As a caring parent, Christmas requires a balancing act. Without becoming Mommie Dearest, how do you support your children’s excitement about Christmas, Santa and presents while encouraging compassion, kindness and a giving spirit? Below is a toy giving “party” idea that may help foster your child’s generosity.
Start the conversation by asking your children what they’d like for Christmas this year. Then, lead a discussion about other children in the world, kids they may know at school, families you’ve helped through church, or kids in other countries, children who may not have many material belongings, or whose parents might be without a job this winter. Inspire your kids by asking them to imagine how excited a child with very few toys might be to find a special plaything to unwrap on Christmas morning – Perhaps they’d be just as delighted as your child was when he or she first received it!
Then, crank up some holiday music, warm up the hot chocolate, and create a toy-giving party! Ask your kids to go through their toys and create a pile of toys they’d like to offer to other kids through a local Holiday toy-donation collection. Your can even set up a toy hospital where you and your kids give each donated toy a check-up, cleaning and minor repair job. Reward your children with a special treat such as a gingerbread boy cookie or a personalized Christmas Coloring Book!
Schedule a time to go with your children to deliver the toys to the donation facility. Then, complete the mission by sitting down with your kids write a letter to Santa. They can express their feelings about donating their older toys and include a few toys on their wish list. If they’re lucky, they might even receive a special letter from Santa in return! You can top off the whole event by watching “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” which includes the story of the Island of Misfit toys!
You’ve not only made room for new toys, but you’ve helped encourage a sense of giving and kindness, and as an added bonus, you’ve created a fun, annual holiday tradition.
This summer my son (6) and 3 of his friends helped raise money for tornado victims by having a lemonade stand, we used the money raised to purchase Christmas gifts for the children affected by the storms. We were able to purchase more than 100 items to donate.
Great way to put good used toys to a work, making another child happy is always wonderful at this time of the year.
My family has donated toys directly to a few families in need this holiday season. I also work for a non-profit organization, helping children with special needs reach goals and I started a lego club and have donated legos and am looking for others to donate to the club. Helping others is a big part of the holidays for us.
Last month we donated 5 boxes of used and new kids clothes and toys to a family in need. Now we are working on boxes for a family whose house burnt down. Giving makes me and my kids feel warm inside.
we always donate money and gifts at xmas. make everyone fell great to help others in any way and at any time.
we have always helped. always have my kids pick names from trees and we would buy the gifts they wanted. always do the food drive. anything that would help others. They have always given any of their toys away that they did not need .