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Managing Children’s Expectations During a Holiday Recession

By John M. Grohol, PsyD
Founder & Editor-in-Chief

This will not be a great Christmas for many families, due to another holiday season with the economy still in shambles. That is, if you believe that Christmas should be measured in the amount of gifts you give (or receive). And while most of us …

6 Comments to
Managing Children’s Expectations During a Holiday Recession

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  1. So far, my experience with teenagers has indicated that what they want will be fewer items, but will cost a lot more that the little-kid items.

  2. Nice post. I feel very fortunate. I’m a divorced dad of two teenagers. Have been divorced for 12 years. Their attitude toward Christmas and birthday gifts is amazing. Oh, I suppose there’s a level of expect somewhere inside, but you’d never know it. They’re seemingly very satisfied to adjust to the economic climate of the times. And that makes it all the more satisfying to give them gifts because you’re just so pleased with them.

  3. I told my daughter, when she was quite young, that Santa brought each child only one gift but that some parents told their children that Santa had brought all the gifts. This really helped when we went through a rough economic patch. We got her one gift from Santa and a couple of small gifts from us and she wasn’t left feeling that Santa favored her friends over her.

  4. It’s hard when in past years, we have been able to give alot. Two years and forward has gotten worst for us. I worry for my husbands company to survive. I have tried to go with the smaller $ gifts with more than one. However, I have two teen boys, a tween girl and a young boy. The youngest is easy. The older ones understand about our money situation. We try to spend more quality time together. They will remember memories more than presents.

  5. Not a merry Christmas because of the economic recession? Only because the commercial aspect of the season has become part of our culture. If people look at the holidays as a time for good will, sharing, and appreciating what we have it should be just fine.
    Our recession is still better off financially than many other countries.

  6. Just wanted to say that this is one of the best sites for Kids of all ages. Keep up the good work!

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