Written by Momcent's Mom, Krista
While I love receiving gifts, nothing makes me happier than giving someone else a gift. For me, it's the best feeling in the world. I so badly want to pass this feeling on to my kids. The holiday season is the perfect time to look for opportunities to bring others joy. Teaching generosity is a process; it's hard for kids to think beyond their own little world. But the rewards are life-changing. Here are a few things you can do to teach this important lesson, starting right now:
Food Drives - Let the kiddos help raid the pantry and pick out food to donate.- Tree of Sharing - Have the kids pick an item off the tree and take them shopping to buy the gift. It's fun to see what age/gender child they choose to buy for and what they pick out for them.
- Coat Drives - Go through those winter jackets that no longer fit and donate them to kids that don't have something to wear on those cold winter days.
- Special Delivery - Have a holiday craft day and deliver the special projects to a local nursing or retirement home.
- Salvation Army - My kids love putting spare change into the buckets outside of grocery stores. Sometimes they even get to ring the bell. Bonus!
- Get them involved in picking out gifts for their teachers. Have them write a special note to go along with it.
- Let them spend some of their own money on a gift for a sibling or friend. It’s a different feeling knowing you are giving of your own money to make someone else happy.
- Our kids’ schools have lists of desired items for families in need that attend our schools. Show them the importance of helping others even if they don’t know who it is.
- Know of a family going through a hard time? Get some friends/family together, gather your resources, and anonymously surprise the family with gift cards and a card of love.
Try to do at least one of these things with your kids this holiday season. Even if it means one less gift for your own kids. Soon they will learn the feeling of giving and blessing someone else is the best gift of all!