Kiddie Academy's 2016 Educational Gift Guide Part I Educational Gift Guide Part I | Page 4

ways to help your child learn gift-giving 5 In holiday gift guides, the emphasis is typically put on gifts to get others, but sometimes giving is the greatest gift of all. While generosity and selflessness – possibly even love – are big concepts for littles to grasp and fully understand, the art of gift-giving for young children should be about more than just opening presents from loved ones. Teaching young children the joy and satisfaction that comes with giving gifts to others can help make these abstract ideas easier to understand. And once children learn how to give, they’ll receive enjoyment and exultation from it for a lifetime. Here are five ways you can help your children learn how to give and be part of the gift-giving festivities this holiday season: 1. HOMEMADE GIFT CERTIFICATES 2. A FAMILY CRAFT Is there anything better than a homemade, Coordinate a family craft you can do with your hand-decorated gift certificate designed with kids and get everyone involved. Turn your TLC that you can cash in for chores, back rubs, kitchen into a candle-making operation and let gardening or a pizza night? Family gift your children select the colors, styles and certificates can be a great way to get creative accents they want to use. Or choose cookie with gift-giving and offer loved ones recipes together and bake in batches for something they'll never regift. everyone on your list! 3. USE AN ALLOWANCE 4. GIVE BACK Not every family or parent feels confident Instead of buying or making gifts for loved about getting crafty. If making something isn't ones, find a local soup kitchen or charity your thing, give your child a gift allowance project the whole family can participate in. they can use and talk about what the people Plan to make a dish for the soup kitchen, or on your holiday list might like as a present. This just volunteer for kitchen duty during the will start teaching your children that part of holidays. the pleasure of the holidays is choosing gifts their loved ones find thoughtful, personal and pleasing. 5. WRAP INSTEAD Some kids aren't quite old enough to create or choose gifts, but might be able to hold the tape or pick out wrapping paper to contribute.