subject: Charity does begin at home [print this page] Charity does begin at home Charity does begin at home
Well We survivedhalloween and fire works night and just have time to catch our breath before Christmas is rammed well and truly down our throats.Already it is all over the tv and plastered over every shop in my area,not forgetting hearing those brain numbing jingles everywhere you go
Now I love Christmas as much as any parent can,and every parent,carer and grandparent out there knows no feeling can beat the look on a child face that special morning.But in a society that all We hear from kids is I WANT..DONT YOU THINK ITStime to teach them how to give and let them experience the joy of giving
.Regardless if you are religious or not.its time We took a leaf out of the book of the three wise men and taught our own kids that giving sharing,donating or becoming involved in a charity be it in a very small way, is a great lesson and an amazingly rewarding thing for them to do.Im not suggesting you all run out and buy bags and bags of gold frankencense and myrth[mur] that would just be plain stupid or as in our family when one of my elderly aunts on Christmas dayhanded my two very excited children gold envelopes [almost like a scene from Charlie and the chocolate factory] so then imagine the look of despair on their faces when to their dismay no trip for them to Willie Wonkers but instead she had bought one of them a goat for a family in Pakistan and the other community toilet facilities for a village now I believe this is a incredible gesture but feel the timing was awful [both kids have recovered and now they are a little older do see the funny side...kinda...]
I believe kids understand charitable gesture if they are done more low key or if the charity in some way directly affects a child,so heres how I personally introduced my own kids to a more charitable attitude that hopefully will continue with them making them kind,giving charitable adults
1 Explain to your child that this Christmas there are lots and lots ofadults and kids that wont get presents or toys .Explain there are even folk who will have no food,and nowhere to sleep and then tell them they can help in a small way asking them what they think they could do or give [ I know it can be difficult,try and keep this matter of fact,if you lay it on to thick you will have a traumatised kid on your hands ]
2 let them pick out a charity, there may even be one that effect them directly,by this I mean maybe someone they love has been ill with cancer or strokes,deafness perhaps let them read what those charity do for people,explain that the person they know with this condition are lucky cause they have your child around to cheer them up and love them,explaining that this charity helps folk that don't have that
3No grand gestures,remember this is about your child..so no saying ,if your child sends x amount of $ or mummy or daddy will send 5 x that amount
4 Get them to do a clear out of good condition clothes and toys [ the salvation army are a wonderful organisation and will even come to the house for collection ] do make sure though the child is at home when they come,kids love to hand their package over themselves
5 Selling their baking to family,friends and neighbours is a great way for them to make a little money,or if you aint the baking type,get them to make up little sweet bags for them to sell on
6 Get their class mates,teachers involved,a little bring and buy at school is another good idea
7Ask their class mates if they can each bring in a sweet advent calendar [these can be picked up for about a ] as a class they can send them to a local children's ward
8 Let your kids do little jobs for you around the house,they can even make flyers,popping them in neighbours letterbox's,offering their help,[e.g. car washing,help in garden etc ] for donations for the childs chosen charity.
9 Books for Africa are a great organisation,they send unwanted kids books to schools in Africa,let your own child pick some of their unwanted books to send.
10.Above all make it FUN,your kids can have a great time while helping a charity or good cause.Im positive with the use of a few of the suggestions We can help our own kids into more caring and charitable adults.
