Like Lists

My children are blessed with a large and generous family–which means that every year, as Christmas approaches, folks start asking what the kids want for Christmas. They rarely have real ideas–Silas will always say “Pokemon cards,” but he literally has 10,000 of them. I think it’s just the only thing he can think of wanting.

The other day, I was listening to the Happier podcast (HIGHLY recommend), and they shared a listener recommendation to have your kids make “like lists” rather than “wish lists.” They have to name 25 things they like. This gives people who don’t see them all that often some ideas about what they’re into. Because it’s 25 things, they dig a little deeper rather than naming their top three interests (and they get weird… Petra: “Different colored dirt.” Silas: “Pancakes and bacon.”). And because it’s “things they are into” rather than “buy this specific item,” the giver has some space for discovery, creativity, and thought.

I also asked them to name five things they don’t like, in part because Petra will end up getting baby dolls if she isn’t specific about not liking them. Silas’ “don’t like” list got a little extreme and silly.

I think we’ll do this each year. It’s a fun way to track their interests over time, as well as communicating with the gift-givers in their lives.