It’s my favorite time of the year. I absolutely love the holidays, and I especially love all of the creative ways we can give back with our kids this time of year!
A quick internet search can give you a million ways to give back – especially during the holidays. Here are a few of my favorites:
Go Elfing
One of my My Life and Kids readers, Heather, gets her kids involved in giving back: “We go Elfing… leaving fun little surprises on doors of friends and neighbors, ringing the bell, and running like crazy!”
Adopt a Family
You and your friends can adopt a family together, or you can find a giving tree that allows you to sponsor toys for children in need. We always include our children in the shopping, so they can start to understand what it means to help others.
24 Days of Kindness
One of my readers, Jessica, does 24 Days of Kindness from December 1st – 24th. One small (or big) act of kindness for someone else every single day in December. How cool is that?
Make Cookies
You can deliver cookies and treats to your local fire station, police department, and even the staff at your local hospital. They work hard to keep us safe all year round!
Get Creative
My friend Beth hosts a cookie decorating party for her son’s friends every year. The moms drop their kids off for three hours.
The kids get to decorate cookies and play fun Christmas games while their moms get three hours to run errands.
Beth asks everyone that comes to bring a new, unused toy that she donates to our local children’s hospital.
Special Hostess Gifts
If you’re hosting a party this holiday season, ask your guests to make a donation to the charity of your choice instead of bringing you a bottle of wine or a hostess gift. You can collect their checks and make a donation after the party.
Holiday Mail for Heroes
Have your kids draw pictures and write letters to send to our veterans who are spending their holidays in the hospital instead of at home with their families. Go Kid Yourself shares more information on how you can get involved with this wonderful program.
If you love the holidays as much as I do, click here to download my free eBook – FUN! Holiday Traditions.
I’ve compiled 20 pages worth of my favorite traditions to get you through Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and Winter.
Click here to download it now. (And you can also share YOUR holiday traditions while you’re there!)
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This is a real awsome post. Very helpful. I think I might want to sit down and help my kids write some heroes-mail tonight. Good luck to you tonight :-)
Fab post Anna! I love all these ideas and will be sharing it in the morning – off to sign up to get your ebook as well – thanks!
Great post Anna and love the Holiday cookie party. My younger is born right around Thanksgiving time (her birthday falls on Black Friday this year) and think as she gets older could even use this as a Birthday party idea, too!!
Thanks :)
Wonderful suggestions! We’ve never gone ‘elfing’ – that sounds like fun :) One of our traditions is to create all the tags for the angels adopted at our church. And I love your idea of mail for our soldiers!!