Eye on Kids: Cutting
back gift giving

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Tis’ the season to spend. This year however, during these tough economic times, consumers are expected to cut back on buying holiday gifts.

Cut backs that could leave children disappointed. So should you talk to your children now and let them know this year holiday gift giving will be different?

Some parents told 24-Hour News 8 they plan to teach their children to be more realistic.

"They've got enough toys. They don't need any toys. They don't need anything. We're trying to cut that back with smaller things instead of bigger things," said Kim Tarowsky, a mother.

Dr. Pam Christy is a child psychologist and marriage and family therapist. She said parents need to talk to children before the holidays about cutting back on gift giving.

Dr. Christy said, "That things are different this year. The economy is tougher. That they don't know when things are going to turn around."
How you talk to them depends on their ages. Zane Pasley said his 2-year-old and 8-month-old sons are too young to understand about the economy.

"But they know if we say no on a toy there's a reason behind it and they don't need everything," said Pasley.

Dr. Christy said it's a good time to expose kids to the greater good of the community.

"Say something like... This year, we have asked Santa if we could each have one gift, and then we're going to give a second gift to another child in the community who needs some things."

And she said no matter what the age of the child, honesty is always the best policy.

For teenagers and older kids Dr. Christy said it's a good idea to discuss the economy not just during the holidays, but all year long. She said they need to know if you are experiencing tough economic times and how they can help get the family through by lowering their expectations and saving their own money.