Teaching Children Gift Etiquette During Christmas

Presents are a wonderful thing and receiving them during Christmas gives our children the opportunity to be happy and grateful. Sometimes we don’t realise as adults that we have to teach our children gift etiquette because there are moments where their reactions to gifts, especially ones they don’t like, end up making the gift-giver embarrassed or upset. So how can we teach our kids to be respectful when it comes to receiving things they don’t like? How can we instil the values of gratitude while also saying the two words ‘thank you’ each time?

These are some difficult questions to answer as parents sometimes struggle to communicate this to their children. It’s not often we come across many instances where we feel like we’ve failed in our roles as parents but with more communication, compromise and understanding, you will be able to teach your children the value of gift etiquette in no time.

Here are some ways you can teach your children how to understand the importance of gift etiquette and why it is necessary.

Show others gratitude and be courteous to the people we meet

What we show to our children is a reflection of what they think is right behaviour. It’s important that as parents, we’re aware of our actions and how they affect the people we interact with on a daily basis. If we don’t show any gratitude or any sense of courtesy to the people we come across, how can we expect our children to do the same?

Of course, there will be times where we will stumble upon many terrible gifts we receive from people but showing them kindness and respect will help our children do the same when they are given something they dislike. Christmas is all about being thankful for what you have; it’s not a competition when it comes to gift-giving.

Communicate to your children what gift-giving means

Being given a gift means a kind gesture from a friend or family member. Remind your children that being given gifts is a way of saying that they are special. You can also emphasise the important values of gratitude and respect when receiving gifts, regardless of what shape, size or form it comes in.

Don’t feel pressured into thinking they will understand this straightaway because it won’t happen overnight. Regularly communicate with them the importance of being grateful when receiving a present from someone, regardless of what the item is. Instilling kindness in children is easy if you show it to them on a regular basis.

Teach them how to say something positive about their disappointing gift

Being given pajamas instead of getting that jumping castle they wanted can be a letdown for your child, especially if they’ve placed a certain expectation in receiving a particular item in the first place. Disappointment is normal to experience as a child but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look at the downsides of the gift. If your child has received a much practical gift, let them know it’s something they could use on a daily basis.

Cue in words such as “interesting’, “useful” and “thoughtful” as these words can help them convey their thoughts on a gift they’ve been given from someone else. Remind them that although the gift that they may receive is “bad”, justify your reasons on why it’s good for them and allow them to see the positives of their disappointing gift. Encourage them that there’s always a positive reason why people have given them certain items to them.

Encourage them to be nice and polite to the gift-giver

Children have no filter and sometimes they may say things that will hurt your feelings. Though they are unaware of what they say most of the time, do your best by teaching them how to be nice and polite to the gift-giver. Whether it’s a family member or a friend, let them know that saying mean things about the gift or to the actual individual is inappropriate. Teach your children how to respectfully respond to a gift (even if it’s not what they wanted) and encourage them to say something positive about it.

Christmas is a time where people can come together and celebrate the company of family and friends. We must remember that gifts come as a bonus and no matter what we receive, showing gratitude and respect is the best way to appreciate the family season.

Never be afraid to face a learning curve together with your children and always learn how to persevere and trust that they will do the right thing eventually. As parents, we have the power to influence these tiny individuals so do not be afraid to step in and fix what isn’t right.