healthykids
Gifts for Good
Instilling Generosity and joy in
Children
by Elisa Bosley
Every December, parents like me lament the “gimme” culture that so
easily overtakes the holidays. But with environmental and social justice
issues gaining ground and everyone rethinking economic priorities,
introducing your child to opportunities for alternative giving can make a
world of difference.
E
ven little changes—such as adding a charity to the fam-
Go Eco
ily’s giving tradition—can have a profound impact on
When nothing but a tangible gift will do, scour natural shops,
how a child approaches the holidays. The idea is not to
where you’ll find high-quality items made with personal
make a child feel bad about wanting stuff or be guilted into
and planetary health in mind. Options abound: adorable,
giving to others. Only cheerful giving makes a lasting difference.
organic, stuffed animals and nontoxic wooden toys make
The following tips will help everyone tap into a deeper joy this
babies and toddlers smile. Even picky teens might appreci-
holiday season by embracing altruistic and Earth-friendly gifts.
ate a sustainable-harvest bamboo skateboard (reportedly
stronger than conventional decks), or trendy, organic-fiber
Reframe the List
apparel. Also consider scouting high-end consignment stores
Rather than instituting a blanket prohibition on traditional
for barely used and cost-conscious clothes and toys. Then,
gifts, consider asking your child to name the two or three
encourage low-impact wrappings, such as cloth napkins,
items he or she most wants to receive. Then, gently turn the
kitchen towels or an old standby, the Sunday comics.
focus outward by generating a new list, asking, “What do
Give and Do Good
you love the most?”
When shopping, look for fair-trade items, which means that pro-
Aside from the obvious (“Cookies!” “My iPod!”), try
ducers were paid honest wages for their wares. Jewelry, choco-
to capture your child’s fondness for certain things: animals,
lates, toys and more can be sourced from such fair-trade compa-
people, places or hobbies. Then ask, “How can we give a
nies as those found at WorldofGood.org and BeadforLife.org.
gift to that?” For example, if your daughter says “Bears,” ask
The nifty, solar-powered BOGO (Buy One/Give One) flash-
if she’d like to give money to help protect panda or griz-
light at BogoLight.com does more than illuminate your keyhole;
zly habitats. Play up your son’s fondness for tree forts by
for every light purchased, another is donated to a grateful com-
donating to a tree-planting group. There are endless ways to
munity in the developing world. When you buy the UN World
creatively encourage giving to a cause that matters to a child.
Food Programme’s reversible burlap and muslin FEED bag,
proceeds feed one impoverished child for one school year; it’s
available at Amazon.com.
Volunteer
Return to the list you generated with your child and pick some-
thing you can do together in your town as a gift to your family’s
place in the world. Do your kids love outings near the water?
Spend an hour picking up trash along a local shoreline or creek.
Do they enjoy the company of other kids? Have them box up
gently used or new clothes, books and toys and deliver them to
a family shelter housing homeless children. Whatever you do,
make it your child’s choice. You’ll likely find that altruistic giving
is a lot like cooking: Once kids get involved, they eat it up.
38 Broward County
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