Since many families are concerned about shielding their children from the excesses of holiday commercialism, they can focus on the four things the authors argue that kids REALLY want:
- A relaxed and loving time with family. Kids prefer to be in their own homes in a relaxed atmosphere with their families. Many normal family routines are upset during the holiday season. It's important to slow down and spend quality time with your kids.
- Realistic expectations about gifts. Kids enjoy looking forward to gifts and then having their expectations met. The key is to manage their expectations. For instance, you might want to explain to your children that advertisers really want you to buy their products, even if you don't need them. '
- An evenly paced holiday season. Remember that the holidays are a season! You don't have to visit everyone and do everything in one day. You may want to spread out your family visits out to after New Year's Day.
- Reliable family traditions. We typically remember the things we did as a family during the holidays, not the gifts received. So this year, start or renew a holiday tradition, such as driving around to look at lights, baking cookies for a neighbor, or brightening your home with home-made decorations. Children will likely remember the traditions, not the gifts.