When I go through the toy store or a Wal-Mart with my three year old, I know exactly what he will say. Oh, hell exclaim with a mix of excitement and surprise. I want THAT for Christmas! What toddler boy doesnt want a new train, truck, racecar or fighter jet? Its a safe guess your toddler has a long list too. The question is, how can parents make the Christmas gifts last? How can you help your toddler enjoy and appreciate his new things for many days instead of five minutes of glory? Here are a few ideas that have worked for us and our friends:
1. Enjoy 12 days of Christmas. Do you have presents stacking up from grandma, grandpa, aunts and uncles? Or perhaps youve purchased 5 or 6 presents for junior yourself. Try starting Christmas on December 13th and allow your toddler to open one present per day until Christmas. This will spread out the excitement and allow your toddler to enjoy each gift. Why just have one day of Christmas when you can have twelve?
Now many of us dont have enough gifts piled up to begin opening on December 13. Try opening a gift a day starting on December 20, or just open one on Christmas Eve, most gifts on Christmas day, and save one gift for New Years. The idea is to spread out the Christmas cheer.
2. If youre traveling, open some gifts before your trip and after. If youre headed to grandmas house, the last thing you want to do is load your already packed suitcase with your toddlers new bike. You can open your gifts at home before or afterwards. Its always fun to save a gift at home so when you need some incentive for your toddler to behave well during that plane ride, youve got something to offer.
3. Do something special for someone else. Teach your toddler to give gifts to the less fortunate so he can be more grateful for the avalanche of things he will receive. This year, our family packed a shoebox full of toys for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritans Purse. That shoebox will be delivered to a boy who may live in a slum in Calcutta, or an orphanage in Johannesburg. Your toddler will remember the shoebox and begin to understand that there are many children in the world who have very little.
4. Re-gift! Search for a forgotten toy around the house, something your toddler used to love playing with six months ago. Wrap it up and give it to him again. Youll be amazed at how much fun hell have with his long lost friend or toy.
Your toddler will have a Christmas to remember as you try these gift giving ideas!
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