“Mom, can you celebrate my birthday like my friend’s, please? I’m sure I’ll get lots of gifts, it’ll be a lot of fun,” Dina asked her mother.
Statements like these are often made by children after attending their friends’ birthday parties. Parents often feel unsure how to respond. still, they can fulfill the child’s wishes, If the parents are rich. still, what if the family comes from a lower socioeconomic background? Every time, there will really be a friend who’ll celebrate her birthday with a party. So how should parents handle it when their child keeps asking for a birthday celebration?
Birthdays are usually associated with receiving many gifts. While parents celebrate their children’s birthdays with the intention of thanking God for another year of life, praying for health and peace of mind in various aspects, children perceive birthdays as an opportunity to receive numerous gifts. Especially when parents support this opinion by saying: “Tomorrow, at your birthday party, you will definitely receive gifts, dear.”
Unbeknownst to them, this attitude causes children to constantly expect things from others without putting in the effort themselves, leading them to have a tendency to give up easily. How will children face life if they always depend on others? After all, every time they do a good deed, they receive a gift in the form of praise. However, children often view gifts in purely material terms.
Birthdays are best used for positive activities, such as:
- Building family ties
Parenting busyness often strains the relationship between parents and children. Consequently, children prefer to play with their friends rather than spend time with their parents.
On his birthday, parents can celebrate by having dinner together. It doesn’t have to be in an expensive restaurant; Even at home it is okay because what matters most is the union that makes children feel comfortable with their parents.
Although it may seem simple, eating together creates a deeply happy moment for children. Parents become attachment figures for their children, ensuring that they are not negatively influenced in adulthood, for example by disrespecting parents or other people.
- Teach children to share
Birthday parties are often a burden on residents of the surrounding community. In addition to bringing gifts, they sometimes encourage children from less privileged backgrounds to also want birthday parties, which can put a financial burden on parents.
Isn’t it better to encourage children to share, even without a party? For example, they can share prepared meals with their neighborhood friends. In addition to the blessings received, children learn to share wholeheartedly.
- Cultivate empathy in children
When children share sincerely without expecting anything in return, empathy grows and takes root in their hearts. Even if they face influences later, they are not affected. Especially in today’s world, where social empathy is very necessary due to the lack of people with noble attitudes. Encourage children to have conversations with their older grandparents.
- Teach children gratitude
When children are happy, they naturally exhibit positive behavior. They are motivated to do good deeds, especially when they have empathy.
From time to time on their birthday, take them to visit family graves, nursing homes, or other places that instill gratitude in them for the blessings bestowed by the Almighty, such as long life and health.
- Teach children to value time
When children understand the value of time, they strive to use it in beneficial activities. For example, not just playing all day but taking time to play and learn. This helps children develop discipline.
You can do this by taking children to libraries because their needs are not just play; Knowledge is equally important.
“These are some activities that can help children understand the true meaning of birthdays, encouraging good character development.”