2024-01-04 09:45:59
The Christmas season is characterized by the giving of new toys to children and according to experts, an excess of gifts can have significant psychological consequences, since an excessive level of gifts makes it difficult to truly value each object.
Christmas is a time of celebration, gathering and giving, especially to children who receive new gifts and toys on these dates. However, sometimes little ones receive such a large number of gifts that it can cause anxiety and confusion.
Furthermore, this phenomenon leads the little ones to not correctly appreciate the importance of receiving each of the toys, nor of the toys they previously had and that may still be in use.
In this sense, Sanitas psychologists warn that material saturation gives children a more consumerist and superficial mentality. For this reason, experts point out four as the ideal number of gifts to receive at Christmas.
The Christmas season, characterized by generosity and gift-giving, can have significant psychological consequences on children when their abundance reaches excessive levels. Beyond the initial joy, the excess of gifts sometimes makes it difficult to truly value each object.
“This not only encourages a deeper appreciation for each of them, but also promotes values such as gratitude and emotional connection with others, aspects crucial for healthy growth,” he explains. María Calle, psychologist at blueU de Sanitas.
Restricting the amount of gifts teaches important lessons about the importance of moderation, patience, and gratitude. For this reason, psychologists Sanitas They have prepared a list of tips with the aim of instilling in the little ones that Christmas goes beyond the sum of gifts.
These guidelines are intended to help children learn to enjoy the spirit of Christmas by focusing on shared experiences and strengthening family ties instead of relying exclusively on the accumulation of material objects.
Focus on meaningful experiences
It is advisable to emphasize the importance of focusing on shared activities rather than the multitude of gifts.
Some activities that we can encourage among children during Christmas can be: cooking typical sweets as a family, watching Christmas movies or going to the movies, decorating the house together or even helping to buy gifts for others, valuing not only the receiving but the give away, especially if they are not material things.
Promote gratitude
Writing personalized thank you notes is a way to strengthen relationships and recognize the value of each gift, prioritizing quality over quantity.
Raise awareness about the climate emergency
It is advisable to introduce the sustainability concept, highlighting how the overabundance of presents contributes to waste and environmental impact.
Therefore, choosing recycled, reused or durable elements is an excellent idea to promote environmental responsibility.
In this way, making handmade gifts with recycled materials can be a good strategy, generating more meaningful gifts that are more respectful of the planet. It can also be the opportunity for children to experiment and make the most of their creativity.
Teach the value of sharing
Highlighting the importance of giving back to those less fortunate through charitable activities such as donating toys or food to other children is a way to cultivate empathy and generosity.
It is advisable to emphasize the importance of focusing on shared activities rather than the multitude of gifts. EFE/CRISTINA ABADÍA
Clearly establish expectations
It is advisable to communicate the perspective on the number of gifts before the Christmas season. With this, children will understand that the true spirit of Christmas is found in love and family connection, and that toys are an expression of affection, not a measure of personal worth.
Sanitas experts remember that it is positive to show affection to our children in different ways, and not only through gifts, and they divide the “love languages” towards the little ones into five categories: Physical contact, words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts and quality time.
In short, by limiting the number, competitive pressure and comparison between siblings, cousins or friends are mitigatedwhich contributes to healthier self-esteem.
“All of them are important and necessary for children to feel completely loved and valued, although many studies indicate that the type of affection most in demand by children is in which parents spend quality time with their children. That is, with pleasant activities, talking about things that are interesting to them, being present and not on the cell phone while we are with them,” concludes the Sanitas psychologist.
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