It’s that time of year, when everything seems to focus on what you want on your Christmas Wish list. We can feel the pressure to “get, get, get” and it doesn’t help that every time our kids turn on the television they see more things that they just “have to have.” This is a great time to teach the kids that giving can be so much better than receiving! Include the kids in this concept of giving from an early age … What a great life lesson to learn!
Here are a few ideas to start giving:
- Make a donation – Commit as a family for everyone to buy one less gift and give the extra money to some one in need. You can do this by donating to organizations like the Salvation Army, who has special Christmas assistance programs, or by donating a gift to Toys for Tots.
- Volunteer – Reach out to local organizations to find out what the greatest needs in your community are. Volunteer as a family at a local soup kitchen or find another local organization that your family would feel good about helping out. This would be a great project for those who get an early Holiday Break!
- Bake – Take a day in the kitchen with the kids to make some holiday goodies to take to your neighbors or to your local heroes. Firemen, police officers and EMTs all really appreciate a plate of homemade treats and it brightens their day when little elves show up to deliver them!
- Visit a nursing home – Plan a visit to your local nursing home and have your kids play games and even sing songs with the residents. The holidays can be a very lonely time for these men and women and your children could make a huge difference in their lives.
Gifts make the holidays fun for our children, but teaching them the value of giving rather than receiving is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family.
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