Teaching Kids to Give During the Holidays and Every Day

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Capital One for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Community Christmas

It’s the season of good will, generosity, and appreciation for friends, family, and loved ones. Sometimes that can get lost in the hub-bub of glitz and shopping.  The holiday wish list of a child can go on for miles. New toys, the latest video games, and the hottest trends fill their dreams. But, for parents, the gift is seeing the happy looks on their faces when they open their presents. It’s the reciprocal of gratitude that we all wish for.

Teaching kids to give during the holiday and every day, is a gift that will last a lifetime. Learning to give to others will enforce an appreciation of what they have, too! Sharing and teaching is easier than you think. There are many opportunities to teach children to give, especially during the holiday…

Donation box with children toys on red background close-up

  • Have children buy a special toy to give to another child in need. Visit local foster-care facilities or do a simple search for a local children’s shelter, so they can witness the child they are giving to open it.
  • Arrange for you and your child to volunteer at a homeless shelter or food bank.
  • Organize a coat drive with your local school or community center. Have your child be a part of delivering the coats to the organization.
  • Write letters to the troops stationed overseas. It’s amazing how a hand-written letter will make such a difference.
  • Create homemade gifts and hand them out at you local retirement home or hospital. It will brighten everyone’s spirits.
  • Most importantly, lead by example. Kids are like little sponges and absorb the attitude those around them.
  • Go the extra mile and use a birthday to teach a huge lesson in the gift of giving. Instead of bringing presents for the birthday boy or girl, have guests bring presents to donate to a local charity.
  • Make a charity jar the entire family can donate to. Fill it with spare change or encourage your child to give a portion of their allowance or earned money to the jar. Once you have filled it, select a cause or charity to donate the funds to. Set a goal of increasing the donation amount for the next act of generosity.

It’s easy to integrate giving and the choice of generosity on a daily basis. Get the entire family or your community involved and create a positive way of teaching that works best for you. Sometimes, the act of making someone’s wish come true can be even more rewarding than any electronic gadget or new toy could be.  

Capital One wants you to share your wish for someone else with them! Be sure to use the #WishForOthers hashtag when sharing your wish on Twitter, Instagram, or the Capital One Facebook page from Nov. 24 through Dec. 23 and it may come true with the help of Capital One

Don’t forget to visit the Wish For Others website for more information and to see the wishes that other people have submitted so far!

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28 Comments
  1. Terry says

    Wish For Others is a great idea for many. We give a lot around this time of year through churches and rescue missions.

  2. Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says

    Teaching the kids to give back is such an important lesson. I have been working on that with my own boys.

  3. Jeanine says

    This is so important! I try to teach my kids about giving back as often as I can!

  4. Liz Mays says

    I really like the idea of homemade gifts and passing them out at retirement homes. That’s so thoughtful!

  5. Coolchillmom says

    It is do true we have to lead by example. I like your coat drive idea

  6. Sarah Bailey says

    This is such a great idea, I do think we get wrapped up in things and forget about others sometimes at this time of year.

  7. Lady Lilith says

    Before every holiday, we try to do some donations. While now we de-clutter our toys, the spring is for clothing. I find letting kids help others is really important.

  8. Melissa Smith says

    We always try to do a few random acts of kindness, like leaving extra quarters taped to the coin operated machines at the store. But I think that with my brother leaving for the Navy in June, that we’ll send Christmas cards to the troops this year too.

  9. aimee fauci says

    I hope my girls soak up how giving we are. I try and explain and show them how important it is. You can also gather up tons of art supplies and bring to the Child Advocacy Center.

  10. Krystal's Kitsch says

    I hope to donate a lot more this year. I have a lot to give!

  11. Lois Alter Mark says

    These are such good ideas. If we showed kids how to incorporate giving into every part of their lives from a young age, imagine how much better the world would be.

  12. Our Family World says

    Such a good concept, it’s great to teach kids that it is not only nice to get gifts but to give them as well!

  13. Theresa says

    We have our girls pick a girl their age to adopt off the angel tree each year. That way they see the power of giving to those just like them first hand.

  14. Ann Bacciaglia says

    Teaching kids to give is very important. Every year we woul go threw the kids toys and donate the ones they were not using.

  15. Pam says

    I was just talking to my husband tonight about where I want some of our donations to go to this holiday season. He gets a bonus and we always pass some of that on.

  16. Heather says

    We have been participating in charitable opportunities since my oldest was little, but at 6 she’s finally getting it!

  17. Alice Chase says

    Teaching our kids to give back all year long is so important but especially during a time when its easy to loose focus on what you are getting. This year my kids are helping me organize a toy drive too.

  18. Tough Cookie Mommy says

    It’s so important to teach kids about paying it forward. This is definitely the time of the year for them to learn these lessons.

  19. Chrissy Mazzocchi says

    It’s always important to show our kids the power of giving and teach them there is more to Christmas than receiving gifts.

  20. Life As A Convert says

    My kids really enjoy giving back. They do a few things on their own, but are also involved in things like 4-H that allow them to give back on a bigger level.

  21. Veronica says

    It is so important that kids learn that it is not all about receiving.

  22. Marielle Altenor says

    That video was too cute! For us we have my son pick out toys he doesn’t play with anymore and we give them to our local Salvation Army or Goodwill store.

  23. Rosey says

    I love the idea of making a wish for someone else and having it come true. It’s also great to have the change jar for the kids (for donating) like you mentioned.

  24. Danielle says

    I know that I need to start helping my son be more giving during the holidays. I know that now he is 7 he can fully understand what is mean by giving.

  25. April says

    I love these ideas. I haven’t been encouraging them in the last couple of years between being pregnant and moving. We’ll have to jump back in it this season.

  26. Melissa Vera says

    I agree it is important to show how it is important to give back throughout the year. I love these ideas you posted.

  27. Dee says

    Such an important lesson. We just picked a little girl to “adopt” off of our Church Christmas tree.

  28. Amber NElson says

    It is important to teach the reason for the season. Giving is a huge part of it.

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