Give a membership to the zoo, aquarium, museum or even tickets to a show or movie.
Opt for a class or lesson, such as swimming, music, art or dance, to introduce your child to a new experience.
Another way for children to learn the art of giving is to help them choose a charity to give a donation to that aligns with their interests, such as the SPCA if they are pet lovers.
‘‘Even if you do one thing to help others, you’re redirecting your child’s thinking around Christmas gift giving,’’ Heather says.
She points out that studies show participating in charitable activities helps boost children’s self-esteem, builds confidence and shapes their values.
‘‘Children learn that helping others can be fun and it makes them feel good, and that’s the real art of giving.’’