Every year, I get overwhelmed in the Christmas season.  There are so many activities & traditions that I want to do with my kids that when I sit down and plan, I just feel totally overwhelmed.  This year, I am trying to remember what Christmas is about & be intentional that our days are filled with a Christmas season that is meaningful & carries the Christmas magic.  Christmas is a time to celebrate Christ.  Christmas is a time of spreading love and cheer.  And Christmas is not only about receiving, but also giving. I love this quote, “If we all make today awesome for somebody else, today will be awesome for everyone”.  This quote is one that should be used in our day to day life, but the Christmas season is the perfect time to celebrate the lives of those around us. Kids, just like adults, can find the true joy in Christmas by giving to others.  I intentionally try to teach them that Christmas is a season to be kind, share their love, and give to others.  I’m hoping that the more I encourage gratitude and kindness, the more it will become a habit. There is no better to spread some joy than in the Christmas season.  There are so many simple things that you can do with your children to help encourage kindness and the spirit of giving, especially in the busy holiday season.  Below, I am sharing five simple that you can encourage kids to give back this holiday season.

One Way to Give Back this Holiday Season

1.  We all know that we are going to shop and give this holiday season, but here is an easy way that you can give back while doing your holiday shopping.  Shop from companies who care and strive to be a more conscious gift giver this holiday season.  Conscious gift giving is shopping for and purchasing gifts that are meaningful & will be loved for years to come.  Be mindful of how where gifts are made and choose items that reflect the values that you believe in and gives to causes that you believe in. There are so many wonderful places to shop that truly care and are inspired to make a change in the world  One of our favorite picks for kids is a cuddle & kind doll.

Every precious cuddle+kind doll is made by hand in Peru. They are lovingly hand knit, hand loomed, embroidered and crocheted by artisans using knitting expertise that has been handed down through generations.  Every beautifully crafted cuddle+kind doll is knit with such a high level of quality and care, they’re suitable to be heirlooms handed down from one lucky baby to the next.

Inspired by a documentary on childhood hunger, the family behind cuddle & kind decided to start a company whose purpose is to help improve the lives of children and to make a difference.  All of the women artisans are provided with a sustainable, fair trade income that allows them to care for their families.  Every doll purchased gives ten meals to children in need.  In the past two years, cuddle & kind have donated over 1,527,878 meals.  Their goal is to provide one million meals a year.

If you are looking to shop from a company that cares, these dolls the perfect & adorable gift for children of all ages.

Here are four other ways that you can give back this holiday season:

2.  Get involved in local community activities that give back.  Both my boys’ elementary school & our local church have several ways that we can give to others during the holiday season.  This year, our family has participated in several opportunities to give back. The kids have enjoyed shopping for gifts to place under the giving tree, collecting food for the local food shelter, and donating colored pencils & crayons for shoeboxes being packed for children in Haiti this holiday season.

3.  Teach your children about St. Nick, another name for Santa Claus.  St. Nicholas was actually a real Saint who was known for being kind, helping those in need, and for his love for children.  St. Nicholas often left things for those in need, without wanting any rewards or publicity.  By reading stories & teaching your child about St. Nick, you can encourage kids to give to others.

4.  Read stories that encourage holiday giving.  Stories are one of my favorite way to encourage behaviors that we want to instill in our children.  Some of our favorite picture books that inspire kindness and giving include:  The Berenstain Bears & the Joy of Giving, The Legend of St. Nicholas, and Silver Packages.

5.  Last, but certainly not least, encourage everyday acts of kindness to others.  Giving doesn’t have to be hard or a lot of work.  You can give to others by just some simple acts of love.  One of my favorite ideas that I was inspired to create this holiday season was a simple, Spreading Kindness jar.  I filled the jar with super simple acts of kindness that we ideas that I have included a simple printable that we have shared in the past, that encourages kids to “Spread Love & Kindness” during the Christmas season.

Regardless of what holiday is celebrated this season, the spirit of giving rings throughout the entire winter season.  We hope that these 5 simple ways encourage your family to spread the love and kindness this year and in the future!

Disclosure:  This is not a sponsored post. We did however receive Cuddle & Kind dolls in exchange for this post.  All thoughts and opinions are our own.