Christmas Day is almost here, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to get your child involved in the giving process.
As parents are responsible to train our children. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV)
WHAT MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME
When I was growing up, we didn’t have much, but my parents loved to make Christmas something special. I remember one Christmas in particular. We had some neighbors that lived across the way in a little old block house and they didn’t have two nickels to rub together. My mom and dad found out they weren’t going to be able to get any gifts for their kids, who were around our age. That night they had my sister and I pick out some of our toys and some things we had in the house and we wrapped presents for each of them. The next morning before they were up, we walked across to their back porch and left the gifts by the door.
I’ve had many wonderful Christmases in my life, but this one always stuck out to me as something special. My parents taught me through their actions the importance of giving, even if you don’t feel like you have a lot to give.
What I value most is that they brought us in on the process of giving. I learned first hand the power and the enjoyment in giving and it’s a lesson Denise and I have tried to pass along to our own children.
This season, even though we’re only a few days away from Christmas, remember to bring your children in on the giving process. Do something together. Go be a blessing to someone this week!
3 WAYS TO GET YOUR CHILD INVOLVED IN GIVING
1. Give one of their toys (or something they have).
This is a great way to show them that they can start being a giver with what they already have. Let them pick a toy that they think would be best. Find a child or a charity that you can donate the toy to and let them help drop it off or wrap it. It may take longer than if you did it yourself, but along the way you can explain why it’s important to give. Tell them what God says about giving!
2. Make a handmade card.
Some paper and crayons or pens is all you need to get this project rolling. Let them make a card for a family member, for a friend or for someone who needs to be reminded that they are loved and valued. Again, let you child be in on that process. They see things that you might not, and they might know about someone who needs that card. You can also drop it by a senior center or veterans hospital. There is always a need. Let the process of finding a need and meeting it also be part of that giving activity you do together.
3. Bake something together.
Do you have a neighbor or know of a group that could use some cookies or some treat? It’s a wonderful thing to receive a handmade gift and even more special is the time you’ll get to spend doing the activity together. You can talk about how sometimes giving is doing something for others and not just giving them “things.” Maybe you bake something for the mailman and talk to your child about how we need to show our thanks to people. It’s a great idea that you can make as simple or as detailed as you’d like to get.
THE TAKE AWAY
Ask your child how they would like to help someone. Let them come up with an idea.
Depending on you child’s age, they may see a need that needs meeting. Talk to them about what God gave us in the gift of His Son and we need to love others and think about them just the same way we think about ourselves. Ask them if there is anything they would like to do to help someone. This will bring up great questions
Merry Christmas! We’re excited to hear about all the great things you do and create with your children this holiday. Let’s go be a blessing to someone this week.
Download a FREE Christmas Activity Page to work on with your child and talk to them about the gift we all have in Jesus.
