Q: This holiday season, my child will spend time with family,
attend some events and open gifts. I want him to enjoy every moment, but I’d
also like him to understand that giving back to our community is just as
important. Do you have any suggestions for volunteering with a five-year-old
child?
A: Your child is at a great age to begin building caring habits.
There are many ways a family with a young child can get involved in helping
others this holiday.
Here are some ideas:
• Find out if a local food
bank needs
help sorting donations. Spend an afternoon helping out as a family. Your child
will also be working on his sorting skills!
• Collect and donate
clothing that
everyone in your family has outgrown. Ask your child to look through his
closet, too.
• Make holiday cards with your child. Take them
to a local nursing home. You can also bake some cookies to go with the cards.
• Talk with your child about the fact that some
children won’t get any gifts during the holidays. Think of a small gift that
you can make together and take it to a donation site.
Don’t forget to tell your child you are proud
of him for helping someone else have a happy holiday!
Read more ideas from Helping Children Learn newsletter.
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© 2012, The Parent Institute®, www.parent-institute.com
