Specialists say Information Age is bringing our world closer together as people share knowledge and wisdom universally like never before. But, don’t believe that this is only positive attribute of this new era. Love and friendship are now much easier to sustain and obtain as communication links become stronger, faster, and more elaborate in their depth of connection.

As well as staying in touch with people you already know, ability to meet new friends of like mind is increasing dramatically. Through web logs, chat rooms, web sites, and on-line clubs, feeling of being alone in life can change easily as each of us can meet people from all over globe from sanctity of a bedroom.

My proposal is that we turn this technical, and somewhat inhuman sounding Information Age into what it truly is-an age of universal friendship and love brought about by advanced human thinking. As Earth shrinks in size metaphorically as humans connect and communicate more than ever in history, let it be known that we’ve finally reached Age of Human. This is a time for awareness, wisdom, compassion, and love, as our evolving consciousness has brought about a new medium of interaction. Let’s let machines work for us, yet realize they are but a tool to bring our world further in human evolution.

2.Set a limit

I know it may seem obvious, but most Parents don’t do it. Set a limit you are willing to spend on your child and let them know. Tell them that you want to feel good about Christmas too and that you are only willing to spend this much because Christmas is about so much more. Be very clear that no matter what, you will not go over that limit.

3.What do they really think it will give them?

If they still continue to pester and pester, ask this question, “What do you think having that will give you?” I know you may stump them, but they will answer and if they don’t know, then why do they want it in first place? When they tell you what they think having that thing will give them, ask them how they can get more of that into their lives now. When we do this we realise that actually we did not want thing, but only quality we thought thing would give us.

4.Encourage entrepreneurism

Now this one will really stop them, if they continue to ask, say that you are not prepared to pay for it and ask how you can support them in getting it. Now first they may turn to all illegal things and they may need some prompting. You may need to ask how they can get money; encourage their creativity. Maybe they will sell things on E-bay, train others how to use Excel or build websites for others.

5.Giving vs. receiving

I play this game all time with my 7-year-old. I teach her about giving and receiving and how they fit together. How, if you want to let something into your life, you need to let go of something in return. So when she asks for something, I ask what she wants to give in return. Now I don’t do this to be mean or have her think about lack, I have it to open her up to fact that money moves - it is not stagnant. I want her to understand concept of giving and not just that of receiving. I can tell you, it has an amazing effect, She often changes her mind, she realises that she does not want it that much so she leaves it. When she wrote her Christmas list this year, first thing that she asked for was something for someone else. So use this concept, start a system of giving versus receiving. They may not respond at first. but keep trying it. Use it yourself first, start showing your child how you yourself incorporate it.

So this Christmas make a stand, decide that you are going to raise a responsible independent young adult who cares about others and is not just a ‘wanting machine’.