Play Dough
Survive the Holidays
November 19, 1997

All holidays come with their respective illnesses. Halloween brings candy- induced tummy aches. The Fourth of July gives us ant bites. And Christmas offers us the dreaded "gimmes."

Adults who have never had the pleasure of standing in Toys 'R' Us with a 7-year-old during December just don't know what they're missing. (Maybe they could volunteer for hazardous duty with the Marines or offer to milk snake venom from rattlers.) Anyone who has survived the trip to the toy store around Christmas deserves a medal. Or maybe a martini.

So how can we tame the gimme monster? A group of teachers and parents from Silver Spring, Maryland, offer these suggestions:

--Talk to your little pumpkin about the real meaning of the holiday that you celebrate. If it's Christmas, read the Bethlehem story in Luke. Talk about what it must feel like to sleep in a barn with animals. Or look up what myrrh is in the encyclopedia. And then talk about why Christians feel this is a special time of celebration, and remind them that different people have different beliefs and that it's good to respect those differences.

--Ask them to draw a picture of what they think the meaning of their holiday is. If you celebrate Kwanzaa, ask them which day is their favorite and why they identify with that particular characteristic. If you don't know what Kwanzaa is, check it out here and talk to your kids about what each day means in the celebration.

--Do something together that's good for someone else. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or visit a nursing home.

--Be an angel to a needy child. Ask your son or daughter to help shop for an underprivileged child whose only present may come from you.

--Be honest with your kids if the present they want isn't going to be forthcoming. Prepare them ahead of time if that new computer or bike is just too much for your budget this year. Concentrate on telling them how lucky you are to be all together as a family and how much more important that is. If you think you can swing the gift later, talk to your child about that. Make a savings plan together and work towards getting it for their birthday instead.

--If they still believe in Santa, ask them what they think Santa and Mrs. Claus would like for Christmas. Get them to start thinking of Christmas as a time to think of others, not just a time to get whatever they want.

--Offer to help your child's class collect canned goods or warm clothes for the needy.

--Do things together that don't cost any money, like carolling or looking at decorated houses.

Do YOU have any suggestions on how to tame the "gimmes"? Join us on the Family Fool message board and give us your best tips.