| It is no secret that families will be forced to cut back | | | | creativity. I am thinking of handmade quilts, colorful |
| on holiday spending this year because of the bad | | | | artwork, homemade candles, family scrapbooks, hand |
| economic climate. Still, there is no need to let the | | | | knit scarves or sweaters, coupons for a certain |
| bad-time blues dampen your holiday spirit. | | | | number of auto washes, lawns mowed, or side walks |
| I have always been a critic of those big commercial | | | | shoveled free of snow. Half the fun of giving gifts like |
| holidays where people maxed out their credit cards to | | | | these can be planning the activities to create them. |
| buy all the hot toys and gadgets their children wanted. | | | | 3. Instead of working extra hours to raise the money |
| This year represents a great opportunity for parents | | | | for all those commercial gifts, think of how much more |
| to teach their children how to give and to make | | | | your children will enjoy the hours you spend with them |
| responsible choices while still keeping the holiday | | | | helping them make gifts for family members. I saved |
| festive. | | | | the homemade gifts my daughter gave me, but I |
| Money is not our only problem this year. We have a | | | | cannot remember most of the store-bought presents. |
| troubled environment that is showing tremendous | | | | Spend your limited budget on an inexpensive camera |
| distress due to global warming. So this is a great time | | | | or materials the whole family can use to create their |
| to teach our children about conservation and recycling. | | | | gifts. You could let the family decide the best way to |
| What is in all of those materials we have been buying? | | | | spend $25 to $100 for materials. Imagine the |
| Are they good for the environment? Should we | | | | excitement of trying to keep that gift secret until |
| consider different choices that will be kinder to the | | | | Christmas Day, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. |
| world our children inherit? | | | | 4. Plan a fun, festive but inexpensive meal, like |
| Here are four great holiday gift-giving ideas your | | | | decorating cupcakes where the whole family gets |
| children will love: | | | | involved. Encourage family members with special |
| 1. Get your children to donate toys they have | | | | talents to prepare skits or concerts, and create the |
| outgrown, that are still in good condition, to less | | | | kinds of family gatherings your children will remember |
| fortunate youngsters. Just the activity of picking out | | | | for a lifetime. |
| the toys and cleaning them up can be a great way to | | | | It is not about how much money you spend. It is about |
| teach young children about generosity and personal | | | | the time shared, the thoughtfulness of family members, |
| responsibility? | | | | the love and generosity and the responsibility people |
| 2. What about exchanging names and encouraging | | | | take for each other, the environment and the world |
| everyone to give a gift that does not involve money? | | | | around them. |
| Sometimes the best gifts involve your time and | | | | |