Teaching Children to Give—Reindeer Candy Canes as Thank You’s
my world • raising giving children
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is my favorite holiday movie. I love it not only for its whimsical characters and witty rhymes, but also for the lessons it teaches in true Dr. Seuss fashion. The one that stands out to me the most is individual choice.
The Grinch ‘s choice was clear: He wanted to do everything in his power to have a miserable holiday season and to ruin it for everyone else, including an innocent dog and the unsuspecting Whos in Whoville. But, in spite of all of his efforts, the Whos chose holiday cheer and togetherness over reacting negatively to their stolen Christmas.
When you are out in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, are you a Grinch? Do you focus on the increased traffic, lack of parking places, long lines, or when the person in front of you takes the last toy on the shelf—the only one Tommy really wanted? Or, do you choose holiday cheer? Do you let drivers merge into traffic, turn up the holiday tunes and sing with your children instead of focusing on the frenzied freeways? Do you notice cashiers and servers and postal workers that greet you with a smile? Those that stand in all sorts of weather to collecting donations?
Teaching children to fall in love with giving during the holidays is not only about choosing holiday cheer, it’s about looking for examples of it and showing gratitude for it. A tradition we started last year to do just that was to give out candy cane thank yous to people during the holiday season. Here’s what we did:
- Made a goal for how many candy canes we’d like to pass out and purchased them.
- Placed stickers on the candy canes that said: “Thank you for spreading holiday cheer!”
- Put them in a bag and carried them with us in the car wherever we went.
- Took a few into each place we visited.
- Took turns handing them out to people who served us, people we felt were examples of spreading holiday cheer, people that looked like they could use a pick-me-up, people who were lonely, and more.
- Squealed in delight when we’d get back in the car and talk about our experiences.
- At the end of the day, recapped together as a family the holiday cheer we witnessed, people’s reactions to the thank yous, and how awesome it was to give out the candy canes.
I think the last step is one of the most important in helping children fall in love with giving. The act of giving is necessary, but feeling excited and good about it stays with you forever and not only that, it is contagious!!!
What will you do this year to spread holiday cheer?
Click here to see the candy cane making process!
Comments
35 Responses to “Teaching Children to Give—Reindeer Candy Canes as Thank You’s”
Leave a Reply
annalene on December 2, 2009 4:04 am
Oh wow, I remember making these as a kid in elementary school (seems like ages ago)… really takes me back! Good idea on using these as thank yous, nice and simple but personal at the same time.
Rachael Herrscher on December 2, 2009 9:09 am
I’m cracking up at the reindeer glasses! love it!
Tweets that mention Teaching Children to Give—Reindeer Candy Canes as Thank You’s :Mom it Forward -- Topsy.com on December 3, 2009 4:04 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by PBS Parents, Port Discovery and KPTS Channel 8, Kathy Sykes. Kathy Sykes said: RT @pbsparents: Teaching kids the joy of giving – one candy cane reindeer at a time. Cute! http://bit.ly/4RxPE7 (via @jylMomIF) [...]
uberVU - social comments on December 3, 2009 4:04 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by pbsparents: Teaching kids the joy of giving – one candy cane reindeer at a time. Cute! http://bit.ly/4RxPE7 (via @jylMomIF)…
Giveaway! Win a Spa Treatment, $250 in Origins Products, & Free Gift Wrap! :Mom it Forward on December 10, 2009 11:11 am
[...] this post and leave a comment, sharing tips for ways in which you help your children fall in love with giving [...]
Emily H. on December 10, 2009 2:02 pm
I love your idea of spreading holiday cheer by giving back with your cute reindeer candy canes. My parents have us do a service as a family every year instead of buying them a gift, so it has become a tradition for us. Our kids get excited helping us figure out just what we’re going to do each year since we try to mix it up. Making service & giving a tradition reinforces the importance–and habit! This year we’re writing letters to our church missionaries from our neighborhood and including a packet of candy cane cocoa.
Susan K on December 10, 2009 2:02 pm
My daughter really got involved in collecting for the homeless starting a few years ago when she starting wondering what the homeless need. By speaking with someone she found out what they really wanted and was able to bounce her own ideas off the man. Her feeling involved in the process and then choosing the items herself are what made her continue to want to share with them. I just dropped off 3 bags of items that she’s been collecting for a while, for her holiday contribution.
Debra P on December 10, 2009 7:07 pm
This is a great post. I love the idea of paying it forward and sharing with others especially during the holidays. I think children love the idea once they are introduced to it.
Cindy H. @lifeonprint on December 10, 2009 8:08 pm
My children and I fill shoe boxes for children over sea’s each year. They love helping to pick out the pressies and fill the boxes!
@lifeonprint
Cindy H. @lifeonprint on December 10, 2009 8:08 pm
My children and I fill shoe boxes for children over sea’s each year. They love helping to pick out the pressies and fill the boxes! They learn that it is so much better to give to those in need or don’t have all that we are blessed with.
@lifeonprint
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) on December 10, 2009 9:09 pm
What a wonderful idea you have, passing out the candy canes! Everyone loves those! Me and my children and my sisters children always go and visit “Rest Homes” and visit the old folks there. Sometimes all those people need is a hug from a child!
Pamela Romero on December 10, 2009 10:10 pm
I remember when my children made these in Kindergarten to use as tree decorations. It’s a very nice idea to make them to give away to those in need.
Elizabeth DeHart on December 10, 2009 10:10 pm
We pay it forward by adopting a family. Thie year we could not so we will serve meals at the homeless shelter.
Annette D on December 11, 2009 8:08 pm
My son and I are going to help at our local food bank tomorrow. I think it is a great way to realize that there are people less fortunate than you.
Giveaway! Enter to Win Ski Passes & Lessons From Park City Mountain Resort :Mom it Forward on December 13, 2009 2:02 am
[...] this post and leave a comment, sharing tips for ways in which you help your children fall in love with giving [...]
CassandraD on December 13, 2009 9:09 am
My daughter visited the SPCA (animal shelter) and donated Lavender to give the animals a feeling of calmness. I thought it was a nice touch.
Jessica D.T. on December 13, 2009 9:09 am
We baked cookies and individually wrapped them to give to my son’s classmates. It is the spirit of Christmas calling us to give and share our joy!
Lisa G on December 13, 2009 9:09 am
My daughter loves my JUMBO muffins and wanted to bake them to give to the elderly in our town. We baked 48 of them and we brought them to the home. They were happy to see that a younger generation was still thoughtfull.
barbara wright on December 13, 2009 11:11 am
Every year, we make different kinds of bread and give them to the teachers, most of whom are young and single, so they don’t get homemade food a lot. The way the teachers rave over the gifts has made my kids realize that giving makes THEM feel good, too!
Aline on December 13, 2009 4:04 pm
I help my children make small gifts for members of our family so they have something special to give to everyone for the holidays.
Gina on December 13, 2009 5:05 pm
I help my children understand that while they get new great things, they need to pay it forward and give some of their older things that are being replaced with newer things to those who won’t have such a great christmas.
Heather on December 13, 2009 5:05 pm
Cute craft! We did something similar last week too.
I think it is important to remind kids that there are many people that are not as fortunate as we are and it is important to help others when you can.
mineola on December 13, 2009 6:06 pm
Making things to give is the surest way to have kids fall in love with giving- that way they realize they are sharing a part of themselves.
Angela Gaffke on December 13, 2009 8:08 pm
I take my sons to the store to pick out toys to give to Toys for Tots. They love to do it and it helps me figure out what they like too. I want them to always know how great it is to give to others.
Charity S. on December 13, 2009 8:08 pm
My son loves helping others, and that’s why he loves to give during the holidays.
Naomi Thomas on December 13, 2009 10:10 pm
I give my kids money (soon they’ll be old enough to make their own!) and take them each shopping to pick out a $5 present for each of their sibblings to put in their stockings. They love watching their brothers and sisters react to their gift on christmas morning!
Sarah L on December 14, 2009 1:01 am
Sit and brainstorm about what makes a great gift: one with some thought behind it; one matched to what the person likes; something surprizing.
Suzette on December 14, 2009 3:03 pm
My kids and I bake holiday treats and deliver them around the neighborhood. It’s wonderful to see people’s faces light up when they open their front door and greet us. We also participate in food drives and visit the local food bank with our donations. It always help to realize how blessed we are to have food on the table and a warm home to sleep in each night.
Jody on December 14, 2009 7:07 pm
We do a few things to spread holiday cheer and teach the kids the true meaning of Christmas:
1. We adopt a soldier who has no one and send them gifts overseas
2. We always throw a little extra change in the red Salvation Army buckets as we enter/leave the stores
3. We pick children off the “Drummer Boy” tree at church and buy they Christmas presents that they would not get otherwise
We feel this is important for the kids and helps offset the greediness of the holiday season!
TVUtah on December 15, 2009 12:12 am
We always choose presents to give off of local giving trees and then have the children shop for them. It is good for them to give to those in need. They feel the spirit of giving and it continues throughout the year.
Mena on December 15, 2009 9:09 pm
love your idea, how thoughtful. We are teaching baby to share, and so we will teach him that giving will enrich even more! the plan is to start by putting aside good toys to give out to others
Holly on December 18, 2009 3:03 pm
I have always loved choosing someone who might be struggling or having a hard time and doing the Twelve Days of Christmas for them. It’s something that your kids can be a part of and something that your family can do together. It’s a simple way to get your family thinking of others, rather than just what they are getting for Christmas! I also love taking angels from an Angel Tree. I am grateful for parents who were amazing examples of service and compassion. We always had less fortunate families that we helped during the holidays.
suburbangranola on December 20, 2009 12:12 pm
We always make homemade goodies- cookies, candies, and find little inexpensive things to stick in a tin to take around to people we don’t visit with often enough. It is a good way for the kids to get involved in giving. They help make everything and are so proud of their creations. They look forward to taking the gifts around more than opening their own gifts!
Trish Lopez on December 20, 2009 1:01 pm
My family and I during the year find a family that we would like to help out during the holidays. They may be going through a health problem or maybe have lost a job or going through a divorce. We buy a Chistmas tree for them, a grocery store gift card, and several presents for the kids as well as a couple for the parents. It is great to know that you have made a difference in someone’s life.
ultrasound technician on June 1, 2010 12:12 am
this post is very usefull thx!