|
Quote of the Week
"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving." -- Mother Teresa
How To Help Kids Make The Most Of Their Volunteering Experience
With the festive holiday season getting under way, it's a lovely time to invite your family to reflect on the spirit of the season -- and no, we're not talking about Christmas shopping and gift requests for Santa :) It's a wonderful time to think about how your family can celebrate the spirit of giving and consider ways you would like to serve others! From wrapping gifts for children from less fortunate families or elderly people in care homes, to serving meals to homeless people at a shelter, to baking your own homemade treats and finding the perfect excuse to connect with your neighbors while paying forward a little holiday treat, there are loads of ways you can serve others!
Whichever way you choose to volunteer your time together as a family, this week's article offers you ideas on how to make the volunteer experience more meaningful for your children. "Reflecting on your family volunteer experience allows children to grapple with the range of emotions that arise, learn about important social issues, and apply what they have learned to future experiences. Plus, it also sparks some meaningful conversations!" The article goes on to share practical things you can do before, during and after your volunteer activity to encourage reflection and deepen the experience for everyone. [read more]
Reading Corner
 Title: An Invisible Thread Christmas Story
By: Laura Schroff & Alex Tresniowski
Ages: 4+
Why? "From the author of An Invisible Thread comes the true, heartfelt, and extraordinary story of how one woman’s decision to help a boy on the street changed both of their lives forever." In the original book, Laura Schroff tells the remarkable story of her lifelong friendship with a boy named Maurice who she met on the street while he was asking for change.
In this shorter children's version, Laura shares the story of the first Christmas that she spent together with Maurice. It's beautiful to see how Maurice feels moved to gift Laura a small white bear, his only real possession, to express his love and gratitude for their friendship. This inspiring story beautifully conveys the spirit of the season in a way children can relate to. When I shared it with my 4-year-old daughter, she was inspired by Maurice's gesture and thought of something special she wanted to gift to another child. We went through her toys to donate some to children who had fled their homes in war-torn countries, leaving nearly all of their belongings behind."
Recommended by Trishna Shah
Be The Change
Talk to your kids about ways they feel inspired to volunteer together as a family during the holiday season. Need ideas? Here are 11 festive volunteer ideas for families!
Kindful Kids newsletter is a resource for parents who are keen to teach children about compassion and service. It reaches 3,646 subscribers. You can unsubscribe here.
|
