This has been true in my own experience with my daughter. Even at age 4, it is clearly my time and her father's that she values most, well more than any playthings. And I don't even recall myself which holiday gifts were from who, or much of what I received for my last birthday. At the end of the day, things are just bits of atoms that we have manipulated into more complex forms, which we value for their beauty or their entertaining qualities, but those are usually fleeting pleasures. What engages our minds and to an even greater extent our hearts is what we truly value and take with us through life. I think children inherently understand this. Unfortunately the desire to have what their peers have is part of what drives them into requesting so many material possessions (the child version of keeping up with the Joneses), and advertising is not very helpful either. I applaud those parents for the lesson they are imparting to their children, a lesson most of us either learn in hindsight or not at all.
I know, see my reply to your Disney weekend.Did similar for my daughter at the Grand Floridian,what did she remember,the chocolate Micky Mouse!!!!
I am trying really hard to live by the philosophy of that family.I just wish I had done it from the word go.It must be easier to start as you mean to go on,rather than change horses mid stream.
What really annoys me is that when we moved here,most of the kids toys went into storage for over 6 months as we were in a rented house in England for longer than expected,then customs here took ages.The rest of their things went to Oxfam.
How much did they miss any of it?? not at all. Not once in 6//12 did I hear I wish I Had my a,b,c.
When we arrived here they had no electronic toys as it is a different current here to U.K so they had got rid of all of them before we left.
Did they ask for new ones, no. It was stupid mum here who went out to replace them as I felt guilty.
However at long,long last I have learned,that for the 2 younger ones it is me they want,even if it is just to watch them do something.The older one ,well nothing would make him happy these days.
Sometimes I can be very slow to learn, and occasionally it takes someone to say something in just a slightly different way,and all of a sudden it clicks.
Better late than never!!!!!!