Any family traditions that include charity?

My 3 year old daughter is getting to the age where I think she can begin to appreciate the concept of doing something to help someone. I'd like to find a way to incorporate helping others in to our holiday celebrations (we do Thanksgiving, Christmas, AND Hanukkah).

Any thoughts about how to do this in an age-appropriate and meaningful way?

Comments: 4

Kori J. Nov 16, 2007, 6:15pm EST

Most banks or grocery stores have a Giving Tree, where you pull a name off the tree and buy a gift for the child listed. It is fun to take them shopping for something for another child. My one recommendation for a child her age is to get the anme of a boy; that way she won't want to keep the toy or clothes for herself (learned that one the hard way with MY daughter at the same age!). It is fun, and a good, gentle start to getting them to think about other people.

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Cathy T. Nov 16, 2007, 8:23pm EST

You could also go through her outgrown clothes with her to donate to the Salvation Army or some other clothing bank. Have her go with you when you drop them off. A lot of times the people working at these places tend to make the kids feel extra special about donating their clothes --or toys.

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Cathy T. Nov 16, 2007, 8:25pm EST

Also Toys for Tots or another local toy collection station is good too. What I would do is have her pick out a toy for a boy--that way its not something she wants and is going to have a fit about giving up. have her put it in the donation bin herself.

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Karen Lerner Nov 19, 2007, 12:24pm EST

It's a good idea to have her pick things out for a boy Kori and Cathy!

At this point, we're holding on to most of her clothes and toys that she's outgrown in case we have any more kids.

We also have a piggy bank for charity in the house. I'm thinking that we can count up how much we've saved and have her decide which charity we should give the money to - maybe even take her to one of the coinstars that give you the option of donating your coins to a charity. You get to push a button to select where you want your coins to go and then you dump them in. That's active, but I'm not sure it would be that satisfying. Do any of you have experience with anything like that?

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Any family traditions that include charity?

Comments: 4

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