Time is precious, especially around the holidays. So it’s often easier to order something for your child’s favorite aunt during lunch hour, have it wrapped and then simply hand it to the child give it to her.
This won’t harm your child’s ability to relate to others, but it isn’t likely to foster a lifelong love of giving.
An alternative is to set aside time to make something. Two things will happen: Your child will value the time with you in ways you’ll never realize; and putting him or herself into the gift will make it all the more fun to give.
Resolve in advance that this is going to take time – so close the laptop and ignore the ringing smartphone. Decide that this will be the child’s gift and the more he or she puts into it the more valuable it will be.
A little help is invaluable, but try to resist the overpowering temptation to do it for her. Talking a little about who will get the gift can be fun.
It’s almost impossible for a toddler to think about what another person likes, but making cookies together and packing them in small boxes; sticking cloves in oranges to be hung in closets; coloring a popsicle stick frame (before you put the photo in it) could all be done by your toddler with your help.
Read the whole article for more thoughts about using this holiday season to help young children learn to love giving as much as receiving gifts.
The Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development helps children understand and manage their feelings for success in school and life; and works with parents and child-facing professionals to do the same. Services include a preschool and state-chartered kindergarten, a classroom for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, mental health clinic for children and adolescents, and outreach/training for early childhood educators and other professionals.
