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Season of Giving

Receiving gifts is a big part of what makes the holiday season exciting for kids. It’s also the perfect opportunity to focus on the essence of the season: the spirit of giving.

LeapFrog blogger Candace Lindemann shares her tips for being a giving family.

Join our Facebook Family: You Like, We Give!
Join LeapFrog in making kids' wishes come true! LeapFrog is donating up to $3 million in toys this season to A Foundation for Kids: $20 for each new Facebook fan and $10 for each You Like, We Give Facebook Share through 12/17. A Foundation for Kids raises funds and support for agencies that serve abused and at-risk children. Giving as a family gets you the gift of togetherness—and all it takes is a click!

Cooperation is Key
When we work together, even the smallest actions have impact. Collaborate with peers by forming a local Kids Care Club to reinforce charitable behavior. Kids Care Clubs teach creative problem solving and cooperation skills that help children succeed in all areas of life.

Practice Gratitude
Rehearse saying “thank you,” and try writing a few thank you notes a day. Toddlers can draw, and grade-schoolers can fill in words. This can also help their communication skills! Here are two cute cards you can use to get kids in the mood for gratitude:
Scout & Friends Thank You Card and Lily & Tad Thank You Card

Count Your Blessings
Encourage everyone in your family to write what they're grateful for on a leaf-shaped piece of paper. Add it to a Blessings Tree or Jar throughout the season. If you feel down, just count all the blessings you have!

Pay It Forward
Last year LeapFrog donated Tag products to classrooms in need. You can help them support even more teachers and children through DonorsChoose.org—imagine the ripple effect! A friendly greeting, compliment or hug are also 'donations' of kindness that can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

Empower Your Child
Helping others is a big self-confidence booster. Discuss your child's interests and talents and choose an appropriate fit. Performing at a nursing home or creating a website for a local charity can make your child feel 10 times her size!

The Gift of True Happiness
A Gallup survey found that while countries with a high quality of living often had the happiest citizens, there were poor nations that topped the list and rich nations that were at the bottom. What makes us happy is not what we have/don’t have, but our attitudes. Find tips on establishing gratitude rituals, encouraging responsibility and emphasizing the empowerment that comes through giving in my early childhood blog: Thank You! 5 Tips for Teaching Children Gratitude.

Relate, Reach Out, Remember
December is chock-full of teachable moments about diversity, tolerance, and kindness. Use these teacher tips for helping kids learn and embrace other cultures and holidays.

Give All Year
Kindness is not a seasonal matter. This list of tips and charities should spark a discussion with your child on how and what they can give this year.

 

Your Holiday Host

Candace Lindemann is a published children’s writer and educational consultant. She blogs at Naturally Educational, and is the Early Childhood blogger for LeapFrog.

Visit Naturally Educational >

Featured Printable

Scout’s String of Lights: Help Scout decorate his house for the holidays! Little ones will practice number recognition while coloring Scout’s holiday lights.

See all winter printables >