Each year I like to try and get our stuff organised so that December can be spent enjoying festive activities as a family and doing things to bring Joy to others. I am not doing too well with this goal at the moment, as I have barely started shopping and have some rather ambitious goals to make some natural decorations after being inspired at a stately home last year, but despite this I still feel quite in control, so I think its okay (for now)!
In preparation for our families tradition of a random acts of kindness/giving spree throughout December, last week for family night we spoke to the kids about being kind and loving others. We taught the kids (again) why we have Christmas, whose birth we remember and celebrate, how he received 3 lovely gifts and so will they, and how its about remembering others like he did and what we can give to them…We had a great discussion and chose to include how Santa is being so kind as to bring us a stocking of goodies too on Christmas day and how we can choose lovely things to give to people and also do kind things for people so that they feel happy at Christmas time.
We then went onto the “how we will be kind” and this year we decided, after some inspiration from my sister in law, to ask for the kids input on what we can do for others to show kindness at Christmas time and to help them feel loved. I usually will come up with ideas from Pinterest or go off previous years successes on how we will go about spreading Christmas Cheer, but this year it feels like they are at a good age to really own it and start getting a feel about it being a time to give, and so here is what they came up with after our little lesson/Discussion!
1. Give someone some sparkles
2. Invite someone to our house to play with our toys
3. Take an old person out to the park so they can go on the swings(????)
4. Give some chocolate treats to somebody
5. Give our old toys to children that have got none
6. See all the Doggies and keep them warm (Dogs trust???)
7. Give someone a lovely picture
8. Bake some tasty treats but not eat them ourselves…give them to somebody else!
9. Invite someone to our house for some dinner
10. Take somebody some dinner then they don’t have to make it
11. Give someone some new clothes cos they might not have some
12. Give someone some gloves if they’re cold
13. Read some story books to the the poorly children in their beds
14. If someone’s poorly then give them some medicine
15. If someone’s died then they will be sad so do something nice
16. People like sweets – give them some sweets
17. Do a nice party and then they can dance
18. If peoples don’t have food then we can just give them ours
I absolutely am overjoyed with their list and I think it is so much better and way more heartfelt than anything I could have come up with. Some of their ideas really make me laugh and others perhaps a little abstract, but a welcomed challenge…It looks like we will be very busy being kindness elves over the next few weeks, and I love the direction we are headed for this season.
Ethan said to me during this discussion “but mummy we are sad that Poppy died so people should help us”!!! Oh man – this made me shed a tear at how he recognises our own pain at this time of year, but I hope that in there, there can be another lesson that despite our own struggles we can always find something to give to make Christmas nice for another.
What are some of your traditions to spread Christmas Cheer?
This is just gorgeous and such a lovely idea (I may pinch when my daughter is older. They have got such kind spirits and some lovely ideas. I hope you all get organised and can do some of these acts of kindness on the list before Santa comes. I also hope you can remember Poppy and not feel too sad at this time of year. Thanks for linking with #bestandworst and see you soon x
Thanks Sarah – You totally should, its a lot of fun to do nice things and to have them think of others! I really need to write a Christmas plan I think so that I don’t forget something and then stress! x
Aw such a lovely post! We don’t have many Christmas traditions at the moment as my little boy is 15months so just about to get away with the 2nd Xmas without him knowing what is going on. We will be starting some traditions this year and making sure we celebrate in our house rather than travel to family across the country which will be a big one for us. #bestandworst
That is such a lovely idea to get them to think about kindness and giving – I love how you’ve got them so involved. They have come up with some fantastic ideas – good luck implementing them! #bestandworst
What an amazing list…you must be so proud of what they said. I love that they want to take an old person on the swings, that is the best one! It must be a difficult time of year for you all and I know Poppy won’t be far from your thoughts but maybe spreading a little joy will help too xx
Oh Mary you must be so proud of this list. Also love the comment about an old person on the swings. But when you are a child, anyone over the age of 40 is old, so they can take me lol. I can imagine the build up to Christmas is both exciting and painful at times. Thank you for sharing Mary. I am just wondering what my own children would come up with xx