Christmas can be a tough time of year for little kids. They are bombarded with toy commercials and questions about what THEY want for Christmas. It very, very quickly becomes focused on getting presents. I really hate that about Christmas. I want Christmas in our house to always be focused first and foremost on the birth of Jesus and second to be filled with a giving spirit. An idea that is maybe embraced more at Christmas but hopefully an idea that last all year long. I want my kids to care for others deeply. To find needs that they can help meet, to be selfless and kind and to show the love of Christ to all that they come in contact with. Have you ever noticed how big kids hearts are? Did you see that video going around about the kids getting ice cream with their dollar or giving it to a homeless man? Kids are awesome!! They are natural givers (haha for the most part- we all have experienced melt downs over sharing toys). I really hope to foster that in my kids and help it grow over the years. Making it something that lasts.
I’ve been a big fan of Advent calendars over the years, but after feeling like we could be doing something more then just getting a treat everyday, I decided to ditch it all together this year. I wanted us as a family to be more intentional about how we could be giving and serving others this month. Rowan has been doing extra chores around the house to raise money for a special offering at church on Christmas Eve for Love 146, she is going caroling at a retirement home this week, we’ve collected hats, gloves and coats for a coat drive, gathered school supplies for a school in Uganda and various other little things. One day last week we headed to T.J.Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls and loaded up our carts for a local toy drive and picked up some presents for Rowan’s friends. She could have very easily asked for any one of those presents for herself. There were some awesome choices!! Love all the unique and wonderful toys there. But she happily pushed her cart up and down the aisles being very thoughtful about what she was picking out for everyone. Made my Mama heart proud.
Do you have any tips for creating a giving spirit in little ones around the holidays?
I’d love to her how your family works on this?
^^our finds
^^cutest little puzzle
^^working so hard on making little cards and wrapping paper for everyone
This post was sponsored by T.J.Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls. All opinions and words are my own. And to be clear any compensation for this post we used to purchase and donate toys. Thanks.
Happy Holidays guys!!
xoxox
One of my friends is doing a Reverse Advent Calendar this year. Instead of getting something each day, you set aside something for donation each day.
Everyday, as part of Advent, we read part of the Christmas story from Luke, have a chocolate, and do an activity. About half the activities are fun Christmas-y things to do (visit Santa, make cookies, make a gingerbread house, watch Polar Express, etc) and the other half are kindnesses (make cards for soldiers, buy a stranger a coffee, pick up litter in our park, leave a happy note for someone to find, donate cookies to a shelter, take coffee to your teachers, etc). It’s been a good mix for my 3 year old, and I think it’s helping him to learn about having a giving heart.
A SPONSORED PIST about teaching your kids on giving. Do you not see the irony in that? Just WOW. On top of it, you re-do the ornaments after your kids go to bed! You think you are such a great mom but need some serious self reflection and step away from the blog.
Thanks for the opinion. To be clear though any money received for this post we used towards buying those gifts and donating them to the toy drive.
I discovered the Giving Manger storybook and manger. Such a wonderful idea to promote giving and the true meaning of Christmas. http://www.thegivingmanger.com
TJMaxx and HomeGoods are my very favorite stores. I could and do spend hours at them. I always enjoy your posts and I always get a kick out of people who feel the need to criticize others blogs. Don’t bother reading them is my suggestion. Have a Merry Christmas and a splendid New Year.
Think this is great. Wow haters are gonna hate! Happy holidays to you and your family!
One year we asked everyone that normally buys the kids gifts to take 1/2 the money they were going to spend on the kids and use it to purchase slipper socks, crossword puzzles and word searches (what our local nursing home needed). Then Christmas morning we went and delivered them room to room and sat and met with the elderly. It really took just over an hour and it showed the kids that on Christmas Day these people don’t get visitors! (So sad!) They were so happy to see little ones. My parents even came along and we made a family morning out of it.