However, Hunt cautions against taking children window-shopping or over-exposing them to stores, which may encourage consumerism and impulse buying.

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Where we once used the same baubles and tree lights year in and year out which inevitably stopped working as soon as they were taken out of storage we now theme trees to suit our moods or to follow fashions, taking a page from store window displays like Ms. McCartney's and decked-out hotel foyers.

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Their discussions led to the concept of taking a night, during the back-to-school window, where parents would be asked to talk with their children about money.

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