How to Instill the Spirit of Giving in Your Children
How to turn “I want” for Christmas, into “I want to give” for Christmas
I remember circling through the JcPenny Christmas catalogue. How excited were you as a kid when that catalogue arrived at the house? However, the harsher reality we realize is adults is that it is very hard to give our kids everything circled. Then we wrestle with the idea of how our kids may be disappointed. Now, I see my daughter yelling at every commercial about how she wants what is being advertised. Most likely because it is being advertised 100 times a day! It has caused me to think. How can I help her understand the blessing in being able to want in the first place? To help her reconcile feelings of disappointment if she does not get EVERYTHING she asks for always. How to help her develop the reflex of wanting the joy of giving to others rather just receiving. Sure, there is lots of fun to be had in surprising our kids with what is under the Christmas tree. Of course, it is okay for our kids to want things for Christmas. There is joy in making a list for Santa Claus. The anticipation of what surprise may await us Christmas morning. However, there is a whole other joy to be had, and that is the joy of giving. Which as children grow, they just might find gives them more of a rewarding experience than receiving. Here are a couple of ways I have implemented to try to help to move the focus onto the season of giving:
-Making a Christmas list for OTHERS. Not just having your child sit down and make their wish list, but make their shopping list for others.
-Take them shopping! It doesn’t have to be expensive, take them to the dollar store, and give them a limit.
-Give them opportunities to personally give. That way they experience first-hand the exchange of emotions involved. This is turn will help connect personally with the act of giving. Maybe it is as simple as handing homemade cards to family members, teachers, or community helpers. Have them make simple homemade crafts or gifts for the mail carrier, the crossing guard, and anyone else you may daily contact with. When they see the reactions of people and the joy that it brings it will no doubt make a connection. Therefore, helping them to want the feeling of giving more than just that of receiving.
- Cooking and baking are great ways to involve kids in the spirit of giving. Before you even get in the kitchen let your children help brainstorm who they would like to provide a meal or baked good for. If they are not old enough for that, let them in on who you are intending to give to. Also, sharing the “why” behind it. Before you know it, your children will be coming to you with their own list! My daughter now looks forward to not only cooking with me but being the person to ring the doorbell for a food drop off. I can see how she feels empowered as she plays important part, and it gives me an opportunity to explain the importance of what she is doing. How it is impacting another person’s life in a positive way.
-When you do your holiday baking consider setting aside cookies for neighbors, or a nearby nursing home. Planting the idea that if you have excess or a little bit more, sharing that helps to foster community. Or maybe set aside a day to do a cookie baking party specifically for baking cookies to gift to others!
- In September I start adding a couple of items to my cart for donation purposes as the holidays approach. This can be whatever your budget allows. Maybe one week it is an extra canned good or box of pasta. When my daughter goes food shopping with me I have her help me pick out what we buy. Then she helps me put the item in our designation donation spot/box in the house.By the time November rolls around I have a bunch of items on hand to donate to the food pantry, my local church, or any other food related needs I come across. I also think of the non-perishable ingredients I use to make the meals I share. Such as pasta shells and crushed tomatoes. I will stock up on those items as well!
Some of this concepts may seem too big for little kids. In business of the season, it can be hard to imagine taking even more time out for these “extra” tasks. However, the reward is so great and it also helps fosters tradition along with purpose in your family. The big smile your child has on his or her face when they complete the task is priceless. When they Of course, it is okay to want things and exciting to be able to stack the presents under the Christmas tree. However, the balance that comes from being able to focus on giving as well makes receiving that much sweeter.
