The Christmas Present
Santa Claus is coming to town, and parents are having trouble choosing the best present while balancing the budget. Well, the present affair is a delicate one in good times and in bad, because this is not about how much money we spend, it is about the meaning of the present and its purpose.
Children do not value money the same way we do; value for them is not something merely material, it comes in the form of feelings and emotions created by experiences, people and objects. We can buy them the doll that says ‘hello,’ walks, sings and goes to the toilet, but if we don’t teach them how to appreciate that doll through playing, then the present will lack meaning and before the new year the doll will be forgotten in some corner of the house.
Christmas is a time full of experiences, moments that are treasured through the years deeply rooted in love, transferred by different generations and built from values and laughter. If you want to teach your little one about the importance of Christmas, whether or not you are a religious person, you base your beliefs on a family tradition or you just enjoy the spirits of the season, then, teach your child to celebrate Christmas. Sing Christmas songs with him, prepare the Christmas decorations together, dance around the Christmas tree, tell magical stories of Santa Claus and his reindeer, and watch family films. Then tell your children that Santa Claus will reward them with a present if they behave, they eat properly, they go to sleep without complaints and they put away their toys. But Santa doesn’t bring “presents” in plural, he brings you only one present.
We live in times of hyper-consumerism; we, as the adults that we are, have difficulty in explaining our kids the value and the importance of things, we just buy, buy and buy, and we don’t even know why. Christmas is all about the why, why we share moments with the ones we love, why we become more tolerant, why we buy a present, one that will help our children grow and that will teach them a lesson, sometimes less is best. If you get your child dozens of presents, they will not know which one to open first, they will only have fun breaking the wrapping papers, and finally they wont play with anything. Parents will get frustrated, seeing that all the money they spent wasn’t worth it, and that they will have to put lots of toys away while their kids keep on playing with the Christmas decorations.
So, this Christmas think wisely: What are the skills you would like your child to develop? What does he enjoy doing at home? Is there a present you can buy to play as a family? If your child likes kneading and has good motor fine skills then buy some play dough and have fun together. If your child enjoys painting, then buy him a good painting set, with huge pieces of papers, different textures, watercolors, pencils and even a painter’s hat. If you have a little girl that likes tea-time, get her a tea set, you can make your own with clay and paint it for her.
The key to the Christmas present is choosing accordingly, considering what your child wants and not what you would have wanted when you were his or her age. Try to buy products that stimulate the imagination of the child, his cognitive reasoning and his motor skills altogether, because those dolls that sing, dance, speak and walk are not surprising at all. A dollhouse painted by us, or bought online can help your girl develop social skills and habits, and she can use and develop her imagination through the power of storytelling and role-play. Costumes are also a great present, they make us superheroes, give us the strength we lack and even the courage to do certain things.
Remember that this Christmas the best present your child can receive is you being there for him or her. This is not about the present, is about sharing a great time together, and if there is a present, it is the one that best suits your child’s needs and character. (La Semana)