Meet Needs, Not Gift Quota
For those of us with children, the scene is familiar. We trudge through the mall trying to spend equal amounts of money on each child. We try to make sure that there is an equal number of gifts under the tree for each of them. But according to author and parenting expert Jody Johnston Pawel, parents who fuss over equal spending for every child are getting their wallets and their love caught in the “fairness trap.”
According to Pawel, giving children “equal” gifts develops a score-keeping attitude — kids learn to measure their worth by comparing their treatment to that of siblings and friends. Children appreciate when parents recognize and meet their special needs, even if that occasionally means treating them unequally.
“Equal gift or dollar amounts does not mean one child is favored over others,” says Pawel, author of “The Parent’s Toolshop” (Ambris Publishing, $24.95). “Reassure your kids that you love each of them in a unique way by purchasing gifts based on each child’s needs and interests.”
“As a general rule of thumb, if the pile of packages is taller than your child, you’ve gone too far. Although they will never admit it, sometimes kids are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of presents for the holidays.”
* Deck the Halls safely: Toddlers are very curious, and beautifully wrapped gifts and Christmas tree ornaments are a great distraction for these little ones. This is a potentially dangerous time of year for small children, but there are things you can do to help prevent accidents.
Angela Mickalide, program director for the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, suggests these tips:
* Keep ribbons on gifts and tree ornaments shorter than seven inches. A child could wrap a longer strand of ribbon around her neck and choke.
* Inspect wrapped gifts for small decorations such as candy canes, gingerbread men, or mistletoe berries, all of which are choking hazards.
* Store any scissors or sharp objects that you use for gift wrapping out of your child’s reach.
* Never burn wrapping paper in the fireplace - it could cause a flash fire.
* Put any delicate or glass ornaments high on the tree, out of a toddler’s reach.
* Scooter safety: Speaking of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the organization has released the following guidelines for those speedy, lightweight scooters, one of this season’s hottest holiday gifts:
* Children always should wear appropriate safety gear that includes a helmet, wrist guards, and elbow and knee pads when riding a scooter. Make sure that the protective gear fits properly and doesn’t interfere with the rider’s movement, vision or hearing.
* Children under 8 should not use scooters without close adult supervision.
* Scooters should be thoroughly checked for defective parts prior to use. And finally, scooters should be used on smooth, paved surfaces, free from traffic, water, sand, gravel and dirt.