How to Build Gratitude and Avoid Spoiling During the Holiday Season

It can be easy to get all caught up with material objects during the holiday season when the wish lists keep getting longer by the day. We all want our kids to feel special and that’s probably why we spend countless hours buying and wrapping presents during the holidays. But sometimes we can get wrapped up in the wrong way. We tend to forget that too many material gifts can lead to spoiling and many parents of preschool children begin to worry about this when they start getting those ungrateful “gimmes.”

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to give your child valuable gifts that don’t need lead to spoiling. Here are some ways you can give your child precious gifts without spoiling or overindulging them.

Share Traditions.

Remember, holidays aren’t just about the newest toys on the shelf. You can remind your family of this too by passing on traditions from your childhood or even creating your own “no gift related” traditions. For instance, you could have the whole family participate in holiday-themed arts and crafts together, drive through your community to see all the houses decorated and lit up, or you could even bake and decorate a delicious holiday treat!

Build Gratitude.

A child who learns to appreciate things will act grateful, rather than spoiled, whenever they are given a gift. Children usually become more aware of gratitude when they observe their parents being thankful. By regularly expressing your appreciation for the people and things you have in your life, you can set a good example for your child to follow.

Give Back.

One of the most meaningful gifts you can give your child this year is one of service. Take the time to explain to your child the importance of generosity. Teach them that some families aren’t as fortunate as yours, so it would be nice if your family got together to give them a little extra help during the holiday season.

You can show your children how to serve others by going to the store with them and having them choose the toys or clothes that they think the other kids would like to have for the holidays. Ask them to help you wrap the gifts and then deliver them to a family in need or a trusted local charity. This is also the perfect time for you to show them how to look through their closets and toy chests for things that they may not use anymore, which you can also donate to families in need.

Set Limits.

A simple way to avoid spoiling our children this year with an overabundance of gifts is to set a realistic budget. By putting a cap on how much you are willing to spend on each child, you’ll be less likely to go overboard this year.

Another good way to set a limit is by making a specific list of things you are going to buy your child. If they are old enough, you could even have your children write their own lists and ask them to put their most wanted items at the top. You can then cross off any items that you know won’t fit into your pre-set budget.

At Carpe Diem Private Preschool, we believe in developing character and good values. Sharing time and values or creating traditions are great ways to replace material gifts in a meaningful way that can still make each child feel special. We can take this opportunity during the holidays to teach our children lessons in gratitude, setting limits, and giving back to the community.