A few days ago I was walking through the English Court when I saw two shopping carts full of toys approaching me. There was no one to push them so I pulled away to save my life from an outrage and subsequent crush. It was curious to see that I was wrong, two women were pushing cars and I thought: "This will never happen to me."
Leaving aside my current concern regarding the Kings and with the intention of counteracting the impressive commercial pressure to which our children are subjected I have compiled some tricks so that the children do not ask so much, or at least ask in a more conscious way:
- The Three Wise Men bring toys adapted to each age: Children often ask for toys that are not suitable for their age, or that we, the parents, prefer not to buy them for whatever reason. Telling them that they may not arrive because they adapt the toys to the children's age is an option.
- The Magi have limited toys: There are many children in the world and the toys have to be distributed among all. It would not be fair for some children to run out of toys because others have asked for many.
- Write the letter with them or review it together once they have done it: We are the first filter and can exercise as such by sitting down to review what they have asked for. They often ask for toys that are very similar to others they already have and do not play with, or toys that can be dangerous for them or even for younger siblings. The dialogue should never be lost and this is a good time to give our opinion.
- Limit to three toys per child (or two or one, as each family wants): From the same premise that there are many children in the world, you can limit yourself by saying that the Kings will only bring three toys to each child, so It is important that they prioritize. In the house of other relatives, you can limit yourself to a toy at home and even, if it is not necessary, say that this year the grandmother has preferred to ask for things for her, because she needed them.
- Write the letter on a Din A-5 paper and do not just make a list, but do a bit of writing: “This year I would like to… surely we will go to see the ride… we will prepare some food… I wish you a Merry Christmas … ” So the sheet is really a letter from Kings and not a shopping list.
- Do not always bring everything they ask for: If we do not limit the number of toys, the idea is the same, write the toys in order of importance and the Magi will do what they can to bring the most important. The essence of the Magi must be that, three people eager to make children who need a clue happy to know what they like best ("I want to give you something, but not exactly what you ask me") . If from a young age they see that the kings do not bring everything on the list they will understand that the procedure is that.
- That the Kings send letters a few days before: This can also be a great filter. A few days before the wise men can send a response letter that says "this year we will not be able to bring you that toy because many children have asked for it and it has been impossible to bring it all" or "this year many children have been born and we have had to distribute the toys among more children. ”
- That the Kings bring something they have not asked for: In this way they will see that they bring some things that are asked of them but also some things that they do not because the Kings consider that they may like them or that they may need them. This also increases the degree of uncertainty, surprise and illusion.
- That the Kings leave letters on the same day: Not only can marzipan and polvorones be eaten, but it is a good idea to leave letters explaining the end of the process with phrases such as “we have not found this one”, “we have believed that you would like it although you have not asked for it ”, etc.
- Share the card of the kings with the rest of the family: In this way we avoid horrible or inappropriate toys that the child will never play or those whose volume is excessive and that require a “mini-move” to play with them .
- Avoid, as far as possible, the endless catalogs of toys with the "I ask for it" next to each of the toys: It is a nuisance for parents to look for the X next to the toys and so many possibilities of choice can make believe to the child who can really ask for a few.
I hope they help, at least a little, and if other tricks happen to you, tell them. Christmas is a precious time that It should not be camouflaged by excessive consumption.
