What is the reason for the season? …Gifts right!
reasonsforhopejesus.com
Actually yes! Gift GIVING!
It’s what this season is all about! Gift Giving! But how often do we stop to think about why?
Have you ever asked your kids what Christmas is all about? I asked mine the other day…
Child #1: “getting gifts”
Child #2: (quick to correct child #1) “Nah uh….it’s about God and baby Jesus being born.
Child #3 (with a very angry tone) “no it’s not you guys…its about SNOW ANGELS!!!”
I die laughing at our sweet children’s responses. I swear that I’ve taught them the real reason for the season! LOL! I guess one out of three isn’t horrible!
God gave us the greatest gift of all…and actually little gifts and blessings ( like presents and snow angels) are also great gifts from God!
We give gifts to show love for others. After all, Love is the greatest gift of all!
3 Ways to teach kids about giving gifts:
1. Final Gift of Christmas
On Christmas morning, Santa leaves a special envelope on the Christmas tree. When all the gifts are opened, the kids notice the envelopes, one for each of them. Enclosed in is a crisp $100 bill. The kids faces light up, shocked that they are holding $100. Then they read the letter.
This is a mission to use the gift of $100 to give to good of others. Go to my freebies page to get a free printable copy of this letter.
Our kids received this gift a couple of years ago and they still talk about it. They chose to purchase knot blankets kits and make blankets for the needy in our community. They were able to attend a Christmas dinner at a homeless shelter and pass out the blankets to those in need. This was an amazing way to spend our Christmas! We were truly blessed by this experience.
2. You’ve Been Rak’d
RAK = Random Acts of Kindness
I’d like to take credit for this idea, but the truth is, it wasn’t originally mine. I first found this idea on a great Kindergarten Teacher’s Blog, A Differentiated Kindergarten. You can click here to see how she does this as a family tradition in her own home.
I used her free printable of the “You’ve Been Rak’d” cards and used them at school with my own kindergarteners. This was so much fun!
First, we brainstormed ideas of random acts of kindness. We made a list and decided we’d do one each day we were at school in December. Some of the ideas that my students came up with were so good:
- Empty the Recycle Bin for all other classrooms.
- Pick up paper towels that land on the bathroom floor.
- Deliver mail to the teachers.
- Draw a picture or write a kind letter to their favorite teacher, janitor, principal.
- Hang up coats that fall off the coat hooks.
There were so many great ideas! When we did the Random Act, we left a card behind so that they knew, they had been Rak’d!
This is a great way to spend December with your students or as a family learning about the true meaning of the season.
3. Go Elfing
If you haven’t watched the 2016 movie, The Charlie Brown Kindness Trees created by local 4th graders at our school! These little entrepreneurs are raising money for a local charity all while spreading kindness in the community. The purchase of these sweet little kindness trees brought joy to our home, the home of the neighbors that received them, and to the local charity. Not to mention the joy these families have experienced while making the Kindness Trees.
Giving is not just about the donation.
It’s about Making a Difference
Kathy Calvin, President CEO of United Nations Foundation
I’d love to hear about how you teach your students or children about giving! It’s such a joy to be a giver!
Enjoy BEING THEIR DIFFERENCE this holiday season!
