Spinoff to donating toys - holiday tradition

This year I will have Ryan buy a new toy to donate to a child before the holidays, and box up several of his old toys. I want him to realize toys and the luxury of them shouldn't be taken for granted. I already recently spoke to him about Thanksgiving and being thankful - for families, jobs, friends, etc.

What do you to instill these values in your DC?

Message edited 11/9/2010 4:58:37 PM.

Re: Spinoff to donating toys - holiday tradition

I am planning to do the same with DD and DS (but he won't really understand). I want them to get rid of toys. We have too many and they will get plenty more.

We also adopted a family so I plan to take DD shopping to help me buy, wrap and give it away to a family in need.

Re: Spinoff to donating toys - holiday tradition

Before their birthdays and Christmas we go through the toys and books to find things to donate.

We donate school supplies and toys at the holidays to John Theissen Children's Foundation and they help me shop and donate the items.

We answer 2 letter from NY Cares Winter Wishes each year. They help me shop, wrap and send.

Every month we alternate between selecting a military unit from Any Airman or donating to a school project at Donors Choose For the military units they help me shop for some of the requested items, they draw pictures, help me pack the boxes up and come with me to mail them. For the school projects I pick a few and read them to them and we vote as a family. When the thank you notes from the class come we read them and talk about how nice it feels to help people.

I feel like we are very fortune and want them to understand that not everyone is so lucky as to have lots of toys and books and clothes. It seems to be working, throughout the year they will occasionally bring me a toy and ask me if we can donate it to kids who can't afford new toys.

Re: Spinoff to donating toys - holiday tradition

I instill values, yes

No I wont have her buy a toy and donate it. Sure she can learn to pack up what she has, but instead we just don't buy her a million things. Life is a gift so is family. The toy can be small or big its the love in the home that makes it count. So even now at 2 she's not used to opening lots of gifts. I think 2 maybe 3 is plenty.

Thanksgiving is not about being thankful in our home its just family time. Watch football, eat well and complain about the US commercializing a horrible event in the eyes of our ancestors. Not exactly much to be thankful about. Other than being thankful for our health, the ability to have a feast, to have family and to recongize its the end of a long year.

Xmas is our thanksgiving of family and thankful for all the joys in life. Its the time of year to feel as if one year is ending with fresh starts and new beginnings to look forward to. Its joy and fun, love and laughter.


ETA: i dont want her to give only one time of the year.. its all year every month not just because its a season. But I'm not buying a gift. I can't afford it really. But she needs to learn to pass on what she has to others to enjoy as much as she has.

I will however pass on the tradition of adopting a family and she'll go out like I did and help deliver a meal on thanksgiving as show of 'thanks'. Again only because its the only time we can do something like that. We were taught to NOT look at these events like "oh good, that's off our list" but just as a resource provided to offer to others in need. Even when we were in need we found a way to help. meh JMHO

Message edited 11/9/2010 5:31:56 PM.

Re: Spinoff to donating toys - holiday tradition

We do our annual Angel Tree shopping. We pick a needy family and buy food and gifts together for them. I like to look for boys around their age so they can help shop. I think this helps them to realize that there are people who are in need and it gives them that warm feeling that comes from helping. They really enjoy it.

On Christmas Morning they pick one of their new gifts to give to a child in need. They don't LOVE that.. but it helps them to understand sacrifice. They deliberate over the decision for quite some time. And they don't always pick the smallest or least liked gift as you might expect.

They also have to choose one of their gifts and let their brother play with it FIRST. I think this gives them a sense of sharing and community.

Re: Spinoff to donating toys - holiday tradition

I was just telling DD the other night how we will select a special child (or two) to buy special Christmas gifts for this year...she was so sad/surprised/taken aback when she said "not all kids get Christmas presents??"