Last year a group of parents met to discuss Simplicity Parenting and the holiday season. Parents shared experiences and practices for navigating this season with our values and sanity intact!  Two main themes emerged:  dealing with the larger culture (including extended family) to stem the flow of ‘stuff’ and keep a consumer mentality at bay, and deepening ritual and tradition within our households so that children may live into a rhythm in harmony with the values their family holds dear.

Here are suggestions from parents:

• Cycle the gifts: Have children choose some of their things to leave out for Santa (or St Nicholas, the advent angel, or invent a new fairy!)
• Have the children package up some of their things (old toys or new gifts) to give away to those in need
• Hold a gift exchange:  everyone picks an item that has meaning to them but which they’re ready to let go of.  At the exchange, everyone receives one gift and hears its story from the original owner.
• Home made gifts:  instill in children the idea that simple items made by hand are the most precious of gifts.
• Buy it yourself: suggest that grandparents (or other gift givers) send money in advance, and let them know you will choose and buy the child’s present, wrap it and put the giver’s name on it.  Saves them time, lets you choose an appropriate gift!
• Make a donation to a charity in lieu of gifts. Send all of the people on your holiday list a brief letter with pictures of your family letting them know that your family has chosen to make a  donation to charity in their name.
• ‘Secret Santa’ or One Person One Gift:  Have everyone (a household, an extended family group, or a group of friends) pick one name out of a hat.  You are then responsible to give the person whose name you picked a gift, and only that person (keep it secret!).  Everyone thus receives one gift and gives one gift.
• Alternatively, pick names and then secretly be extra nice to that person.  At the end of the day, week, or visit, try to guess who picked your name!
• Pace gift opening to encourage enjoyment of gifts.  Open some Christmas Eve, some Christmas Day, some Boxing Day (substitute Winter Solstice or your holiday of choice).  Allows each gift to be appreciated and helps to avoid the ‘extreme-high-then-let-down’ of doing it all at once.
• Emphasize ritual and tradition in ways that are meaningful to you.  For example, create a daily or weekly ritual during advent with a candle to be lit or a figure to be moved in a scene.  Recommended books that describe simple celebrations are Lighting the Lantern (available at Maple Rose) and Celebrating Festivals with Children
• Celebrate alternative traditions such as Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, or Kwanza.  For ideas on celebrating earth- and goddess-based festivals with children see the book Circle Round.
• Simplify decorating.  Keep it simple with an advent candle or a seasonal nature table.  Or clear space for your decorations rather than decorating on top of existing ‘stuff’.