What gifts do modern children love from Santa Claus and Sinterklaas: between gadgets, existence, and tradition The question of gifts from Santa Claus (December 25) and his more ancient "colleague" Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas, December 6 in Europe) goes beyond children's desires and touches on fundamental changes in childhood in the digital age. The modern child is a hybrid being living at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds, which radically changes the structure of their desires. A gift today is not just an object, but a tool for self-expression, social integration, or an escape from reality. 1. Strategies of choice: what lies behind the child's "I want" Before moving on to lists, it is important to understand the psychological underpinnings: Social capital: A child often wants what their peers or influencers have (a certain model of smartphone, sneakers, a game). This is the key to communication, a way to avoid the status of an "outsider". Agency and creativity: A gift as a tool for creation (a construction set, a set for experiments, a tool) gives a sense of control and competence. Escapism and identity: Games, books, merch from favorite universes (Minecraft, anime, Marvel) are ready-made worlds for immersion, where you can try on another identity. Experience vs. thing: For children who have "everything," the value becomes not the object, but the experience: a concert ticket, a trip to an aqua park, a master class. 2. Trends of the 2020s: what's on top with Santa (and Sinterklaas) 1. Digital sovereignty and creativity: Characterized gadgets: Not just a phone, but a instant camera (like Instax) to create physical artifacts from digital life. Not just headphones, but noise-canceling headphones — a personal sound space in a noisy world. Tools for content creators: Ring light, a high-quality microphone for streaming, a subscription to a graphic editor (Procreate, Adobe Fresco) on a tablet. The child becomes not a consumer, but a media cre ... Read more