December 2009 Issue

Children by nature are self-centered. We can't really blame them as we've made it very clear that we will care and provide for them since the day they were born. That's our job after all, right?

Yes, but it's also our job to teach them that they are very lucky to have a roof over their heads, loving families, food in their bellies, clothes on their back and a Wii game system in their bedroom. Greedy children are created by parents who give them tons of crap without perspective. Don't be that parent! There are enough selfish, materialistic jerks in this world without adding our children to this pathetic bunch.

Volunteering

It's never too early to teach kids compassion for others. I don't mean simply telling them "kids are starving in Africa," when they refuse to eat their dinner. Understanding the plight of others comes with first-hand experiences doing things that make a difference.

Volunteering with your children creates family bonding and models the importance of helping fellow human beings or animals, depending on which cause you decide to pursue. While we should be instilling the value of helping others all year-round, the winter holidays bring more opportunities to do so and can develop into a meaningful holiday tradition.

Choosing an organization depends largely on your child's age, interests, and comfort level in new situations. You could help directly, like serving at the Christmas meal at Union Depot, or indirectly, like shopping for gifts for a family that will be dropped off at a shelter or other organization. See the organization guide in this issue of P.U.L.P. and call around to determine what might be a good fit for your family.

Giving with a Conscience

A Sri Lankan friend has a family tradition of celebrating his daughter's birthday each year with children from a local orphanage. They bring treats and small gifts for all the children. I love this idea of transforming a very "all-about-me" occasion into one you share with others who are less fortunate. This same principal can be applied during the holidays.

Most have witnessed the scene on Christmas morning of a frenzied child tearing through piles of wrapped boxes. A short-lived moment of ecstasy followed soon by a sense of disappointment that it's over. Most gifts are enjoyed for a while and end up in the back of the closet never to be played with again. So why not get just a few special items that can really be appreciated?

You can also try replacing one or two toys with gifts that help others in your child's name and teach them that it is important to think of the needs of others. Children are enthusiastic about giving to others when they are given the chance. There are many toy drives around town that provide this opportunity. Here are some other ideas to get you started:

Heifer International
My son gets very excited every time we get a Heifer International catalog in the mail. He even has a special section of his bank devoted to buying animals for families. Heifer International (www.heifer.org) sells "gifts" that provide animals to families in developing countries. For example: a family could receive honeybees for producing and selling honey or a goat for producing milk. These gifts give poor families a way of earning an income and becoming self-sufficient. This is a great charitable organization for kids as they have a lot of great visual materials with pictures of the animals as well as the individuals and families receiving the gifts.

Seva
Seva (www.seva.org) is an international organization that offers the opportunity to contribute to specific projects of your choice. Some of these include eye surgeries, community gardens, and training local health workers.

Local Ideas
There are many more of these organizations out there and a quick Internet search will help you find what you are looking for. If want to give locally see the list of organizations in this issue of P.U.L.P.

So this year when it's time to plan holiday activities and shop for your children, think of ways to do it so that your kids are not the only ones benefiting. Adding these aspects to your holiday will make them much more meaningful for everyone involved.

Photo Caption: Jake Lyell Lucas Selvester, 8, with the family's heifer in Getenga Village in the Tarime District of the Mara Region of Tanzania. Cows not only provide milk but also produce manure that can be used as organic fertilizer to increase crop yields on small farms. (Photo courtesy of Heifer International/March, 2008)

Questions or topics that you'd like to see covered? Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it