As parents we always want to give our children the best. From the moment we know they are on their way, our perspective on life changes and now having everything necessary for them becomes a priority.
We are constantly looking for ways to make our children happy, giving them the best care we can, checking that they lack nothing, listening to them and giving them things that make them happy. We know that children love toys, but lately we have noticed that there is a trend where children receive so many gifts that we are in danger of falling into something called the "hyper-gifted child syndrome." I share you the reasons why you should not give too many to your children and two excellent gift options that are not toys.
What happens when too many gifts or toys are given to a child?
Giving children toys is not bad at all. There are some that help them stimulate their imagination and learn new things. The problem arises when we don't measure ourselves or put a limit on their purchase.
The child gets used to receiving gifts and toys without any effort and without valuing each one of them. Having lots of gifts also puts limits on your imagination and accustoms them to the fact that the only way to play or have fun is to do it with their toys.
In the same way, although the children have eagerly wanted each of the toys they receive, when they are too many, enthusiasm and interest are soon lost when they accumulate. They are so many that in the end many end up using them only a couple of times and then be forgotten.
Excess gifts can turn children into selfish and capricious people, who could also become adults with problems of consumption and frustration upon entering the "real world" and realize that they cannot have everything they want, such as when they were children and received hundreds of toys.
So when it comes to toys, we must try to remember two things before buying them:
- Less is more.
- The less things a toy makes, such as having lights or sound, the more things a child's imagination can do. The simplest toys are the ones that stimulate your mind the most.
And, what can we give to children other than toys?
When I was a girl I remember that we had an average amount of toys. I mean they weren't many, but we were not missing things to play, although mainly they were Barbie dolls and accessories for them. There weren't many toys with lights or sounds like now. The toys and therefore the games, they were simpler and helped us use our imagination more.
But I have few memories of those toys. I do not know why this is due, perhaps we did not use them much or I only have more present in the games in which we used our imagination more, such as dolls or playing in my grandmother's house patio.
But something I remember very clearly, are all the books I read and the trips we made as a family. Years go by and they are two things that still come to mind with pleasure. These are the two things that I remember made me very happy during my childhood. So personally I would recommend those two things to give to a child and avoid falling into excess toys: books and experiences, such as travel.
Promotes the habit of reading
Stimulate at an early age the love for reading is an excellent option for them to know an activity that can be fun in addition to toys, in addition to other multiple benefits for them. Inculcating the habit of reading can be something fun for both of you, and it will depend a lot on you that this happens.
Get involved in the story, ask questions about the stories they read and create moments of surprise suspense are some of the things you can do to encourage reading in your children. Children are curious by nature and if you show interest or curiosity about the content of the books, they will also want to know what it is about.
Give them experiences
Traveling is another thing I remember with great pleasure from my childhood. He going to know a new or different place is a nice way to spend time with family and stimulate a child's imagination. When traveling to a new place, we are attentive to all the details and news of the trip. The same goes for children. They enjoy it even more because they have mom and dad for them as long as they want, unlike life at home, where maybe they go to school and parents work away from home. It is a time to relax and have fun with your family, where they will create new and beautiful memories. that will undoubtedly remain in his memory for years to come.
We know that going on vacation is not always possible, either for economic reasons or that the work of one or the other does not allow many days off to take them. But when you're a child, every new experience is an adventure. A simple weekend trip to a neighboring town or a visit to the city's zoo or aquarium will have a positive impact on children. Maybe even a simple camp or an excursion near home can be a good option.
The important thing about this is to give your children a unique experience. Disconnect from work and routine, and enjoy a small or large family trip. What alternatives do you use to give your children instead of toys?
Photos | iStock On Babies and more | Children and toys: often less is more, bored of opening packages? Why having many gifts does not benefit children, 13 tips to instill the habit of reading in your children
