As children start to etch out Christmas wish lists, be certain to take a quick count of what already lines your home.
A few ideas to kick-start thoughts on stuff:
Question for you: How do you put limits on all of the "must-have" stuff this holiday season?
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Linking with Jen.
- Start counting. We’ve counted shoes, games, and shirts before, but Sarah Aaland from Doing Good Together suggests we take counting a step further. For every item counted, Sarah’s family places a penny in a jar. Sarah goes on to say, “I love this project because it gives young children a tangible sense of the stuff we’re surrounded by while reminding us of the needs of others.” What are some of the things Sarah is counting? Bedrooms, hats, and books. More ideas can be found here.
- Check out the 2011 Simplify the Holidays Challenge.
- Peek at some of the worst toys created this year. Then, consider taking action regarding the endless marketing campaigns directed towards our kids.
- Look for creative ways to teach your kids about stuff. Have you seen these short PBS videos?
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24 comments:
Hi Amy,
I'm back at your place...
Love the clip. It's so true. Kids nowadays have way too many stuff...mostly which they don't really appreciate having them.
It's rampant among my primary kids too.
Thank god...my two own kids are spared! They'll only be bought the stuff if they manage to list down at least 3 reasons of why they need it.
Amy, this is so important a message to deliver. Where is our focus? I love the penny idea!
Andie
Hi Amy,
Thanks for your post. I guess my desires to pare down are flowing naturally from the work that God is doing in my heart in regards to a desire to make a difference however God leads for the poor and needy and exploited around the world. His work in my life has changed my heart and I will never be the same. Hope to keep it simple, as well as enjoy my new role in supporting the mission of the Starfish Project - rescuing women from a lifestyle of prostitution and sexual abuse and exploitation by supporting a new means of employment for them through the Starfish Project Jewelry company.
Love your intentionality, Amy. Blessings on your holidays as you decide what to give your kids this wonderful Christmas season.
Fondly,
Glenda
Amy, great links. Thank you so much... we've been going over those lists already and it's really overwhelming! That video is awesome, I'll be sharing that today :)
Hi, I'm Kristi from Homeschooling and Other Adventures. Just saw your comment and hopped over to your blog to check it out! I love this post on being intentional. I'm getting so many ideas from lots of wonderful bloggers!
Blessings,
Kristi
http://homeschoolingandotheradventures.blogspot.com/
Going to go check the challenge. Thanks for the link.
Shanda,
Oh, good!
The thing I like about the site is the pledge it gives. No, I won't be doing everything on the pledge (hello, no handmade gifts here!), but I did like the idea of teaching a skill I possess.
Jen,
Can't wait to hear more about your work with the Starfish Project.
Great post that helps me keep perspective Amy. I know at times I have gotten caught up in other things and forgotten what Christmas is really about. The beauty of it all.
That clip was cute yet a great reminder how one small thing can make us happy...more than lots of things.
I always learn something from you Amy. Just watched this video. We have lots of work to do!
Just think weekend I had my kids write on a board one thing they wanted for Christmas, and one thing they wanted to GIVE. And now we are taking action. They surprised me by asking for things like "family time" and "new friends" -- and they wanted to give cookies, food, and toys to others.
I'll let you know in a few weeks if we are able to execute. Baby steps.
Love the idea of creating a tangible way to acknowledge all God has provided for us. Maybe we could label the jar with "Gratitude" and thank God for each penny we drop in.
Amy, we just aren't doing stuff this year. My Dad and I got my husband registration for the men's retreat at Laity Lodge in January because he needs a break so badly that even his boss agreed when I asked her for permission to book those days out. Other than that, no stuff. I suspect the Hubby will try to slip something in on me, but that was not the agreement. No stuff for us. No stuff for Sister and Brother-in-Law when we go see them. No stuff for our FIFTEEN grandchildren. No stuff. We are going to think about Jesus. We are going to pray for the little boy in Rwanda that we sponsor. We will pray for his family. We will think about all of the stuff they DON'T have and find ways to give them more of NEEDED stuff. In Jesus name, we will do that.
Hi Amy - I can always count on you to find the best resources! Thank you. My kids are up, so I just called them in to watch the video - fantastic! I'm going to share it on my blog later this week, too. Now off to read about that challenge . . . you are the best!
P.S. To answer your question, one way I'm putting limits on stuff this season is by shopping "small" and locally, and avoiding the big box stores - especially if my children are with me.
I'm at a point in my life when stuff is seriously starting to annoy me. It's been really great packing up boxes of old home school books and just giving them away. My children are grown, so this is an easier place for me to be right now. Glad you're fighting the good fight, Amy. And finding great videos for us to watch, too!
Totally stealing the counting idea, today! Brilliant!
I love this, Amy! We are thankfully out of the toy-catalog phase.
Totally anxious to meet you & friends at the first-ever SDG retreat!
My kids are older so it's easier now. I wrote a post a few back called. . .All I Want For Christmas Is. . .
the answer? goats, chickens and ducks and mosquito netting. All going to Africa to help famlies survive. This has been so much more rewarding than buying "things" that are not needed.
I always love your posts and ideas! Thanks for sharing it all with us :)
This is the first year my daughter is actually able to pay attention and ask for things...it's been interesting to watch the effect of marketing on her requests. Thanks for sharing these links and ideas!
that video is awesome!
for us, i'm starting a new tradition of giving each kid 3 gifts for Christmas. just like Jesus. even though i haven't shopped yet, i can already feel the weight of having to get a "bunch of stuff" lifted off my back. and luckily they are young enough that if i keep up this tradition, they will never know anything different.
now as for myself.....ahhhhhh!!!!! that's where God is working on me. b/c for me, my list of wants is longer than 3. and i hate that fact. i'm ashamed of it. but it's part of my sinful nature i guess. just going to keep giving it to God.....praying he'll take away my worldly, material desires and replace them w/eternal ones. w/a heart for lost people.
good post.
love you!
wow so excited to find you and to see all these links...my 3 kids are beginning to stand infront of the tv chanting 'i want that i want that' in the ad breaks! its horrific!
i involve them in all my fundraising for Reeces rainbow which helps save special needs orphans around the world...this opens the door many times to talking about children who have nothing xxxx
Amy, this post hits right at home for me. I wrote about this idea last year--the amount of money that Christians spend on junk we don't need in honor of Christ's birthday makes absolutely no sense to me.
This time of year is such a struggle for me, though. Most of my family sees Christmas as the time for excess, so it's very challenging to teach my kids that they don't need so many toys when extended family showers them with them!
I don't want to write a novel (too late, I know), but we have set our own standards for gift-giving, and we try to do service projects with the kids as well to keep their focus on Christ. I hope we're at least planting seeds that will grow with them.
That's a great video, and the site that has the worst toys? That's awesome. I didn't know they did that. You, my friend, are in the trenches fighting against the lust of stuff.
amen. love this - especially the penny in a jar.
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