4.1 The christmas/easter debate

Fathers give their sons footballs, mother give their daughter dolls, because that’s what they enjoyed as children. But Johnny isn’t Dad, and Mary isn’t Mom. “Presents shouldn’t merely reflect the selfish notions of the parent,” Dr Oxtoby says. “ They should be chosen with the child’s own inclinations firmly in mind.”

Often best gifts are those that children grow into, not out of. Give a six-year-old a book he can read a little now and will eventually learn to read in full.

Help your child explore his personality and interests to the full. Look for the gifts that might set him on unexpected and rewarding paths. Your children want and expect you to introduce them to new things.

For older children, gifts that widen their knowledge can foster a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the responsibilities of life. Jeremy de Tolly and his sister Katherine were both given air tickets to Europe when they matriculated. “We learnt self-reliance, tolerance and not to be afraid of hard work,” says Jeremy.

We think of gifts as things we buy, but the finest gifts can be priceless treasures handed down across the generations, like Grandmother’s brooch. The most important thing about gift-giving is that it imparts values of generosity and thoughtfulness to your children.

Question: When is a present a good one?

Answer this question in five short sentences. Use the ideas of the above article for your your sentences 1 – 5. Write neatly. Watch your spelling, language and punctuation answer. Although you are using the ideas of the article, use your own words.

Having read about good and worthwhile gifts – let us do some writing now about gifts.

Activity 4:

To write for personal reflection

Lo 4.4]

• Think back to gifts you have received. Which was the present you have appreciated most so far.
• First make rough notes in the allocated space and then do the final copy as well as you can. Be guided by the following:

What was the occasion when you received this gift?

Who gave you this gift?

Did you expect the gift or was it an enormous surprise?

How was the gift presented to you?

What were your thoughts and feelings when you:

a) Saw the wrapped present?

b) Touched the wrapped present?

c) Smelled the wrapped present?

d) Heard the wrapped present?

e) Opened the wrapped present?

f) Saw the opened present?

When did you first use the gift?

How did you feel when you first used it?

Why is this gift so special to you?

What was your reaction towards the person who gave you the gift?

• Now write three paragraphs in which you describe the best gift you have ever been given in your life. You should use no more than 150 words.
• Structure your paragraphs in more or less the following way:

Paragraph One: Describe the nature or the gift; the giver and the circumstances surrounding the presentation of the gift.

Paragraph Two: Describe the gift with all your senses.

Paragraph Three: Describe your thoughts and emotions connected to this gift.

• Time for editing! Read over your first draft again. Identify and change any mistakes. Ask a reliable class mate to read the three paragraphs and indicate any mistakes with a pencil.
• Use the following checklist: In my three descriptive paragraphs I have . . .