Is there such a thing?  . . . Maybe.

Giving is an important part of the Christmas season.  It reminds us of God’s gift to us in His son.  It’s a celebration of a birthday that forever changed the world.  It helps us express our love and gratitude to those who have impacted our lives.  I don’t want to get rid of it.

But giving too much to our children can make them unhappy.

For example, have you ever watched a 1 or 2 year old on his birthday? He opens one gift, and his eyes get wide.  He wants it out of the box and to play, right now.  But there are more gifts to open.  Someone takes it from his hands and gives him another unopened package. It won’t be long before there are tears.  He just wants to play!

Fast forward a few years.  Now the boy is 9.  There’s a huge stack of presents under the tree, all for him.  He thinks in his mind, “It will take forever to open all of these.” I can’t wait!  But it doesn’t take forever.  Soon he’s sitting in a pile of wrapping paper and opened gifts and feels a strange feeling.  Disappointment…loss.  Aren’t there any more?

I noticed watching my own children that they appreciate more what they are given when they aren’t given too much.

 If you’ve kept things small from the beginning, it’s much easier than to take it down a few hundred notches when the kid’s already have big expectations. But what if you are already there?  The kids are expecting pirate loads of loot, and you are ready to simplify.  What are some things you can do to make it as painless as possible?

Here’s a little brainstorm list I made one day of things that might help.  It’s not meant for one family to do everything on the list.  That would be overwhelming!  But there might be something here that sparks an idea you know your kids will really respond to:

1. If you have older kids (age 5 or older) Gently tell them in advance that you are only buying X number of gifts this year. The earlier you tell them the better (it’s easier to take news like this when D day is far away.) And tell them why–you want to save money for their future, your home is too crowded with stuff, you want to spend more time being together than shopping…..What are your reasons?  Children younger than 4 won’t need an explanation.
2. Get their input on ways that you can get the season back to what it should be.  Let them express their feelings about simplifying.

1. Switch focus:  From gifts to Jesus.  Spend time in childlike worship– Start with a colorful story then add two of the following: coloring page, simple craft, game, music, or  snack that reinforce the lesson. Make it fun and keep them a active. Then do gifts after. Or spend time during December preparing a gift the children can offer to Jesus for His birthday.  It should be something that uses their talents like singing a song, playing an instrument, writing a poem, or making a piece of art.  Then present the gifts in a small worship time on Christmas day.
2. Switch focus: From receiving to giving.  Help the children buy gifts for each other or others in need.  In our family we buy 2 or 3 gifts for our kids. Then they each buy one for each other, with their own money, that they earned all year by doing extra chores. I love it because I get one on one time with each one, and they learn what things really cost and that it takes hard work to get money. They can also choose an angel from the tree at church and buy a gift for a child their age in our community who otherwise would have nothing.
3. Switch focus to service:  Volunteer as a family at a local shelter, soup kitchen, or community services center where children can  give relief to those in need.
4. Switch focus to global need: Sponsor a child through World Vision. Or participate in the Operation Christmas Child program.
5. Prolong the gift opening, with a game like a treasure hunt:  Use scriptures as clues to where you hid the next clue, and the next clue and eventually where they can find their gift. Or make them do something athletic to get the next clue, such as run up and down the stairs 5 times, or do 3 push-ups :).  The sillier the better.

Have you found a way to keep things simple at your home?  We’d love to hear about what works for you.