Unwrap the Magic of Christmas
How to balance gifting with gratitude this Christmas
The festive season is magical for children and adults alike: twinkling lights, endless holiday songs, Elf on the Shelf and most importantly, presents under the tree. But for parents, Christmas can bring challenges. Most notably having to wrestle with making the season joyful and exciting, with not wanting to spoil the kids.
As grown-ups ourselves it’s easy to become caught up in ‘Christmas conformity’, aka over-indulgence. Who hasn’t gone overboard on the presents, decorations, or cooking and cocktails?
The inescapable pressure to indulge at Christmas
From wish lists to marketing campaigns, children are bombarded with messages encouraging them to ask for more and more ‘stuff’. And whilst it’s natural to want to spoil them and see their faces light up on Christmas morning, where do we draw the line? It’s no surprise to be reminded that overloading children with gifts can have lasting negative impacts:
A lack of appreciation: When kids receive too many presents, it becomes harder for them to value what they have. There’s nothing worse than a frenzy of present opening as they search for the next serotonin hit, without acknowledging with the previous gift.
Unrealistic expectations: If children grow up associating Christmas with mountains of gifts, they may expect the same—or more—every year.
Missed opportunities to learn generosity: If the focus is solely on receiving, children miss out on the joy of giving.
So, how do we strike a balance between making the holidays special and teaching important life lessons? And is it possible to build a culture of gratitude and giving (back) without being a Grinch?
Ideas to ensure balance this Christmas
Something they want, need, wear, and read
This popular gift-giving approach limits the number of presents while covering different categories:
Something they want satisfies their desires for a specific toy or gadget.
Something they need could be an item for school or sports.
Something to wear introduces a practical but fun element, like festive pyjamas.
Something to read encourages learning and quiet time.
By curating gifts thoughtfully, you can still create joy without overwhelming your child.
2. Plan cool experiences, instead of buying stuff
Presents don’t always have to come in a box. Planning experiences - like a family movie night, baking Christmas cookies together, or attending a Christmas concert, can be just as exciting as opening gifts. Planning a trip or event which will take place after Christmas also helps to spread the joy out across the year, creating more moments for connection, memory-making, and gratitude, that last longer than the latest trend toy.
3. Teach gratitude
Encourage children to reflect on what they already have. Before Christmas, involve them in sorting through their toys and clothes to donate items they no longer use. This not only declutters your home but also teaches kids about the importance of helping others.
Additionally, start a family tradition of writing thank-you notes. Whether it’s for gifts or acts of kindness, expressing gratitude helps children recognise the thought and effort others put into making their holidays special.
4. Involve them
Involve them in the present-buying process where you can. Whether it’s a gift for grandma or their school teacher, ask for their input and ideas, and then empower them to actually give the gift to that person. Spending time thinking about others, writing cards, and perhaps even spending their own pocket-money on buying items for others will help them to be thoughtful and grateful around gift-giving.
5. Share the joy of ‘Giving Back’
The holidays are a perfect time to talk about generosity and the joy of giving. Engage your kids in choosing a cause to support. Perhaps they could donate some of their allowance or use money earned from chores to contribute to a local charity.
GenKind is a great addition to the physical gifts under the tree, blending the excitement of gift-giving with the values of generosity and sustainability. Alongside traditional presents, parents can gift a GenKind donation - which encourages children to support planet-saving causes. It’s a simple, powerful way to teach children that giving can be just as rewarding as receiving.
Finding Joy in Simplicity
As parents, it’s easy to feel guilty about not doing “enough” for our kids at Christmas. But remember, the magic of Christmas isn’t in how much we spend or how many presents we give. It’s in the love, laughter, and togetherness we create as a family.
By focusing on meaningful gifts, shared experiences, and teaching the importance of giving back, we can ensure that our children grow up valuing the true spirit of the season.
This Christmas, let’s make room under the tree for more than just toys. Let’s make space for gratitude, generosity, and joy. And with GenKind as part of your celebration, you’re not just giving a gift—you’re planting the seeds of kindness and compassion for years to come.
Let’s give our children a Christmas they’ll not only enjoy but also learn from—a Christmas that’s as much about giving as it is about receiving.