MoneyMindedMoms: Kids Wish Lists for the Holidays

My mom always shopped early for the holidays and often shopped by ordering from catalogues and with coupons. She said that staying out of stores saved her money. I believed her then, and believe her even more now. She also got us involved in an activity that taught the mechanics of window shopping from a catalogue.

Every year, from January through October, my mom would make a point of collecting the flyers and catalogues from toy companies. Then early in November, she would set us down with a slew of them. She’d lay out the challenge to write up a wish list of what we might want for the holidays. She’d explain that we could take up to one day to finish our lists. Each list had to be neatly done and ready to order from.

The task was both exciting and grueling. We had to write every detail for ordering the items we might want: item, item number, description, page number in the catalogue, quantity. Every item on the list had to be under $25.00. Her promise was that we would get one item on our list.

The activity would keep me busy for hours.

Turn the lists into a game by having kids exchange lists and read aloud part of a description to see whether a child can recognize something they’ve chosen. Use the lists for simple money problems like these:
• How many hours would you have to work to earn this item at $24.15 if I paid you 25 cents an hour?
• How many hours do you think you would use this game that costs $15.00? How many hours do you think you would use this toy that costs $25.00? Which one is a better value?

Then challenge the kids to make up their own wish list questions for you and each other.
On another day, you might have them make a wish list of gifts for other members of the family.

Do this activity early enough to ensure that you have time to order the one thing from the list (just as you promised).