December is such a fantastic time of year! It's truly the most wonderful time, just like the song says!

There are two popular questions that parents ask the school before the end of term; “What should I do during the break to make my child better?” and “What gift should I give to my child?” The answer to these two questions is, ‘spend more time with your child. You don’t always need a special programme of exciting activities. Simply doing things you like, chatting, going to the supermarket, tidying up the house, walking together. Tell them or show them through your actions that you ‘love’ them.  

Think about this at this time of the year and try to simplify your gift giving to a few meaningful and special gifts rather than hundreds of insignificant things that will be forgotten when many years have passed. Teach the beauty of giving during the holidays and showing appreciation for the people in your child’s life that make a difference day to day. Get your child involved in the fun of wrapping or picking out that special gift for a beloved family member or friend! It’s a great way to create memories together. Don’t forget to teach them that a gift is a token of appreciation and can be in many shapes or forms. Even if you don’t get a gift in a box. It does not mean that people do not care for you. Consider giving the gift of time in the form of lunch, dinner, or perhaps watching a favourite show or concert together. These are the memories that will last a lifetime, and your children will hold dear. This is also a time that you can teach your children valuable things in life that can not be measured by price tags. 

After many years, the material gifts you give to your children will be or might be forgotten. But the memory will stay. Most loving parents want to make their children happy and give them a privileged childhood. The secrets of a privileged childhood do not necessarily tie in with material gifts such as fancied boxes of presents or expensive holidays abroad. True privilege childhood and the greatest gifts is an ‘emotional phenomenon’. It involves receiving pure love, which comes with spending quality time together. It can be found in the smallest house, which may be missing in the grandest penthouse. 

It is the greatest gift a child can receive when a parent always puts them as a priority, even if at the busiest schedule. When you put your needs aside for a time to focus wholeheartedly on listening and even spending time quietly with your child. You simply get to know them as a person. 

One of the pieces of advice I want to share is that the greatest gift you can give to your child is to make them feel that you love them purely for their existence rather than for anything extraordinary that they achieve, and you will always be on their side even if the world has turned against them. This is the greatest that only parents can give to their children. While it may seem simple achieving this is not easy. It requires considerable time and effort to get it just right. But don't worry—you can absolutely make it happen!

Enjoy the laughter and joy that the holidays bring. Merry Christmas to you, and Happy Holidays. 🧑‍🎄

Warm wishes to all the wonderful families out there, 

Arwenun Klipbua and the RBIS Team