With Christmas approaching, everyone is figuring out what gifts to get for their families and friends. Some people chose to budget out their gift-buying, especially when it comes to children. Children, however, don’t usually grasp the fact that some presents may cost more than others. They tend to expect a larger quantity of gifts. Children and Adults both have their own perspective on how many gifts they should get and how much money should be spent. Some families even opt out of the materialistic practice of gift-giving and go on vacation instead.

Children’s Perspective on Gifts: Thalia Gonzalez

For children, Christmas is the best holiday. With all of the presents, desserts, and delicious foods, Christmas is a holiday that most kids are always looking forward to. They are impatiently waiting to open all of those gifts under the tree and get a break from school.

Most kids start making their Christmas lists in early November, because they just can’t wait for this holiday to come around. Every kid is asking for the newest and coolest toys or video games that are out.

When kids finally go on break from school for the holiday season, no other day of that break matters. The only day on their minds is Christmas.

The night before Christmas is usually the hardest night for kids to fall asleep, because all they want to do is open those presents, and see if they can catch a glimpse of Santa Claus.

They get up early and become loud until their parents get up or if they have enough courage, they go wake up their parents by jumping on their bed, so they can open those Christmas presents they have been eagerly awaiting to unwrap.

When asked what she always looked forward to on Christmas day as a kid, Alysha Gunn, a sophomore at Alliance High, automatically mentioned food. “My favorite food is the delicious pumpkin rolls my stepmom always makes.”

Kids expect to get all of the things they asked for on their list, but most of the time they only get a couple things they asked for and then clothes, which usually adds up to being not as many presents as they may have wanted.

Most parents, especially if  they have more than one child, will have a budget for each kid, so each kid has different quantities of presents. This is the worst as a kid, because when presents get passed out to be opened, one sibling may have six presents, while another only has four.

Children without siblings probably don’t have this problem, and get multiple presents, rather than just a few, because their parents don’t have to worry about any other children.

Getting fewer presents than a kid wished for should not ruin their Christmas fun. It’s hard for kids to understand, but Christmas is not just about the presents, it’s a time to be happy with what they have and have a fun day with their families.

Adults’ Perspective on Gifts: Crystal Garza

Gifts have become a mandatory thing during the Christmas holiday. Adults seem to think that kids only focus on presents rather than the true meaning of Christmas, which is about family and giving.

From time to time, one can get caught up on making Christmas wish lists, and asking for specific things they would like to receive for Christmas. When kids ask for something on the more pricey side of things, they can tend to forget about the amount of  income their parents receive.

Autumn Hoff
Adults have a lot of things to worry about, other than just giving everything they are asked to give. Adults have to put other priorities first. They have to pay bills and get necessary things, such as food.

When talking to my parents about this situation, they agreed that kids focus more on the presents and ask for too much when it comes to Christmas. They said that you should be conscious of the financial status parents are in. When they were our age and even smaller, they never asked for specific gifts like kids do now. They were happy with whatever they got, whether it be socks, shirts, or anything. They’d go crazy over the little things they would receive. They both said that most of the time kids are grateful. Depending on the financial status of parents that’s what influences the kids attitudes.

If adults or parents have a lot of money, and always seem to give their kids whatever they want, kids tend to become greedy and selfish. Expanding on this, my parents do think that if a parent/adult has good income, then sometimes a money limit on a gift does not matter. Everything comes down to budget and income. My dad told me that if he had all of the money in the world, there would be no limit of presents.

Some adults are privileged with great jobs and hobbies, so they do not need to worry about giving presents or worry about their other responsibilities before buying gifts for their children.

Kids should take into consideration what adults go through during the christmas season. Some parents put a lot of effort into buying their kids a certain gift or a certain amount of gifts. My dad also mentioned that they do not feel left out focusing on just their kids. My parents feel that giving is way more important than receiving.

Vacationing Instead of Gifts: Taylor Manion

Autumn Hoff
When people think of Christmas they think about presents, Santa Claus, family, friends, and food however, people are starting to save up money to go on extravagant vacations rather than spending that money on gifts.