Teach Children to Give

It's that time of the year when most children are wanting gifts from Santa. While that is typical, please teach your children that giving is more important than getting. That is the real theme for Christmas.

Over the years, most children have been taught to get, not give. We need to stress to our children at an early age the real meaning of any holiday.

This should start at a very young age. When a child is a baby, teach them to share. Whenever you give them a toy/snack, have them hand it to you but give it back in a timely manner. Do this in a caring and loving fashion. Then thank them for sharing. If you do this repeatedly, it makes it easier for them to understand sharing as they get older.

For the holidays, they can make or do a favor as a gift. Or a gift can be purchased. Let the child give it to the recipient so they can see the happy response from that person. This will teach them the joy of giving. As they get older, you can see their faces light up with happiness when they give.

I see so many children, even in my own family, always talking about wanting but not giving. Any time of the year is a time for giving. Giving yourself at times is more important than an item.

Open a door for someone or if you can afford it, secretly pay for someone's meal. Giving is such a great and happy feeling. Just keep any helpful deeds to yourself, no need to share, this is between you and your Creator. Remember children learn from our actions as well as our words.

By it's.only.me from NE PA USA