Do children today get as excited about Christmas as kids did thirty years ago?

I think a lot parents don't know how to parent or say no to there child so they give into them by giving then whatever they want. I have a 10 month old and another baby on the way and I have never given in to the things she wants. I'm trying to teach her young that you can't always get what you want you get what you deserve over time.

I believe that it is still the same with kids now and 30 years ago. Children will always be children. They are not really into the Christmas thing but the excitement is centered on the gifts they know they are going to receive from Santa Claus. Even we adults get to be involved in all the excitement and joy of giving and receiving gifts, so how much more for them? I also the feel the excitement of being able to make some children happy that I have purchased some toys and assorted things to be given on Christmas day. Let us all be kids and feel the excitement of Christmas.

Sadly I blame technology and commercialism for the lack of enthusiasm children have towards Christmas, where once they would hope they'd get what they wrote on their wish list now it seems they get everything and too much, the value of money has been lost along the way. Christmas thanks to commercialism has lost it's true meaning, so how can we instal what Christmas is really all about to our children to them it's presents, the latest computer game. When a lot will get the same things all year round. I remember fondly playing board games with my family as a child. When there were no computer games and a bike was the best thing I could hope for. If a child gets whatever they want whenever they want, how can Christmas be any different, for them its Christmas every day!

Sure they do!! Not every child is as pampered as the ones you describe, and some still really look forward to Christmas. As for the pampered children, they also look forward to Christmas because they are just plain GREEDY! LOL Personally, I always looked forward to Christmas, even as a child, because in my family Christmas was a way to help me get in touch with my Danish side.

Maybe I'm wrong but kids now care about the presents only and they really have no idea about the real reason we celebrate Christmas. They want expensive electronics even if they are poor. My church even has an angel card waiting for someone to buy a kid an X-box video game system. I think that is ridiculous because middle class families cannot even afford to buy something like that for their own kids.

Hi Pose: I don't think so. Unfortunetly, I think that kids have lost part of their innocence at early age because of the tv and all the information they receive making them more greedy. Most of our western societies, have lost their values so now Christmas is all about what their parents will give them and that's all. I feel sad for this ALVARO

Yes, they still do because children are always looking forward to something.

for my kids it is because we dont have a ton of money for extras. for my kids, the big deal is the tradition that i started when they were little (they are now 14 and 18). i used to sell avon when the girls were little and i got this felt tree one year from avon with 24 pockets in it (an advent tree) and i always put notes in each pocket. some said things like, Jesus is the reason for the season; we love you tons; we are proud of you etc and others said 'see mommy for a treat'. well, many years later and we still do it! (i told our 18 year old that she was too old for it but she mad such a fuss!) my kids like stuff like that.

Christmas in today's world does not compare at all to the early days but by the grace of God my daughter knew the full meaning of what Christmas really was and she would have been happy getting nothing just as long as she had me close by. I would like to have a dollar for every time I made her cry hard over even receiving the smallest gift. She is married and has two children and my grandchildren are raised to know good qualities. Christmas will always be a big deal to believers in Jesus.

To my littlest granddaughter...it's still so exciting. Last year I stayed overnight on "Christmas eve with them and she couldn't sleep. At 3 a.m. my son finally came up and told her it was alright to get up because Santa had already been there. She was downstairs before you could say Christmas. The other grandkids all love it too. I know what you mean though. At our large family Christmas last year I bought gifts for all the younger grandnephew and grandnieces. One of my grandnephews had a meltdown because he didn't like what I gave him. This year I didn't buy gifts for them. Instead I gave more to toys for tots....to kids that don't get anything unless someone donates them. When I wake up on Christmas morning I will know that someone appreciated my efforts and that warm feeling from knowing also that another child at least got something for Christmas.

In my country christmas is not a major festival and is celebrated only by the minority catholic community so i really cannot say how children reacted 30 years ago and how they do now.But you are right when you say that children nowadays have and get whatever they want so the festival does not mean much to them except for partying with their friends and having a good time.30 years ago life was much more simple and goods were not as easily available in the market so the christmas spirit was more alive since that was the only time whe gifts were distributed and therefore had much value than what it is today.

I guess they are still...or mine are. My 3 kids are always excited when Christmas is near because they know their favorite food is served plus the gifts they will be receiving are all under the tree!

Kids are still excited. Tonight I went into our local grocery store and there were two kids (ages 4 and 7) who were singing Christmas songs. Some songs were real while others were made up. The one kid was saying "that his brother had gotten a bad grade on his test and that he was going to tell Santa". It was so cute. I know my niece and nephews are excited and cannot wait until Christmas. They are excited about the lights and the decorations.

Christmas really isn't what it used to be. Of course, it does not mean that it is still fun. There are going to really be a lot of times where Christmas is just going to be more of an afterthought that it was. I think a part of that is because of the economic concerns and a part of it is that there are things that are more accessible these days with the Internet. Still I think that there are going to be some great fun with this day and age. There are just going to be a lot of times where I do in fact enjoy Christmas more often than not but there are just going to be times where the holiday season does have many concerns that overshadow a lot of it. Christmas isn't what it used to be in many ways.

Well there are those who can have what they want at any time but there are also those who are not as blessed so they only have the chance to get some gifts and toys during Christmas. Nevertheless children are children and whether needy or wealthy they always feel excited about gifts and it is during Christmas that they get to open boxes of gifts more than ever so I believe Christmas remains a big deal to children poor or rich alike. However as for me, I always make it a point to tell my little ones or any child that I meet that it is not the gift which should make Christmas a big deal to them but rather Jesus the real reason for the season. So whether there are gifts or not, Christmas should remain an exciting occasion for them and for every one.