Source: Bronwyn Fees, associate professor of family studies and human services
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Wrap
2 Actualities
You have selected a report about children and sharing during the holidays. This report includes one wrap and two actualities.
WRAP 1: An expert in family studies at K-State says it is helpful to get children involved in holiday gift-giving several weeks or months ahead of time.
TIME: 60 Seconds
SUGGESTED INTRO: ALTHOUGH THE CONCEPT OF SHARING IS A SKILL THAT CHILDREN LEARN ALL YEAR ROUND, THE HOLIDAYS ARE AN EXCELLENT TIME TO PUT THAT SKILL TO GOOD USE. AN EXPERT IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AT K-STATE EXPLAINS THE BEST WAY TO GET CHILDREN INVOLVED IN GIFT-GIVING. LANICE THOMSON REPORTS.
THE HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME OF SHARING. DR. BRONWYN FEES, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FAMILY STUDIES AND HUMAN SERVICES AT K-STATE, SAYS THE HOLIDAYS PRESENT A MORE FOCUSED OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE SHARING SKILLS THAT CHILDREN LEARN ALL YEAR LONG. SHE RECOMMENDS THAT CHILDREN AND PARENTS PLAN GIFT-GIVING SEVERAL WEEKS IN ADVANCE. . . .
(Fees :31 "It’s a process that starts not right before Christmas, but weeks in advance in helping the child anticipate they’re going to need to buy a gift, to plan for that, to think how they can earn some of the money they need in order to purchase that gift, making it very concrete by putting it in a special container with a label on it, to help remind the child this is what we’re working toward. And then when the correct amount of money is present that is needed to buy the gift, then they can actually go and get the gift, wrap it and give it to that person.")
FEES POINTS OUT THAT BUYING A SMALL GIFT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A YOUNG CHILD TO BEGIN TO LEARN ABOUT THE VALUE OF MONEY. SHE ADDS MAKING A GIFT SUCH AS A DRAWING OR PAINTING is a GOOD COST-FREE ALTERNATIVE. LANICE THOMSON, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY.
ACTUALITY 1: An expert at K-State tells us how parents can make their holiday events run smoother when children are going to be present
TIME: 25 Seconds
For very young children, learning how to share is something that is taught all year round. Dr. Bronwyn Fees, associate professor of family studies and human services at K-State, says the holidays present children a more focused opportunity to practice those skills. She says the skills that children learn at home or in child care are skills that will be brought into a situation when they are with a large group of people, such as during a holiday gathering.
Fees explains that parents and adults who work with young children should be mindful of the rapid changes that take place in a young child’s development. She says children who are very young are developing a sense of identity. She adds that objects around a young child become a part of his or her identity, and says that for very young children, who they are as a person -- and the object they desire -- are very much tied together. Fees says parents can plan ahead when preparing for holiday get-togethers where several young children will be present. She says if the party or event includes several children of similar ages, it’s helpful to have multiple items or toys to share. This sound bite is 25 seconds and the outcue is "…learning to share."
(Fees : 25 "If one child gets bubbles, then you probably need to provide jars of bubble solution for other children, too, that are there so very young children don’t have to share all the time. That everybody can have their own, or each child has their own cookie. Making sure that there’s enough objects for each child that is there will also decrease feelings of stress maybe that a young child has that’s learning to share.")
Adults can support the sharing process by modeling the words the child can say, and demonstrating through their own actions.
ACTUALITY 2: An expert in child development at K-State tells us the best way to teach children limitations when it comes to holiday "wish" lists.
TIME: 39 Seconds
During the holidays, we are constantly bombarded with radio, TV and print advertisements promoting all sorts of wonderful toys and games. Fees says parents can teach their child limitations when it comes to holiday "wish" lists. This sound bite is 39 seconds and the outcue is ". . . there are limitations."
(Fees : 39 "One of them is to acknowledge their child’s desire -- "yeah that really looks like a neat toy" -- and not to discourage right away from the neatness of the toy. I think that is helpful, but then also to talk with the child about maybe the number of packages or objects that they can have -- maybe going through a catalogue and saying "Look at all the neat things. Which three would you pick if you could have any item?" That might help the child begin to understand there are limitations."