Should You Give Your Child an iPhone for Christmas?
There are only a few days left before the holiday season commences, and most of us are busy planning a gift shopping list for our loved ones. For Luiza Vickers, esteemed New York businesswoman, parents need to be careful about what they give their children for Christmas.
“It is rewarding to see our child’s eyes light up when they open their presents, but is it wise to buy them expensive items without much thought?” Vickers ponders.
Deprivation or discipline?
‘Am I depriving my child if I don’t give them an iPhone or any gadget they want for Christmas?’ — most parents will have this burning question at the back of their mind when shopping for gifts for their kids. We are in an era of technological advancement and gadgets are significant today, since these are integrated into classes and communication. However, there are two sides to a coin.
In a discussion paper published by UNICEF, there are several shreds of evidence wherein adolescents have reduced interaction at home due to increased use of digital technology. When you decide to be extravagant for Christmas, you might have to consider the possibility of lesser conversations with your son or daughter in the future.
“It is not deprivation when you choose to give something less expensive for your child this Christmas,” Luiza Vickers assures. “It’s better to teach them the value of working hard to get what they want, rather than to feed them because society tells you that it will be good for them.”
Ultimately, it is not deprivation but discipline that prevails when you want to teach values by earning what they deserve, regardless of the season or occasion.
The value of happiness
It is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children the importance of happiness. It might make them feel good to acquire the latest technology, but will it make them happy?
“Why should we expose our kids to the after-effects of inanimate things like the iPhone? As adults, it is our job to open their eyes to what happiness means,” Luiza Vickers says. “It’s not simply limiting them with gadget use, but also imparting our hard-earned lessons to them at a young age.”
While technology might be relevant today, nothing beats the happiness that comes from interacting with the world in person. Running, playing outside, exploring nature, and other activities that stimulate the brain and body aids in physically and mentally healthy kids.
“It is up to us parents to teach our children that the joy from immaterial things leads to more fulfilling and lasting happiness in life,” Vickers affirms. “Let’s spend more moments interacting with our kids rather than lavishing them with expensive gifts that take away the value of family time.”
Originally Posted: http://luizavickers.com/should-give-child-iphone-christmas/
