Getting Children Involved in the Community
QUESTION
Our family isn't religious. Do you have ideas to engage children in the community during the holidays that aren't focused on religion?
ANSWER
When the Christmas season starts, we all know the lights go up and people start driving around enjoying them. Well, turn this into a time of giving! Take along someone who wouldn't normally be able to get out and enjoy the lights. (Many senior citizens cannot get out) After viewing the lights go back to your house, make hot chocolate and enjoy your own lights.
A friend writes a thank you note and wraps a small ornament. While driving around viewing the lights she has the kids vote on the best lit house. The winner gets the ornament award in their mailbox. It doesn't matter how elaborate the ornament is, the important thing is spreading the Christmas cheer!
Be a Secret Santa for a family. Many businesses have trees with names of children or families in need. Pick a name and have a blast shopping knowing that you are helping someone enjoy the season.
Have your children go through their own toys and pick the toys that are still in good shape to pass on to women's shelters.
--Kas
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Kas Winters
Kas Winters, the "Mother of Family Ideas", provides resources to help families thrive. An author, illustrator, publisher and public speaker, this grandmother creates books, offers hundreds of family activity articles on her website and does workshops for parents and children. She also represents almost 70 other authors and helps writers get their words into print.
Kas is passionate about helping children develop a positive self-image, providing hands-on experiences that give them confidence, and building strong supportive relationships. Her basic philosophy is that children learn best when they think they are having fun and her book, "Mother Lode" includes more than 5,000 simple, activities for toddlers through teens making learning on any topic enjoyable and developing children's imaginations. Her ideas use everyday materials, usually free, which helps to make parenting easy. Kas has been the resident "family activities expert" on Pregnancy.org for a couple of years.
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