Tuesday, Dec. 1, is #GivingTuesday, a national movement around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days synonymous with holiday shopping.
#GivingTuesday is a great way to encourage your children to focus on others this holiday season. This might be helping a friend, bringing a meal to a homeless shelter or even making cards for kids in the hospital. You can even partner with Dayton Children’s to make a difference for sick kids in our area. It doesn’t have to cost anything. It’s more about the spirit of remembering those who may be needing help.
It can be hard for kids, and parents, to look beyond all of the product-driven hoopla and remember what the holidays are really about. It’s not the gifts but what’s behind them that’s important: the spirit of giving. Help your kids learn the fun of giving, and how rewarding it can be to look for, make and wrap something special — or do something special — for people they care about and others who are in need.
Three ways to reinforce the real reason for the season:
1. Focus on family traditions. Traditions that focus on family or friends can be a great way to put meaning back into the holidays. Invite your kids to come up with a new tradition this year. This allows them to use their creativity and they will get excited about keeping the tradition alive year after year.
2. Teach kids to give of themselves. Volunteerism can show kids that giving your time, effort and kindness is more rewarding than just expecting lots of presents. Ask them if they have any ideas of where they might like to volunteer. Allowing them to get involved in the process will show them that one person really can make a difference. Visit Dayton Children's website (www.childrensdayton.org) for some ideas on how to volunteer with kids.
3. Give gifts with meaning. Presents don't always have to be purchased in a store. Teach your kids how to put some real meaning and feelings into their gifts this year and beyond. Making their own presents can help show just how much kids care and can make the experience more rewarding for both kids and their gift recipients.
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