Give the Gift of a Great Future

The Christmas season is all about the joy of giving.  My oldest daughter is at an extremely impressionable age and I want to not only tell her how important it is to share and give to others, but also demonstrate it.  At nearly 4, telling her something is great but reinforcing the words with actions really makes an impression.

This holiday season we’ve been seeking out ways that we can give to other people.  We’ve found a way to allow Cakes to be hands on with her charity by shopping for items to fill a shoebox with gifts for a less fortunate child in another part of the world and baking cookies for service people we come into contact with.  But also indirectly we’ve talked about the impact of monetary donations for charities with a mission that our family supports.

Giving to those in other parts of the world is wonderful but we also want to stress the importance of caring for our community.  This year we’ve donated canned goods, toiletries, and coats for the homeless and less fortunate Austinites.   And her entire preschool class made peanut butter and honey sandwiches that the teachers passed out to those living under bridges in our community.

Not everyone is as fortunate as Cakes is to have two parents in the house that love her and have the time and dedication to provide a good example for her.  In giving back, but also in all areas of her life.

Fortunately, for those that don’t have positive role models in their home or maybe are seeking to connect with someone from a similar background to learn from there’s an organization that can help with this – the Boys and Girls Club of America.  I have no doubt the effects of having positive and supportive role models can have profound impacts in the shaping of children.  The lasting impact of relationships in childhood will continue to influence their decisions for a lifetime.

If you’re looking for ways to share the importance of giving with your children, check out these tips to Give Your Kids the Gift of Giving from the BGCA.

1. Talk about giving.
2. Read books about giving.
3. Volunteer together.
4. Encourage routine volunteering.
5. Do something fun, like cooking or an art project.
6. Tell family stories about philanthropy.
7. Acknowledge all kinds of giving acts.
8. Be enthusiastic.
9. It’s o.k. to offer incentives.
10. Make philanthropy a family value.

For the second year in a row, BGCA is sponsoring the Give the Gift of a Great Future Holiday Campaign.  For more details on this campaign, visit the website here.  You can help make a donation to a Club this season by playing the Giving Game and you can help vote for a winner in the Kids Give Back photo contest.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for the Boys and Girls Club of America. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating. As always, all opinions are my own.