I’m happy to have one of my favorite guest post-ers back! She has some fabulous ideas this holiday season and wanted to share them with all of you. You probably remember Joanne from National Ice Cream Day and her Turkey Day craft ideas.
Check out her suggestions for getting your kids involved in giving more than receiving this Holiday season!
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Warning: I’m about to let my inner ‘N Sync fan out – Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I love this time of year, because despite varying religious beliefs or cultural celebrations, it is universally a time for love, friendship, happiness and overwhelming kindness.
In my classroom, this is the perfect time to (gently) remind children about using their manners, showing kindness to their friends and for saying thank you to their families for all the wonderful things in their lives. And in the spirit of the holidays, we also try to show that it makes us feel good to do nice things for not only for our loved ones, but also for those that don’t have as much as we do.
One of my favorite childhood Christmas memories was going to Church and being able to choose an angel off of the “Tree of Hope” (families in need from our sister parish would ask for a few items for their children). When my parents took me shopping, I made me so happy to be able to pick out a new coat, outfits and toys for someone that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to have those things without my family’s help. I think what made the difference for me was that my parents made this fun – it never felt like a chore or something we felt morally obligated to do.
I was discussing this with my fellow teachers, and we all had similar experiences – we all remember how great we felt to give to others. It’s experiences like these that we would love to share and pass onto our students. Here are some simple ways we can:
–RAOKs are inexpensive, simple ways to show your child to give and care for strangers (just ask Samantha, she has several amazing ideas)
-VOLUNTEER – at a school, at a museum, at a soup kitchen, a hospital, an animal shelter, a retirement home, through the park district, etc – once again, any place that your family would be able to go together and do something meaningful for others.
-“Adopt” a child either from the “Tree of Hope” or from another country, classroom, a beluga whale, highway, or any cause that is dear to your family’s hearts. While it could be easy for the parents to write a check to a charity it is more meaningful if your child chooses an organization/cause to support, and is involved in the giving process. And with most “adopting,” you receive letters/pictures or can visit the person/animal/place that you are helping to care for.
-Sharing gifts. At Christmas, it is inevitable that your child receives duplicate toys or something that they don’t particularly care for. Maybe your child would like to share their gift with a friend at Lurie Children’s Hospital. {We LOVE what Lurie Children’s Hospital is doing to help with the hospital experience for children!}
So, this holiday season, let’s involve our little ones in the good will department!
How do you get your children involved in the Giving Season?
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