Cultivating Gratitude This Season
The holiday season is a time of joy, gifts, and celebration. However, amidst the glittering lights and endless wish lists, it's easy for children to slip into a mindset of entitlement. While there's nothing wrong with a bit of holiday indulgence, this season offers a beautiful opportunity to teach your kids the values of giving back, gratitude, and meaningful connection.
This month's newsletter is here to help! We’ve included several impactful activities to help your family move away from materialism and toward the spirit of generosity. Best of all, these activities can be seamlessly folded into your own holiday festivities. Together, let’s make this a season of giving back.
With gratitude,
—MiaLisa Millares, Executive Director
ACTIONS
DIY Care Packages
Gather your family to put together care packages for those in need. Include items like warm socks, snacks, toiletries, and a handwritten note. Deliver them to a local shelter or someone in need in your community. Follow your activity with some meaningful reading and conversations from our book list and conversation starters.
Show Gratitude for Delivery Workers
Take time to thank the people who work hard delivering packages all season long. They work extra hard this time of year. A little thanks can go a long way.
Bake and Deliver
Spend an afternoon baking cookies or brownies as a family, then deliver them to neighbors, teachers, or community workers as a thank you for all that they do. To make it extra special and personal, let your child write an appreciation note to go with it.
Read About Holiday Traditions
There are so many different holiday traditions in our world! Read about some of them together to gain a world perspective and to better appreciate the traditions of other people
Shop Kind
Our Shop Kind store offers a variety of gift options that inspire kindness. This years make a difference with your holiday shopping. Your loved ones will surely appreciate gifts that spread kindness and joy.
Volunteer
Sign up for a family-friendly volunteer activity or get some ideas to volunteer at home! Whether it’s serving meals at a soup kitchen or cleaning up a local park, working together for a cause builds empathy and teamwork. Subscribe now to our monthly volunteer opportunities in your inbox.
CONVERSATIONS
What are some acts of kindness that you have experienced recently that made you feel appreciated?
How do you express your gratitude towards others in your daily life?
Are there any specific individuals or groups that you feel deserve more recognition and appreciation for their contributions?
In what ways do you believe gratitude and appreciation can positively impact relationships and communities?
Have you ever been surprised by someone's appreciation for you? How did it make you feel?
Can you think of a time when expressing gratitude and appreciation helped to resolve a conflict or improve a situation?
How do you plan to incorporate acts of gratitude and appreciation into your daily routine?
READ
Winter Holiday Book List
Use this holiday book list to dive into the season with intentionality around learning about different customs and traditions. The spirit of wonder, hope, and generosity in each story below helps us see clearly that people everywhere have so much in common, even amid our beautiful differences. Find stories in the list below that celebrate winter holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Diwali, Winter Solstice, Saint Lucia Day, and more.
INSPIRATION
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
—Winston Churchill