5 Ideas for a More Meaningful Holiday Season

Once December rolls around, we’re all likely to give a little too much thought to presents we hope to receive, and our kids seem to want everything in sight! As parents and caregivers, we want them to also know the joy of giving to others. Below we list five ways that you can help your children enjoy the giving spirit of the holidays this year by practicing generosity toward others.

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Practice Kindness in the Community

  1. Random acts of kindness are a fun way to introduce young children to the idea of thinking of others. These small, unexpected gestures put others first and will bring a smile to someone’s face. Thinking of simple ways to be kind to others helps your child learn to recognize needs she can fill rather than only focusing on herself. Together, you can plan out your own acts of kindness or print off one of the many lists floating around the internet (check out our Pinterest board “Christmas Kids” for a few examples). Possibilities include mailing a card to a soldier, taping change to a vending machine, and doing a chore for someone in your family.
  2. Be sneaky and leave a holiday treat at the door of a friend along with a note encouraging them to pass it on by doing the same for another family. Just imagine how much holiday cheer this single act could create! The delivered treats could be a handmade card from your toddler, a box of hot chocolate mix, jingle bell necklaces from the dollar store, or a few candy canes. Try not to get caught!
  3. Both the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis and Target House provide support services and a home away from home for St. Jude families while their children are receiving cancer treatment here in Memphis. They always have pantry needs and wish lists for local families to fill. Consider printing out a wish list and going shopping with your child. Talking with him about your choices and delivering the items together will provide a meaningful experience for the whole family.
  4. This time of year can be lonely for some nursing home residents. Maybe your children could make some holiday crafts to brighten a nursing home in your area. Or consider letting your kids pick out flowers at the store and deliver them with a holiday card.
  5. Community service workers keep our city clean, keep our neighborhoods safe, deliver our mail, and provide many other invaluable services. Bake (or buy) some cookies to deliver to them during the holidays and tell them how greatly you appreciate their work in Memphis. If you are a frequent patron of the public library, you might also consider delivering treats to the librarians who keep them running smoothly.

Regardless of how you and your child decide to practice kindness, talking together about why you are doing it will make it a more meaningful lesson. The very best way to help our children learn empathy and develop a giving spirit is to let them see us display these traits. Spreading kindness in Memphis will make our city a more beautiful place to live. We hope you and your family enjoy a very happy holiday season this year!

Jennifer Wilson

Jennifer Wilson is a graduate of Rhodes College and the University of Memphis. After years of teaching in early childhood education, she is now a full-time, work-at-home mother. She and her husband, Scott, have three children, ages 15, 12, and 6. She lives in Memphis, TN.