It is apparently the new thing: children compile videos showing the presents they want on Christmas morning. Websites allow them to create slide shows of their wish-lists.

Login or signup to continue reading

My initial thought was that this was deplorable, but now I'm not so sure. It does seem to me to be too nakedly commercial - of children getting the "want, want, want" habit too early.

I still like to think that presents are, well, presents. They are gifts given unbidden. They are not obligatory. I come from a generation that thought that a present had to be a surprise. To know what you're getting was somehow cheating: the surprise was the thing.

But on the question of videos from children, I do know a parent who finds it useful - though I suspect she wouldn't admit that to her children.

And is it so different from a letter to Santa?

After all, Australia Post encourages children to write them: "You can write your letter to Santa any way you want!"

"But if you're scratching your head and need a little magic spark, here are some tips to get you started," the AusPost advice continues.

Rather than post it to Santa in his grotto in Lapland, children can take it to a post office - and get a reply.

Of this, I approve: children learn about interaction and requesting politely and how to use a post office.

I suppose I'm just being old-fashioned. After all, if children learn how to use the Canva video editing platform, that too is beneficial. And parents can learn from Canva how to send letters back. Even Christmas can be modernised. It may be that the 13-year-old is more clued up about the technology than the parent.

And yet, the nice thing about Christmas is its lack of modernity. It is a tradition. It is about giving simple pleasure as much as about giving material goods. It is a time when materialism should be far away (at least until the ghastly Boxing Day sales).

I have little doubt that the idea of video wish lists for Christmas presents came from America. So, I suspect, did the idea of tying red bows around trees.

What about the lights on the outside of houses? Inflatable dinosaurs in gardens?

Call me old-fashioned........

© Canberra Times