Teach
Your Children the Etiquette of Gift Giving & Receiving This Holiday Season
Now
that the holiday season is here, it’s important that parents teach their
children the proper way to give and receive holiday gifts. I have heard several
stories from parents about how embarrassed they were when their child told the
gift giver, “I don’t like it,” or “I already have one just like it!”
To
avoid this dilemma, it’s important for parents to teach their children what to
say when they are faced with this situation. Children do not mean to be
ungrateful or hurtful; they are just being honest and telling the truth.
Explain
to your children that buying a gift for someone is a generous offering
and that receiving a gift is special too. In the gift giving process,
it’s important for a child to be a part of the process. Talk to your children
and ask them what they think a nice gift would be. Take them through buying or
making a gift, wrapping it (with a little help) and then giving the gift. This
will help them to understand how much time and thoughtfulness goes into gift
giving.
Here
are a few etiquette tips parents should teach:
How to
Give a Gift
·
Never directly
ask a person what he or she wants for a gift.
·
The gift should
be about the individual you are buying the gift for.
·
Always wrap the
gift neatly.
·
Don’t blurt out
what the gift is while the person is unwrapping it.
How to
Receive a Gift
·
Open the card
first and then the gift.
·
Look the person
in the eyes who gave you the gift, smile, and say “thank you.”
·
Do not ask how
much someone paid for the gift.
·
If your child
already has the particular gift or does not like the gift, the child should
still just
smile and say “thank you.”
Parents
often worry a bit about how they can teach their children to be honest while
simultaneously telling them to lie about being grateful when someone gives them
a gift they don’t like. This can be a bit difficult to discuss with young
children. At the age of about 3 or 4 though a child can comprehend the
reasoning when explained to them with concrete examples. It is important to
talk to children and let them know that lying for personal gain is an entirely
different concept when compared to lying that is designed to spare another person’s
feelings.
Lastly,
do not forget to help your child mail a handwritten thank you note right away.
Always mention the gift and how you will use it. It is not OK to email or text
a thank you note as that is a very impersonal way of showing your gratitude.
And parents, don’t forget to mention that when giving or receiving a gift, it
is really the thought that counts and not the gift.
Remember
that teaching your children to have good manners and social skills is a
precious gift that will last a lifetime!
Please visit our website www.itsallaboutetiquette.com to learn more about our etiquette classes for the New Year!
