I was thinking recently about holidays and kids. Given that Easter is coming soon, I remember back in the “old days,” our Easter baskets were filled with candy, including jellybeans, chocolate eggs, and other sweet treats. There might have been a small toy in the basket, but I don’t recall. When my step kids were younger, their Easter baskets contained candy and some small toys, sometimes maybe an article of clothing. Now, the Easter Bunny brings many big gifts to kids, such as bikes, scooters, and electronics. Not all kids are that fortunate, though. Some kids only get a small basket of candy, with maybe one toy.
The same goes for Christmas with Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy when you lose your tooth. Kids must wonder why some of their friends get less and some get more. Why would Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy bring less to them but more to other kids? That thought must run through some of their minds. I thought of a great thing that you can tell kids if they ever bring it up.
**I advise you never to bring it up unless they do**
You can simply tell them that the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy bring each child gifts uniquely fit for them based on how much candy they should or shouldn’t have, or maybe the Tooth Fairy brings less money because she wants to teach you how to be frugal with your dollar, or maybe Santa Claus does know whether you’re naughty or nice and maybe they were a few times you misbehaved. I’m not for telling kids that they got less because they were bad—please understand. I’m just trying to think of simple ways to ease the burden on their hearts. I know I will be scrolling through Facebook and seeing many of my friend’s children with lavish Easter gifts. I also know some children will get very little or nothing, and they may wonder why that is compared to other kids they know.
The main point is for kids to understand that they are all unique individuals, and they receive Easter baskets, Christmas presents, and money from the Tooth Fairy according to that principle. And then we hope they don’t ask any more questions!
Or just do what Dave and i did and don’t lie to your children. Tell them the real story of St Nicholas and have them
ReplyDeleteCelebrate st Nicholas day and fill their shoes with gold coin chocolates and pennies. Easter baskets are fun and we did them but they knew it wasn’t from
A Bunny. Hahah we told them we celebrate new life so always had some kind of new candy and a Christian book. Same with Xmas gifts. Something to wear, read, play with and listen to ( cds). We centered it around their talents ( art writing dance). But i also explained that at Xmas we were donating new and gently used toys to the homeless shelters and inner city daycares ( and we always did one operation Xmas child box per person) so that children who didn’t have the extra money would still get toys etc. But these are also good suggestions for people who insist on telling their kids that a fat man brings them stuff 🤣