Recent studies have revealed that giving your child too much to play with can result in the opposite of the desired effect : they may actually make them less happy.

Child development researcher Clair Lerner suggests that when children are bathed in toys and games they begin to play less.

A large number of toys can overwhelm and distract children , causing them to lose the concentration needed to learn from these toys.

Lerner’s discoveries were mirrored by Michael Malone Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Cincinnati.

Malone’s studies showed that fewer but better toys lead to more cooperation and sharing when it comes to valuable life skills.

Additionally, too many toys push children into more solitary play while causing a type of unproductive overload.

– Give your children experiences instead of toys

So what can we learn from this ? There is no point in insisting on buying them everything on their Christmas wish list. Spending time with your children is much more valuable.

An Oxford University study of 3,000 children aged 3-5 years found that children’s academic success was linked more to their home environment and parental involvement than to the toys and electronics they were given.

Children who had few toys and no electronic devices but had parents who spent more time with them performed better in school and in many areas of emotional and social development, suggesting that parental attention is far better than any screen or toy that money can buy.

– Gratitude and generosity increase when you give experiences to your children

And if you need another reason to slow down the flow of toy giving, researchers have found that gratitude and generosity are increased when experiences rather than material objects are given.

Cornel University psychology professor Thomas Gilovich led several studies spanning decades and found that happiness stems from experiences, not material possessions.

To sum it all up, the happiness derived from childhood experiences is far more precious and valuable than the fleeting thrill of the toys under the Christmas tree.

Providing experiences that involve time spent as a family instead of giving away toys brings so much more happiness and joy.