Teaching Children About Thanks & Giving This Holiday Season #GivingTuesday #sponsored

The holidays are finally here and I absolutely love this time of year! As Thanksgiving nears, we start to think about our family, who and what is important to us and all the things for which we are so very thankful. The holidays also invite the spirit of giving. I think it is so important not only to give back, but to also teach my own children about the importance of giving. This is why I was so excited when The Motherhood contacted us about #GivingTuesday and teaching my own children the importance of giving.

My son, Liam, has been through so much this year and we've repeatedly seen the spirit of giving in action. It's such a wonderful feeling to be supported, understood, and loved. Friends and family members have stepped up to give us support and I've learned that even a simple hug or 'I love you' can really help raise spirits and make a day much better. For all of these reasons, this year I am more grateful and want nothing more than to give back this holiday season! We are celebrating the holidays a bit differently this year because I want to teach my children to truly appreciate what we have as a family and how/why we give back to others. I am a big believer in learning through participation and experience. That's why we are going to work hands-on to learn about giving. How can we do this? Here are some of my ideas:

1. Volunteering - Find nonprofit organizations around your county who need volunteers. We will be volunteering our time at a local soup kitchen this year. We will set up, serve others and clean up afterwards. I think this is such a great way to introduce children to volunteer work and encourage them to do so for years to come. You are never to young to lend a helping hand. There is always something you can do, even if it is just by coloring a card for overseas soldiers or singing Christmas carols at a nursing home.

2. The Big Thank You - Each year The Bert Show puts together this amazing program. The idea is for every single soldier overseas to receive a piece of mail during the holidays. Each year people from around the country send in letters and cards for these soldiers, including us. Since the ages of 3, Liam and Josiah have participated in The Big Thank You by coloring cards.

3. Educate - Sit down with your kids and explain the different between basic needs and wants. Go around the house and ask them to point out items that are necessities for living and others that are not needed, but wanted, such as toys. This great starting point for teaching them that others do not always have these items and that's why it is so important to give to others.

4. Making Donations- Just last week we went through all of our clothes, toys and items we either don't use or no longer need. The boys sat in their room with me and we went through each and every toy, deciding which ones to give to other boys and girls who would enjoy them and, after finishing up, we had over 5 boxes of toys, clothing and other goods to donate.

From this point on we will participate in #GivingTuesday and invite all of our readers to do so!

What is #GivingTuesday? 

#GivingTuesday is a movement dedicated to create a national giving day, which will officially kick off the giving season on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. The 2nd annual #GivingTuesday will be on December 3rd, 2013. There are so many different ways for you to give and this wonderful movement really depends upon the participation of YOU! Do your part to support #GivingTuesday by sharing this information with others and giving back in some way. All families and individuals are encouraged to be generous in whatever ways matter to them, whether that means volunteering at a local charity or donating to a favorite cause. 

Disclosure: This post was written for The Motherhood and #GivingTuesday. Compensation was provided, though all written opinions are my own.