Christmas is a time for giving and receiving but is it only exclusively to close family and friends. Do we even spare a thought to those in need? Our children receive so much throughout the year. Besides their birthdays, they are at the receiving end whether you celebrate Easter, Hanukkah, Diwali, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As parents we want our daughters to be grateful for what they have and to think of those who don’t. That is why my husband and I felt that we wanted them to learn about the spirit of giving back from a very young age. We have incorporated giving back as a family routine.
Through their school; the girls have a charity which they support. Every Tuesday they take two loaves of bread and a spread to school. Schools with feeding schemes then benefit from this donation. Twice a year we donate unwanted clothes, toys and books to a creche, home or shelters. They also volunteer when we have outreach projects that are organised through our church. As my husband is a regular blood donor, the girls want to donate as well. Unfortunately they are still too young as the start age is 16.
Children mirror the actions of their parents and if you often reach out to others by giving generously, they will follow. Christmas is the perfect time to teach them to give back to those less fortunate and organisations in need.
Explain to your children the importance of giving back. Giving back to others is vital for a child’s positive development. It makes them understand how they fit into society and how they can make a difference in helping with societal problems.
Teaching the gift of giving back not only promotes personal growth and self-esteem but it gives them a sense of belonging and pride. It will create self-satisfaction that they are making a difference in someone else’s life no matter how small the contribution. It teaches them kindness, tolerance, compassion and empathy. These qualities will help them carry it forward in their adult life.
Giving back is not just limited to money, food and clothing. Giving your time is also helpful.
Ways to teach your child the gift of giving back
If you know a child in need, fill an empty shoebox with a small toy, stationery supplies, a clothing item, candy, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush and facecloth. Let your child assist in wrapping this box and accompany you when you drop it off.
Donate clothes, toys and books
When organising cupboards, allow your child to select unwanted clothing items, toys and books that he/she no longer need. It will defeat the purpose if you select these items on their behalf; so please let them do it. Choose an organisation that you will donate it to and take your child with when you drop these items off.
Donate through their school
If your child’s school supports a charity; then get involved in this cause. Often schools ask for donations of blankets, bread and stationery supplies to donate to organisations in need.
Donate for natural disasters
Giving back to people who lost their homes and belonging due to natural disasters like floods, tornados and wildfires where they lost their homes and belongings. Make a monetary donation and let your child donate by taking out of his/her money box. Take your child with when dropping off blankets, clothing, and non-perishable food items.
Give to the homeless
If you do not want to give money to the homeless, you can assist by purchasing a ticket for the night shelter. Put together food parcels to hand out. Give a “blessing bag” which consists of a face cloth, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, bottled water, wetwipes, tissues, etc. Let your child help with bagging these items.
As a family take time to volunteer at an old age home, children’s home or animal shelter. Teach your child that giving back can also be in the form of “time”. Time can be used to read or play games with the elderly or children at the respective homes. Working in the kitchen by peeling vegetables for lunch preparations or assisting in the garden is ideas of giving back at a home.
Volunteering at an animal shelter is another way of giving of your time. It could include cleaning, feeding the animals and taking dogs for a walk. Make sure to call the animal shelter to familiarise with rules and safety concerns.
If you have elderly neighbours, let your child help by raking up their leaves or taking in their dirt bin. Should your neighbours be struggling financially, assist by donating food parcels.
Take time on a Saturday morning and pick up dirt that is lying on the shore of the beach. Make this a family exercise. Wear latex cloves when doing this. This is a great way to teach children to take care of the environment.
Lastly, teaching the gift of giving back can start from the age of 3. The simplest gift, task or donation can make a big difference in someone else’s life. If you have any other ideas of giving back and how you get your children involved, please share by adding to the comment section.