The holidays can be a rough gig for kids. (Yeah, you sensed some sarcasm in my voice.)
A new survey of 2,000 Millennial parents with young kids dug into what actually gets kids hyped during the holiday season, and the results are extremely on-brand for anyone under four feet tall.
Predictably, gifts take the crown. A full 81% of kids go absolutely feral for presents.
Holiday lights and decorations come next at 72%, probably because kids are basically moths with snack privileges. Then it’s holiday foods and treats at 67%, which feels a lot like parents saying, “Yes, my children love sugar. Thank you for the insight.”
Time off school during winter break clocks in at 66%, followed closely by “holiday entertainment” at 62%. That’s probably the classics, like movies, TV specials, and school plays where at least one kid knocks over a cardboard tree.
Family traditions hit 60%, snow comes in at 52%, and outdoor activities follow at 51%.
Then there’s the cherished rite of staying up past bedtime at 44%, which kids treat like a once-in-a-lifetime Vegas residency.
Rounding out the list is “seeing extended family” at 43%. Realistically, that number reflects excitement about cousins, not the great-uncle who wants to tell everyone about his foot surgery.
The survey circled back to gifts, because kids do too.
Parents say the average child asks about presents 51 times during the holiday season, which works out to about twice a day. That’s dedication.
And the top place parents hide those gifts is in closets. Next is their bedroom, then the car, the basement, and the garage.
So yes, kids may suffer through itchy sweaters, endless photos, and Uncle Rick talking about how much they’ve grown… but the holidays still offer plenty of magic in the form of sugar, lights, snow, and the eternal quest to locate hidden gifts.