December 2024

December 17, 2024 by masterson98

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we are thinking about planning, hosting, and travelling with our families. If you have little ones, you may find yourself asking what you should do with your kids so that they can stay entertained while you ae doing holiday tasks and spend quality time together during their winter break. Children may also feel the effects of holiday stress, which can cause them to act out, become more irritable, or regress from normal behaviors. Think back to a time in your childhood during the holidays, remember what it was like engaging with family members you rarely see, having so much attention paid to how much you’ve grown or what you’ve achieved in the last year, and the challenge of keeping a smile on your face when receiving an itchy sweater. With these thoughts in mind, let’s look at ways to help kids balanced while having fun.

                  First managing your stress is important as it can set the tone for the day or event. Children are very insightful and can see when adults are stressed. Maintaining routines can also be helpful such as consistent bedtimes, snack times, and screen time. Kids prioritize routine and predictability in their schedules, and the holiday events may disrupt that. Put down the screens and try to spend as much time together as you can. Electronics provide awesome learning tools and entertainment for kids of all ages, being mindful of how much time they are spending with electronics during break will allow you to transition back to a normal routine after break. Creating new traditions together as a family or with your child is another option to help spark creativity and critical thinking skills. It can be things such as Christmas cookies, family games, creating new recipes or even a service activity, like volunteering at a local organization. Seeing relatives around the holidays can be stressful, especially ones that we dont get to see as often as immediate family. While it may be hectic during the get together, it is important to be mindful. If you feel yourself or your children getting lost in the hustle, take some time to go outside and get some air, or utilize the five sense to help calm you mind. Spending time with family benefits people in many ways, especially kids. Performing well in school, lowering the risk of behavior issues, teaching effective conflict resolution skills are just a few ways! Whichever ways you and yours like to celebrate this time of year may it be full of great memories and time with those you care about!

Sources

Patrick, M. 2024, August 9. How to Cultivate Holiday Rituals and Traditions with Your Children. Nationwide Children’s Hospital. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2015/12/how-to-cultivate-holiday-rituals-and-traditions-with-your-children

Thatcher,T. 2024. The Top Ten Benefits Of Spending Time With Family. Highland Springs Specialty Clinic. https://highlandspringsclinic.org/the-top-ten-benefits-of-spending-time-with-family

Written By: Alexus Masterson, MPH, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension, Muskingum County

Reviewed By:

December 13, 2024 by jlowe495

Do you have a loved one who you’re never quite sure what to get them for the holidays? If so, you may be considering gifting them a gift card, so that they can get something they truly want or need. There are two common gift cards that are sold at many retailers: Store cards – gift cards that can only be used at a specific store or merchant, and network-branded cards – gift cards that can be used with many different merchants and are usually issued by banks or large financial institutions. When purchasing gift cards, consider which type would be most beneficial to the person receiving the card.

Most store gift cards and network-branded gift cards are covered by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (Credit CARD) Act. This means that your gift card cannot expire until at least 5 years after it was activated. The merchant or institution that issued the card also cannot charge any inactivity fees for at least one year if your loved one chooses to hang on to the card for a while.

A few other tips when buying gift cards:

• Check the card before you buy it. Make sure it isn’t damaged and the PIN number on the back of the card hasn’t been revealed.
• Buy gift cards from trusted stores and sites. Gift cards can be counterfeited or stolen, so do not buy from unfamiliar sources.
• Give the receipt to the recipient of the gift card as well as the terms and conditions so they are aware of the fine print.

If this holiday season you or your children are given a gift card as a gift, remember to protect the gift card like it is cash. There is a good chance you will not get your money back if the gift card is accidentally lost or stolen. If the issuer offers it, you may be able to register your gift card so that you can better protect your money if the card is lost. 

For youth, gift cards can be a great way to teach about money management. Be sure to talk with your child about how and where they can use the card as well as how much money is on the card. Remind them to consider sales tax when purchasing an item. Encourage your child to complete the purchase from start to finish (it is their money, after all!). Have them bring their item to the register, pay for their item by handing the gift card to the cashier, and collect the receipt and item from the check out. This will help prepare children for making purchases on their own later in their lives.

Whether giving or receiving gift cards this holiday season, remember to keep your money safe for a happy shopping and gift-giving experience!

Resources:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (n.d.). Unwrapping gift cards. https://pueblo.gpo.gov/CFPBPubs/pdfs/CFPB045.pdf

Rivetto, L. (2017, August 16). Use a gift card for Youth Money Management Education. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/use_a_gift_card_for_youth_money_management_education

What you should know about gift cards. What You Should Know About Gift Cards | FDIC.gov. (2024, December). https://www.fdic.gov/consumer-resource-center/2024-12/what-you-should-know-about-gift-cards

Written By:  Jessica Lowe, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Pickaway County, Ohio State University Extension, [email protected]

Reviewed By: Caitlin Mathews-Smith, Family and Consumer Sciences, Guernsey County, Ohio State University Extension, [email protected]