LONDON / AGILITYPR.NEWS / November 20, 2020 /

Can’t afford the Big Christmas Gift?

Don’t panic, Christmas isn’t cancelled, says Dr. Amanda Gummer Child Research Psychologist

As families struggle financially as a result of furlough and redundancies, many will be tightening the purse strings this Christmas, while fighting the guilt of letting their little ones down. Dr. Amanda Gummer, Founder of the Good Toy Guide and research psychologist offers her advice on managing children’s expectations when you’re on a tight budget without dampening any seasonal sparkle:

•  Why not try talk about the real meaning of Christmas and encourage children to make gifts for friends and family. This not only helps children develop their creative skills, fine motor control, and concentration it also gives them an understanding of altruism and helps them develop empathy. Home-made gifts can be as simple as a picture painted for Grandma or Christmas cookies of which there are loads of recipes online, with only a few ingredients. A gift made with love goes a long way.
• Young children don’t understand the value of products quite yet but really enjoy the unwrapping process. Wrap up things that you would have needed to buy them anyway - new clothes, toiletries etc. and really go to town on the bells and whistles. The more you can build the unwrapping experience, the better!
• Start a discussed with older children about saving up for something big if it’s out of budget - asking for money towards something that they can buy in the sales and then helping them earn money towards it over the Christmas period. Whether new trainers or the latest must have game – they then have something to aim for and you have started them on their savings journey. You could even get them to make their own piggy bank or savings jar and have a thermometer that they fill in as they work towards their target.
• Another simple idea which will get the whole family excited it to make a voucher booklet of treats that they can cash in over the year - a pizza party, film night, extended bedtime, favourite dinner etc. If you make it colourful and personalised they can pin it to a notice board and be reminded of it for months to come. Not only will this help with cash flow but is the gift which keeps on giving!

About Dr. Amanda Gummer - making the world more playful.

Amanda has a PhD in Neuropsychology, the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and over 20 years’ experience working with children and families. She is a go-to expert on play, toys and child development.  She can be regularly seen in the media including BBC News, Sky News and The Daily Mail offering advice on the news stories which matter most to families and issues surrounding child development. From managing seasonal screen time tantrums to offering ideas for the best socially distanced family games, Dr. Gummer is on hand to help with all festive family dilemmas!

Founder of Dr. Gummer’s Good Play Guide, home of The Good Toy Guide  and The Good App Guide Amanda is dedicated to ensuring every child can develop the skills they need to thrive and enjoy a happy, healthy childhood. She is available for comment, opinion pieces and interviews.