By Jean Marquit, Contributing writer

It really is a yearly tradition. Children look through catalogs, gawk at store window displays and devour ads on television. They are contemplating which hot new toys they want.

As the holiday season approaches, children tend to think mainly of the material gifts that they might get. And as you watch your little one's eyes light up with joy, the temptation to pull out the credit card and indulge your child's consumerism becomes rather great. But the holidays are a time of faith and love, and should be about more than just material possessions.

But this sort of thinking has to be taught. And, as parents, you can teach your children to value the less material aspects of the holidays.

Help others

One of the best ways to draw attention to the true (non-consumer) spirit of the holiday season is to help others. On MainStreet.com, there is a great article about celebrating Memorial Day by honoring veterans. Many of the ideas in this article can be adapted to the holiday season to help others:

Have children write Christmas and Hanukkah letters and cards to soldiers overseas.

Make care packages for soldiers (and others) overseas.

Go through old toys and books in good condition and donate them to the less fortunate.

Find a child that needs help and "adopt" him or her for the holiday season.

Encourage your child to make something from the heart to give to a friend or relative.

Additionally, you can donate time to charity. The gift of time for those who need a friend, or could use some help, is very important. If your children are old enough, bring them with you to help out. Serve dinner at a soup kitchen. Help a single mother or father in your neighborhood clean her home. Cook dinner for an elderly couple. Visit widows and widowers. Your children will see your example and be more likely to emulate it.

The Faith Story of the Holidays

In addition to helping others, you can share the faith-based story of your holiday. Talk about why the holiday was started and the reasons for being grateful for God's love and help. Talk about these spiritual things regularly throughout the holiday season. Many faith traditions have an inspiring story about love and help from others to accompany the season. Go beyond your own faith story and share others' stories. This can help children understand that in many cultures, the spirit of the holiday is more important than the material considerations that come with it.

It can be hard to keep consumerism at bay, especially when it is so rampant, and children are confronted with it all the time. However, if you set a good example, and if you speak with your children about giving, it is possible to help them turn their focus from material possessions to the importance of the spiritual meanings of the holidays.