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Teaching the Gift of Giving to Your Preschooler
By Stephanie Olsen The holiday season is a wonderful time to be able to teach your preschool child generosity and empathy, simply by setting examples and encouraging participation. A three- to four-year old who is ready developmentally (ie., is taking on a little responsibility; learning cooperation, and showing a strong desire for approval), can reap lifelong benefits from these early lessons in helpfulness.
Giving to Toy Banks
Remembering that the concept of ownership is difficult for younger preschoolers, donating to toy banks is best done by using a "twin" toy. Buy two of the same item - one for your child and one as the donation item. Because it's a painless donation, the positive feedback (an actual thank you from the charitable organization staff member and/or your own praise for your preschooler's action plus a comment as to how happy the recipient child will be) is unclouded and the joy of giving is just that.When your child is ready to either give up a gently used toy or choose a new one specifically for the toy drive, then the act will become even more meaningful.
Fostering Animals
One family with two older preschoolers fosters puppies and dogs. With both parents avid animal lovers, it's a natural outreach for them to help creatures in need and teaches their children a form of volunteerism and responsibility by example.With donations of toys or baked goods for fundraising purposes always needed, the children can become involved in other aspects of the charitable organization, even attending the actual flea markets and bake sales with one parent or caregiver while the other volunteers at a stand.
Adopting Grandparents
Senior homes can be lonely places for some residents if family members live far away or are deceased. You don't have to be without a full set or two of your own preschooler's grandparents to spend time with some seniors on Christmas Day.Of course, you can choose any group of special interest to you: check newcomer's societies, hospitals or hospices, or children's homes in your city. Your local church is a good place to call to see if there's an elderly person or family in need who might appreciate some holiday cheer.
Besides spending time with the person of your choice over the holidays, you can involve your preschooler in making a little homemade gift. This personalizes the event even more for your child (and for the recipient), and you may well find yourself actually forming an ongoing relationship from that one act of kindness.
Teaching kindness throughout the year, by our actions and through explanation, is something we as parents and caregivers do almost automatically. The extra effort we make and time we put in to be of service in our community, whether volunteering to help a stranger or just brightening a neighbor's day, is an extension of that automatic kindness. In order for that to become second-nature to our children later in their lives, we need to teach our children young.
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