« 10 Ways your Family Can Help During the Holidays | Main | Thanksgiving Traditions »
How to Keep the Spirit of Giving Alive in your Family
By Polly | November 22, 2005
As the snow begins to fall and holiday songs begin playing in the stores and on the radio, it’s hard not to get caught up in the loving festive spirit of the holidays. Inspired by the festive spirit, many families use the holidays as a time to give to those less fortunate by donating toys, food, and clothing in the hopes of making the holidays a little brighter for others. But after the holidays are over and families return to the routines of their daily lives, it gets difficult to keep the giving spirit from fading away. So here are some tips to help even the busiest of families maintain their giving spirit throughout the year.Start Small - If you are a family that generally only volunteers their time during the holidays then trying to take on a weekly volunteer effort will be overwhelming and doomed for failure. Instead, pick one day a month or every three months and start from there. Successful regular family volunteering efforts start small and then build as the family and their experiences grow.
Plan & Schedule It - Get out the family calendar and pick and schedule a date. If it’s not on the calendar it wont happen.
Pick the Right Charity - Find a charity right for families. Not all charities are best for volunteering in a group or with kids. If the charity doesn’t have age appropriate jobs for kids, they won’t feel like they are helping and will get frustrated and bored. Also, make sure your kids are emotionally ready for volunteering. Some kids can be frightened to see a homeless person or worse a homeless child, so be sure your kids are ready for the choice.
Involve Everyone in the Choice - When deciding which volunteering effort to take on, be sure to include everyone in the decision, so that all family members can have their voices, interests, and concerns heard.
Pick a Cause that Interests You - Pick a charity or event that has interest for the family and where your skills can be used. It’s easy to volunteer on a regular basis if you enjoy what you do and are making real contributions.
Read Books - Read books together that inspire and grow understanding and awareness. Some good choices are Fly Away Home
Make it a Habit - Incorporate giving into your daily routines by scheduling events on the family calendar, donating regularly to your place of worship or a charity of your choice, and by establishing a Giving Box.
Related Entries:
Will They Remember this as Special?
The Difference Between Mothers and Fathers - A Rebuttal
I Believe in Santa Claus
How to Organize Your Family Games
Tackling the Yeah But’s
Topics: Community Service Ideas, Family Life Tips |