Will a 3 year old really 'appreciate' Christmas?

[reviera]

My DD can remember some of what she got last year and understands the concept of Santa etc but is it too soon to expect her to really appreciate Christmas, the time with family and the gifts it will she be at the right age to appreciate it?

I think my DS(5) had a limited appreciation of Christmas at 3. He certainly liked receiving gifts but being altogether with relatives (small family) and sitting down to a roast dinner didn’t overly mean a lot I don’t think as it’s something we do regularly anyway.

He’s a very fussy eater so a 3-course specially-cooked Christmas meal was lost on him then he would rather have had toast!

My DC was 3 last Christmas. He had a great time, was super excited about the whole thing and still talks about the gifts he received and all the exciting things we did over the holidays. No idea whether he'll remember it long term but he definitely appreciated the efforts we went to!

I have a 3.5yo who is very excited about Xmas this year - she “got it” last year and remembers the visit to Santa, “writing” him a letter, hanging up her stocking, putting a carrot out of Rudolph etc so I’d definitely say a 3yo is capable of enjoying Xmas. I’m not sure a PP’s question of whether or not you can remember your third Xmas is the right one. I’m 32 but don’t remember Xmas say, 10 years ago but that doesn’t mean a 22yo can’t understand Xmas, just that they sometimes blend into one!

I think mine will. He will be 3.5 this Christmas. I am a Christmas nut so talk about it all year round and have spent a lot of time getting him excited about it. He gets the concept of FC I think and would have been very excited to spend it with grandparents ane cousins (no longer happening for obvious reasons).

He keeps asking where our tree is and where the snow is! I think for him next year will be amazing but I think he will 'get it' a bit better this year.

My DS loved the presents and the excitement, I think it was the first year he (kind of) grasped the occasion. The loveliest thing was actually at ages 3-5, his face when he saw the Christmas tree all decorated and lit, gently glowing in the morning gloom after we'd put it up overnight. Pure magic!

My eldest is summer born and definitely understood Christmas at 3, my youngest is December born and didn't completely get it as had only turned 3 a couple of weeks prior, she definitely understood the following year though.

Mine definitely did at that age.

It's not about whether they remember much about it later. It's about how they feel and what they experience on the day itself.

Few of is remember much about anything that happened in our first few years. That doesn't mean we didn't experience joy and excitement when we were two or three. Far from it! You only have to look at most small children to realise that they're having a ball a lot of the time!

It's not about whether they remember much about it later. It's about how they feel and what they experience on the day itself.

This. I get a bit sad of the attitude that children under 4/5 don't know or care what's going on. DS probably doesn't remember Christmas at 18m old, but I will always remember the look of joy and wonder on his face at the 'magic lights' at Longleat.

He is 3.5 this year and definitely gets it this year.

It really depends on the child. They develop at different rates. Some will be very aware and some won't.

My DS's birthday is just after Christmas. He'll be 5 this year.

He still describes the Christmas just before he turned 3 as "the FIRST Christmas" with awe and wonder. It's adorable.

(NB his 7yo brother is still a bit nonplussed by all the ceremony )

So I think it depends on if they're going to be a Christmas person or not.

DD2 at 22 months pointed at her stocking on Christmas morning and said ‘stocking did he come?’, at just shy of 3 the next year she woke up in a bother as she couldn’t figure out how it could be Christmas when it hadn’t snowed 😍. So definitely got that something was going on!

Dts are 3.5 and have been talking about Christmas for weeks. They are really excited! They are already learning Christmas songs at nursery and keep singing them at home which is adorable. They remember last Christmas, opening their stockings and "setting fire" to the Christmas pudding

Mine definitely did. They probably won't appreciate time with family unless its family they rarely see and are very fond of. But a pile of wrapped up gifts will always be exciting. I remember when my daughter was 2 she was so excited to find her stocking magically full in the morning. She didn't even realise there would be tree presents as well. It's a lovely memory I have of her.

My 3.5 yo has also been talking about Christmas for ages! He's done his list for santa and everything. Maybe he won't remember it much in the future but he is going to be delighted on the day! I can't wait 😊

That age is one of my fondest Christmas memories of DS because unlike the later piranha feeding frenzy like present unwrapping, that year every toy was unwrapped one by one, savoured and played with before he moved onto the next (entirely his choice - I was flabbergasted).

It meant present unwrapping took about 3 hours and lunch was very very late, but it was utterly lovely.

At 3.5, my DD was telling us exactly what had happened the Christmas before. (We have nicknamed her the elephant for her memory before!). Those particular memories have faded now (she's 7.5) but Christmas was a time of wonder for her as a toddler. Loved every second of it.

Her elder sister also loved it as a toddler. Although she was under the impression for several years that the sleigh was pulled by kangaroos. Apparently they look similar to reindeer.

I think it depends on the child.

My son is 5 and he likes the whole father Christmas, christmas eve box, presents thing but doesnt get it (he has mild SN)

My 3.5yr old daughter is really excited this year, we will spend it with my mum and shes talking about how nanny will come and open presents with us and we will have a special dinner. Shes also excited to do socially distanced present drop offs to friends and family.

2.5yr old daughter just knows father christmas will bring her presents

Define 'appreciate'?

People are talking about big family gathers and roast turkey dinners, I dont 'appreciate' that because its not what we do (in fact if family decend on us and I had to host all day I'd be miserable) and we spend time as a nuclear family all the time, theres nothing different on xmas day from virtually any other weekend in terms of amount of time spent together.

Really its about the presents for the kids and the whimsy for us, the child like magic and happiness of my children is what I 'appreciate' and the kids enjoy the presents they will 'appreciate' that magic and what their parents did for them when they are older with their own children but they have to have had it to appreciate it.

I'm guessing you really mean 'understand and remember long term' rather than 'appreciate' (which is a rather adult emotion).

So to answer 'do you remember your 3rd xmas' yes I do, very clearly - I got a wendy house and felt super grown up with my very own house, out of all the childhood xmas that is one of my strongest memories (probably because it was the first 'memorable' one).

But on the appreciation thing I often find it sad parents who short change younger kids, yes obviously the baby wont remember or 1/2 year old may not remember but really they are robbing their own magic because they are the one missing out on a moment to treasure and appreciate not the child.

Don't be worried about my DD missing out, I've got her lots of lovely things and plan to make it as special as possible

I think it depends on the child and having older siblings. There is a massive difference between just 3 and almost 4.

My LO turning 4 at Christmas can't remember last Christmas but can remember the Easter bunny. Even I forgot the Easter Bunny did lockdown Easter differently. He has a fair grasp of Santa and Christmas this year.

They do, but you don't need to go crazy on presents. Get them a dressing up costume, something to do that's physical (ball/tricycle/mini trampoline etc and something that's creative (craft stuff, a book to read with you) The rest is all about the lights and music, the tree, stories of Santa and a bit of chocolate for breakfast.