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Zen Habits, Kids Who Are Gift-less are Gifted

Kids Who Are Gift-less are Gifted

Post written by Leo Babauta.

When I wrote about my family doing the No New Gifts Holiday Challenge, I received a couple comments that I was a Grinch:

You must be a drag to live with. ‘What kind of deprivation and sacrifice has Daddy got for us today?' and

My kids have plenty of video games and electronics (including the latest COD game). They earn money and buy them themselves, and learn that if they want something, they can earn it, and it's not handed to them. My kids have everything they need and much more. If anything, they have too much, but I try not to force my minimalist philosophy on them.

Instead of deprivation, my kids are learning that there is much more to Christmas than getting a bunch of presents. (More below.)

They are learning to be creative instead of consuming. This lesson is more necessary today than ever.

We are learning that spending time with family is more important than spending money or spending time shopping.

Together we are creating new traditions based on creativity, fun, and giving, not just buying.

We are thinking of ways to give that don't necessarily involve shopping — making gifts, volunteering, donating to charity, etc. The reaction of my kids when I talked to them (once again) about not buying presents?

They completely understood my anti-consumerism reasoning, and they were excited to come up with new ideas. Honestly. I was really proud of them when I sat down with them (individually and in groups) and talked about these ideas — they didn't look disappointed at all, they in fact happily thought of some cool things we could do together. Some ideas they're excited about doing this Christmas instead of buying new gifts: 1. Making our own gifts. My son Seth is really, really excited about making stuff. In fact, he wants to make something for himself and wrap it up to open on Christmas morning. Yes, he's a bit weird, but I love that. Eva wants to sew gifts for people.

2. Baking gifts. We love baking, and it's a fun activity to do together. And we can give cookies, cupcakes, brownies as gifts to family, make them fatter, but not clutter their homes with needless possessions.

3. Going to play in snow. We're from Guam, so snow is a novelty for us. My kids know it from Christmas movies and the like, but it's not a yearly tradition for us — so driving to play in snow is really fun. We love making snow people, snow forts, snow angels, and having snowball fights.

4. Volunteering. We're not sure where we want to volunteer this year (in past years we've done soup kitchens and Salvation Army bell ringing), but we do like the idea of giving. 5. Christmas caroling. We aren't good singers, but we love singing Christmas songs. 6. Playing games. We love, love board games and other such games. We love getting together with family and playing games and sports. Having fun with family doesn't have to involve gifts. 7. Make decorations. It's so much fun to put up festive decorations, and if you can make them yourselves, even better. And this is just the start of the ideas we've come up with. Sure, buying gifts is a holiday tradition — but is it the only possible tradition? Can't we create new ones? My kids are not deprived. In fact, I think our family is very lucky, and I hope to show others that creativity, fun, giving, and family bonding are amazing things that you can do without being a participant in the usual consumerism.

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Kids Who Are Gift-less are Gifted Дети, лишенные подарков, одарены

Post written by Leo Babauta.

When I wrote about my family doing the No New Gifts Holiday Challenge, I received a couple comments that I was a Grinch: Когда я написал о своей семье, участвующей в Праздничном испытании без новых подарков, я получил пару комментариев, что я Гринч:

You must be a drag to live with. Вы должны быть обузой, чтобы жить с ней. ‘What kind of deprivation and sacrifice has Daddy got for us today?' «Какие лишения и жертвы принес нам сегодня папа?» and

I couldn't agree more lol, I'm sure kids see him as the Grinch, i feel sorry for them.I doubt his kids would be like ‘Yes dad, don't buy me the latest Call of Duty game, i don't want the 1% to get richer.' Я не мог согласиться с этим больше, лол, я уверен, что дети видят в нем Гринча, мне их жаль. Я сомневаюсь, что его дети сказали бы: «Да, папа, не покупай мне последнюю игру Call of Duty, я не понимаю». «не хочу, чтобы 1% стал богаче». 我完全同意，哈哈，我敢肯定孩子们把他看作格林奇，我为他们感到难过。我怀疑他的孩子会说‘是的，爸爸，不要给我买最新的使命召唤游戏，我不“不希望那 1% 的人变得更富有。” While I was touched by the concern for my kids, I am not worried: Хотя меня тронула забота о детях, я не волнуюсь:

My kids have plenty of video games and electronics (including the latest COD game). У моих детей много видеоигр и электроники (включая последнюю игру наложенным платежом). They earn money and buy them themselves, and learn that if they want something, they can earn it, and it's not handed to them. Они зарабатывают деньги и покупают их сами, и узнают, что если они чего-то хотят, они могут это заработать, и это им не вручают. My kids have everything they need and much more. If anything, they have too much, but I try not to force my minimalist philosophy on them. Во всяком случае, их слишком много, но я стараюсь не навязывать им свою минималистскую философию.

Instead of deprivation, my kids are learning that there is much more to Christmas than getting a bunch of presents. Вместо лишений мои дети узнают, что Рождество - это гораздо больше, чем просто получение кучи подарков. (More below.)

They are learning to be creative instead of consuming. Они учатся быть творческими, а не потреблять. This lesson is more necessary today than ever. Этот урок сегодня необходим как никогда.

We are learning that spending time with family is more important than spending money or spending time shopping.

Together we are creating new traditions based on creativity, fun, and giving, not just buying. Вместе мы создаем новые традиции, основанные на творчестве, веселье и благотворительности, а не только на покупке.

We are thinking of ways to give that don't necessarily involve shopping — making gifts, volunteering, donating to charity, etc. Мы думаем о способах дарить, которые не обязательно связаны с покупками - дарить подарки, заниматься волонтерством, делать пожертвования на благотворительность и т. Д. The reaction of my kids when I talked to them (once again) about not buying presents? Реакция моих детей, когда я (еще раз) заговорил с ними о том, что не покупаю подарки?

They completely understood my anti-consumerism reasoning, and they were excited to come up with new ideas. Они полностью поняли мои доводы против потребительства и были рады выдвинуть новые идеи. Honestly. I was really proud of them when I sat down with them (individually and in groups) and talked about these ideas — they didn't look disappointed at all, they in fact happily thought of some cool things we could do together. Я очень гордился ими, когда садился с ними (индивидуально и в группах) и говорил об этих идеях - они совсем не выглядели разочарованными, они на самом деле с радостью думали о некоторых крутых вещах, которые мы могли бы сделать вместе. Some ideas they're excited about doing this Christmas instead of buying new gifts: Вот некоторые идеи, которые они хотят сделать на это Рождество вместо покупки новых подарков: 1\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. 1 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. Making our own gifts. Делаем подарки сами. My son Seth is really, really excited about making stuff. Мой сын Сет действительно очень любит создавать вещи. In fact, he wants to make something for himself and wrap it up to open on Christmas morning. Фактически, он хочет сделать что-нибудь для себя и завернуть, чтобы открыть его рождественским утром. Yes, he's a bit weird, but I love that. Eva wants to sew gifts for people.

2\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. Baking gifts. We love baking, and it's a fun activity to do together. And we can give cookies, cupcakes, brownies as gifts to family, make them fatter, but not clutter their homes with needless possessions.

3\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. Going to play in snow. We're from Guam, so snow is a novelty for us. My kids know it from Christmas movies and the like, but it's not a yearly tradition for us — so driving to play in snow is really fun. We love making snow people, snow forts, snow angels, and having snowball fights.

4\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. Volunteering. We're not sure where we want to volunteer this year (in past years we've done soup kitchens and Salvation Army bell ringing), but we do like the idea of giving. 5\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. Christmas caroling. We aren't good singers, but we love singing Christmas songs. 6\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. Playing games. We love, love board games and other such games. We love getting together with family and playing games and sports. Having fun with family doesn't have to involve gifts. 7\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. Make decorations. It's so much fun to put up festive decorations, and if you can make them yourselves, even better. And this is just the start of the ideas we've come up with. Sure, buying gifts is a holiday tradition — but is it the only possible tradition? Can't we create new ones? My kids are not deprived. In fact, I think our family is very lucky, and I hope to show others that creativity, fun, giving, and family bonding are amazing things that you can do without being a participant in the usual consumerism.