Sydney mum does not buy her kids Christmas presents and prefers ‘experiences’ over gifts

A Sydney mother has revealed that she does not buy Christmas presents for her children, instead preferring to give them “experiences” rather than gifts.

Cheryln Sue, 39, has never bought a Christmas present for her four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter, even though the family is not financially strapped.

That’s despite the fact that her children believe in Santa and her family celebrates Christmas.

“We have explained that Santa is super busy and likes to give gifts to the children, but since you are a child who has many and you have everything you need, Santa needs to focus on some of the children.” that maybe they don’t have as much,’ he told SBS.

Instead, Ms. Sue believes that there are other ways to enjoy Christmas with your children, such as going on vacation, to an event, or spending an afternoon at the beach.

Sydney’s mother, Cheryln Sue (pictured with her two children) doesn’t buy Christmas presents, preferring instead to give her children “experiences.”

Ms Sue told Daily Mail Australia that a child’s memory of an exciting experience would last for years, while they could get bored with a new toy in a matter of weeks.

“We value experiences over things,” he told Daily Mail Australia.

‘Children’s attention span is short: an experience will last for years. They remember vacations, going to theme parks, zoos.

‘My son remembers what we did at Taronga Zoo years ago. A stuffed toy just doesn’t bring that sense of wonder.’

The mother-of-two added that her son and daughter already had a number of toys, and that there were other things that she and her husband would provide instead.

However, he stressed that he was not against buying gifts for others or what other families did for their children.

“I’m not against gifts, but I’d rather give them a souvenir than an item they can get bored of in days or weeks,” he said.

‘I’m not against what people want to do for their own families. I 100% realize that every family is different, there is no judgment on my part.

“We’re just doing it so that (the kids) appreciate the toys they have.”

She explained that she was not against the idea of ​​giving gifts, but rather that she would rather celebrate the holiday season with her children in a different way.

Ms Sue explained how gift buying had become increasingly competitive and materialistic and she believed that parents should not feel as much pressure to give their children everything they ask for.

Ms. Sue said that buying gifts had become increasingly competitive and materialistic.

She believes that parents shouldn’t feel as much pressure for their children to get everything they ask for, especially those families who are struggling to pay for it.

She recalled seeing a post on a Facebook community group from a mother who felt like she was a bad mother because she didn’t have the money to buy all the gifts her children wanted.

“That resonated with me,” Ms. Sue said.

‘How have you linked your value as a mother to your ability to buy gifts for your children? She’s not a bad mother, she just needs to be there with them.”

“I’ve seen parents under so much stress, just that intensity of getting gifts from abroad or in time for Christmas. Is that what we want to teach our children?

The mother-of-two revealed that a close friend was inspired by her message and asked her daughter what she thought about an experience for Christmas next year instead of gifts, to which her daughter happily agreed.

“I thought it was amazing as she is trying to be inspired by what we do,” said Ms Sue.