ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

LIMITING COMMERCIALISM DURING THE HOLIDAYS

AUBURN, NOV. 22---Fall has barely set in and everywhere you look the Christmas hype is beginning to appear.

Combating commercialism during the holiday season is a challenge for parents, says Dr. Jennifer Kerpelman, Extension family and child development specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

"Parents should model values that accent noncommercial goals. When parents put emphasis on the holiday season as a time for family, children learn to see the season as more than a gift-getting festival."

A parent might ask, "How do I model values?" People do it every day, and they don't realize it. Parents who fret over giving everyone on the list an expensive gift are emphasizing the commercial part of the holiday, says Kerpelman.

Parents who want their children to be less consumed with getting the latest toy, must be less concerned about spending and keeping up with the neighbors themselves.

Decide what is important to celebrate, making special visits to friends, staying home and spending time with the immediate family, or following religious traditions.

After those decisions are made, parents should include children in all aspects of the holiday season. Children can help with addressing holiday cards, making or wrapping gifts, and of course with decorating the home and tree.

If your family considers a meal for the extended family important, let children help plan the menu, make place cards and do other things to make the meal special.

If your family adopts a less fortunate family or child during the holiday season, let your children help select gifts for the children in that family. Activities like this take the emphasis of "getting" and put it on "giving and sharing."

 SOURCE: DR. JENNIFER KERPELMAN, Extension Family and Child Development Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-4149