The holiday season is a joyous time to teach young children the profound joy of giving back to others. By weaving acts of kindness into your daily routines, you can instil a sense of generosity that will bring immense joy and last a lifetime.

Why Teach Generosity?

• Empathy Development: Acts of kindness help children understand the feelings of others and develop empathy.
• Social Skills: Sharing, cooperating, and helping others are essential social skills children learn through giving.
• Positive Self-Esteem: Giving back can boost children’s self-esteem and make them feel good about themselves.
• Family Bonding: Engaging in charitable activities can strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories.

Organise a Toy or Clothing Donation Drive

Children often have outgrown toys or clothes that could brighten someone else’s holiday.

How to Start:

• Have a conversation about the importance of sharing and helping others.
• Ask your child to select gently used toys, books, or clothes that they no longer need but are still in good condition.
• Frame it as an exciting “mission” to find items to share with others.

Where to Donate:

• All Jenny’s centres are collecting donated toys for Christmas toy drives – simply pop them next to the tree at drop off!
• Local charities, shelters, or community centers often accept holiday donations.
• Contact hospitals, children’s homes, or foster care programs to see if they’re accepting gifts.

Enhance the Experience:

• Involve your child in cleaning and preparing the items for donation.
• Share stories about how these items will help other children have a happier holiday.

Create Handmade Gifts for Loved Ones

Homemade gifts add a personal touch and help children express their creativity while spreading joy.

Gift Ideas:

• Painted Flower Pots: Decorate terracotta pots and fill them with plants or herbs.
• DIY Ornaments: Create personalised ornaments using salt dough, felt, or recycled materials.
• Homemade Cards: Encourage children to write thoughtful messages and decorate cards with drawings or stickers.

Why It Matters:

• Children learn that gifts don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful.
• The effort and love they put into creating something special shows how much they care.

Bake and Share Treats with the Community

Food has a way of bringing people together, and baking treats is a fun activity for children of all ages.

What to Do:

• Choose simple, age appropriate recipes like biscuits, brownies, or cupcakes that children can help bake and decorate.
• Package the treats in reusable containers or festive wrappings.

Who to Share With:

• Deliver to neighbours, teachers, or community helpers like firefighters or police officers – and yes, educators love biscuits! Ensure to keep a list of ingredients handy so any allergens can be communicated.
• Consider sharing treats at local shelters or retirement homes.

Learning Opportunity:

• Teach children about gratitude by talking about the hard work of the people they’re giving to.

Participate in Holiday Charity Events

The holidays bring many opportunities to get involved in community giving initiatives.

Examples of Events:

• Food Drives: Collect and donate non-perishable food to local food banks.
• Gift Wrapping for a Cause: Participate in wrapping gifts for charities that distribute them to families in need.
• Holiday Walks or Runs: Join family-friendly fundraising events where proceeds support local causes.

Why It’s Important:

• Children see how their efforts, even small ones, can directly benefit others.
• They experience the joy of being part of a collective effort to spread kindness.

Create a “Kindness Advent Calendar”

• Instead of a traditional advent calendar, create one filled with acts of kindness for each day leading up to the holidays.

Examples of Acts:

• Write a thank-you note to a teacher, educator or caregiver.
• Call or video chat with a grandparent to brighten their day.
• Donate pet food to an animal shelter.
• Compliment a friend or sibling.

Make It Interactive:

• Create a visual calendar where children can reveal a new act of kindness each day.
• Use stickers or stars to track completed acts, building excitement for what’s next.

Host a Family Giving Day

Dedicate a day during the holiday season to giving back as a family.

Activity Ideas:

• Volunteer at a Food Bank: Help pack or distribute food to those in need.
• Create Care Packages: Assemble kits with toiletries, snacks, and warm socks for people experiencing homelessness.
• Visit a Nursing Home: Bring handmade cards or small gifts to brighten the residents’ holidays.

Reflect Together:

• End the day by discussing what you did and how it made others feel.
• Ask your child how they felt about helping and what they learned.

Teach the Joy of Gratitude

Generosity goes hand in hand with gratitude. Help children understand that giving is as rewarding as receiving.

• Gratitude Jar: Create a jar where children write down things they’re thankful for each day and share them as a family during the holidays.
• Gratitude Letters: Encourage kids to write letters of thanks to family members, teachers, or others who have made a difference in their lives.