growing up online by Carolyn Jabs

Don’t Let the How-To Get You Down

8 Tips for a Low-Stress, High-Tech Holiday

“Oooooooh! Thanks! It’s what I really wanted!” Every parent loves hearing those words during the holidays, and these days, “it” is invariably a high-tech gadget. 
 
Whether the gift is a big-ticket item like a cellphone, laptop, digital camera or video game or a smaller item like a digital picture frame or interactive pet, the next words after “thanks” are likely to be, “How does it work?”
 
And that’s where holiday fun can come to a screeching halt. Many people forget that technology means tool—and tools require skill and skill requires learning. You don’t have to learn how to use new mittens or a teddy bear, but you will have to invest time in mastering the intricacies for almost all of this season’s nifty new techno toys. 
 
So, if the goal of your holiday is peace on earth or at least in your household, take a deep cleansing breath. And another. You are more likely to get the techno toy of your dreams to work if you stay calm.  It will also help to follow these tips before, during and after the holidays.   
 
1. Unwrap Carefully
When opening anything technical, be sure the associated cords, batteries, manuals and other accessories don’t go missing. The first page of the manual usually has an illustrated list of everything that should come with the device. Be sure you have it all. Keep the box, too, in case the gift needs to be returned. 
 
2. Power Up
Every tech toy needs a power source. Know what it is. Stock up on batteries of various denominations. (Better yet, invest in rechargeables and charge them in advance.) If a device has an internal battery that needs eight hours of charging before it can used, do the recipient a favor and charge it before you wrap the gift.   
 
3. Save Receipts
Print out receipts for online purchases, and keep receipts from stores. During the holiday rush, stuff everything into a big envelope. After the holidays, confirm that credit card bills are accurate. Then staple receipts for high tech items to the manuals and keep them where you can find them.
 
A fat three-ring notebook with a clear plastic sleeve for each manual makes it easy to retrieve everything if the device malfunctions during the coming year.   
 
4. Give Designated Gift Cards
Like everything else, many tech gifts go on sale right after Christmas. For kids over 10, the prospect of getting more for their money may be as appealing as it is for adults. Also, delaying gratification means delaying exasperation to a time when the “holiday hectics” have cooled down.
 
This strategy will also cut down on the time that parents spend at the store trying to figure out the relative merits of two gadgets that seem identical to the uninitiated eye.     
 
5. Read Directions
Most high tech devices come with a fat instruction book and a thin get-going card.  Reading every line in the booklet may not be necessary, but do study the card. Then do what it says. Kids old enough to read can be recruited for this process.
 
Some—though not all—children have an intuitive grasp of how to make high tech devices work. Ask them to help you with set-up, especially of their own gifts, but don’t assume that they can bypass written instructions. 
 
6. Consult the Website
Many companies anticipate the problems that newbies are likely to have with their products. Although customer service lines may not be operational on holidays, websites are always open. Look for an FAQ list. Your question may very well be on it.   
 
7. Give a Guru
If you know in advance that a gift will require specialized expertise, consider giving installation or instructional time as part of the present. (Don’t assume that your nephew who works in tech support will want to spend his holiday troubleshooting for all the relatives.) Apple stores, for example, charge $99 for a year of one-hour-a-week tech instruction. That’s a great way to be sure a new laptop owner gets his or her money’s worth.   
 
8. Make Some Gifts Low-tech
Be sure the holiday includes at least one old-fashioned game or puzzle that the family can enjoy together without any fancy assembly. Read-aloud books, craft materials, building blocks, balls and other classic toys are all gifts that can be enjoyed instantly by all ages without any special effort. 
 
Finally, if frustration over a tech toy that doesn’t work the way it did in the ads is threatening to drain the joy right out of the holidays, stop. Put the gadget away. Go outside for a snowball fight. Sing holiday carols at the top of your lungs. Hug your spouse. Hug your kids.
 
Remember that those connections—with people, not technology—are the real reason to say, “Thanks. You’re what I really wanted.”
      
 
Carolyn Jabs has her M.A. in practical philosophy and has been writing about families and technology for over 15 years. She can be reached through her website www.growing-up-online.com.

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