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November 1999
The best part of the holiday season is the joy and excitement it
brings to children. UC faculty have some advice on how to best
ensure that the magic remains for kids this holiday season.
Table of contents
1. Combat the commercial Christmas
A. Countering the "Wish List"
B. Spring for only one popular toy
C. Prepare kids to receive less
D. Ask kids to set their own limits
E. Ideas that won't break the bank
F. Emphasize imagination
G. Take time for family
2. Serving up the scoop on santa
A. Santa ISN'T watching
B. Don't perpetuate the fantasy
C. Emphasize Santa's attributes
3. Safety first
4. Expect toys to be more expensive, more complex
1. COMBAT COMMERCIALISM
A. COUNTERING THE "WISH LIST"
Tis the season for giving, and merchants wait in expectation for
glad tiding of big profits. Advertisers begin their big holiday
push months before the holidays arrive. Children are especially
vulnerable to marketing pitches and build their wish lists around
this marketing frenzy, providing a real challenge for families
struggling to maintain a budget. Ellen Lynch, coordinator of the
Early Childhood Care and Education Program at UC's University
College, warns that when children are repeatedly asked about what
they wish to receive, they will expect to receive a great deal.
In addition, the "receiving" aspect of the season will become
their primary perception of the holidays. contact:
513-556-1621
B. SPRING FOR ONE POPULAR TOY
"I think commercialism is tough on parents," continues Sally
Moomaw, an early childhood education specialist at UC's
nationally recognized Arlitt Child and Family Research and
Education Center. Moomaw says parents may get more for their
money by purchasing one heavily marketed toy and then buying what
their children tend to use the most. contact:
513-556-3814
C. PREPARE KIDS TO RECEIVE LESS
Parents can help prepare children not to expect the entire gift
catalogue. Brenda Hieronymus is an early childhood education
specialist at UC's Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education
Center. "I used to take my daughter to the mall and we would look
at the wish trees -- holiday trees that held requests from needy
families. I'd point out all of the names of the families and the
basic necessities they wanted for Christmas, such as a pair of
shoes. I'd explain to my daughter that we may not get everything
on our list, just as these families may not get everything on
their list." contact: 513-556-3802
D. ASK KIDS TO SET THEIR OWN LIMITS
Vicki Carr, director of UC's Arlitt Child and Family Research and
Education Center, would ask her children for a list of the top
three gifts they wanted for Christmas. Then, she would always
get them a surprise gift as well. "One of those surprises was a
real pony, a Christmas we will always remember. My daughter still
rides the pony," says Carr. contact: 513-556-3805
E. IDEAS THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK
UC early childhood education specialist Brenda Hieronymus has
some gift ideas that won't break the bank. First, toddlers love
playing in the bathtub, but parents do not need to purchase
special, higher-priced bathtub toys. A trip to a discount store
can turn up clear plastic tubing and corks, a wire whisk to make
bubbles and an inexpensive funnel that can be used to pour liquid
through an empty plastic bottle. Ping pong balls float around the
tub, too. "Parents can personalize a gift by using a marker to
decorate a plastic cup with their child's name," continues
Hieronymus. "When my daughter was little, I always made something
for her for Christmas -- it could be as simple ironing a pattern
on a sweatshirt. I have saved all of those keepsakes my daughter
has now outgrown, and I plan to make a quilt out of them to give
to her." contact: 513-556-3802
F. EMPHASIZE IMAGINATION
UC early childhood education specialist Sally Moomaw suggests
toys that encourage the child to expand his or her imagination.
This could mean open-ended construction materials for younger
children. Older children might be ready for "some of those
construction toys with motors. They can build robots and also
build on their knowledge of science." contact:
513-556-3814
G. TAKE TIME FOR FAMILY
School breaks provide more family time over the holidays and
parents should take full advantage to reconnect with their
children. Family dinners and tree trimmings can lead to lasting
memories, says Keith King, assistant professor in UC's College of
Education. "This is a great time to just sit down and talk with
each other and build connections – a time to learn about your
children's interests. If the kids are going out with friends,
learn their names. Many teen boys are interested in the World
Wrestling Federation – talk with them about the sport. If younger
children are showing an interest in Pokeman, find out more about
it." King adds parents can make a connection simply by sharing
more of their own history with their children, something they
don't do enough. "Christmas celebrations from years past, even
from the days when grandparents were a child, are very
interesting to today's kids. Generations can share their memories
of holiday traditions and share pictures." contact:
513-556-3859
2. SERVING UP THE SCOOP ON SANTA
A. SANTA ISN'T WATCHING
The warning -- You'd better be good. Santa is watching. -- is
timeworn and worn out, according to Vicki Carr, director of UC's
Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center. It takes
a toll on children's emotional welfare. It's labeling a child as
good or bad. It's a basic message that can influence much in
later life. "Labeling children is detrimental to their self
esteem, their self worth and self perception." contact:
513-556-3805
B. DON'T PERPETUATE THE FANTASY
UC early childhood education specialist Brenda Hieronymus says
children begin to question the Santa fantasy at about age 5.
"Their intellectual thinking is more logical. They may ask, 'How
come Santa has the same wrapping paper that we do?'" Hieronymus
says she opted not to perpetuate the Santa fantasy with her
daughter, but instead they went "Santa Clausing" for other
children, looking for activities to make others happy during the
holiday season. contact: 513-556-3802
C. EMPHASIZE SANTA'S ATTRIBUTES
"Christmas should not be used to reward or punish children,"
continues Ellen Lynch, coordinator of the Early Childhood Care
and Education Program at UC's University College. "If you hope to
convey to your child that Christmas is about unconditional love
and giving, then 'Santa' must give unconditionally!" Furthermore,
Lynch reminds parents that younger preschool children are just
beginning to develop an understanding of 'good and bad.' Young
children may become stressed when they're told to "be good" since
they're, at best, guessing what that means. Furthermore, Lynch
says the tactic sends the message to children that there's a
material reward for being "good" during the holiday season, which
does not support the seasonal message of love, giving and
sharing.
Tales of Santa Claus, along with his elves, reindeer and his
work shop at the North Pole, add to the wonder of the holidays
for children. However, there comes time when a child discovers
the fantasy is just that -- usually the news comes from friends
or siblings. Most importantly, parents need to be prepared for
questions about Santa. Tell the truth that Santa is just a
story, emphasizing that the important part of the story, and the
reason that people tell it, is because it speaks of Santa's
generous spirit. Parents need to share why they value the Santa
story when answering children's questions. contact:
513-556-1627
3. SAFETY FIRST
Brad Hammond, professor of design in UC's top-rated industrial
design program, advises parents with young children to look for
toys that are nontoxic, easily cleaned and very sturdy. Natural
cloth is disappearing and should be avoided as a toy component
because it serves as a breeding ground for germs and bacteria.
Look for washable fabrics, plastics that feel like fabrics, that
can be laundered frequently to kill germs, allowing a toddler to
more safely chew a favorite fuzzy toy. Also for young children,
go for the modern polyurethane and polypropylene blocks. The old
square, wood blocks with the latex paint colors might bring a
wave of nostalgia for parents, but their sharp edges were
cutting, their latex paint surfaces toxic and when thrown, they
made for damaging, dangerous projectiles. Parents should always
avoid small toys or toys with small components for toddlers since
very young children will often try to put these in their mouths
and are at risk for choking. Also, avoid toys that might break
to expose sharp edges. Parents should genuinely try to break a
toy before giving it to their toddler. "If you can't break it,
chances are your child can't," said Hammond. Look for toys that
are made from such plastics as high-impact styrene or a
polycarbonate material, he added. contact: 513-556-0250
4. EXPECT TOYS TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE, MORE COMPLEX
Expect toys to become more expensive, more complex, says Brad
Hammond, professor of industrial design who has, for years,
trained young designers to enter the toy industry. He says
we are a "Nintendo society" with increasingly technical toys for
ever-younger children so that children have become more
sophisticated about their leisure time. "Once, Nintendo was for
college and high school students. Now, it's for fourth graders.
Don't be surprised when kinder gardeners are using it."
Computers and their accompanying designs are the toys of the
future. Keyboards for youngsters will be brightly colored and
resistant to smashing. "Kids will want more and more
multi-stimulation. It's got to walk, talk and shoot lightning
bolts," quipped Hammond.
Electronic component to toys, while making them more
expensive, will also make them more interactive and flexible, he
explained. For instance, say a child is going on a picnic the
next day and wants to bring her doll. The parents will be able
to download dialogue appropriate for a picnic from the
manufacturer's web site and "plug it in" to the doll. Thus, on
the picnic, the doll will make statements concerning the weather,
the food, the fun.
Finally, Hammond advises parents concerned about buying
ever-more expensive toys for kids: "Don't let them watch
Saturday-morning cartoons. They'll see a million things they
want." contact: 513-556-0250
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