We've started lining up our activities for the 25 Days of Giving. I'd like to encourage you to join us. This doesn't have to be a difficult, expensive endeavor. There are many, many ways you can teach your children about how to show kindness and love to others without spending a dime.
To get your ideas flowing, here are a handful of free (or nearly free) activities for you to consider this year.
- Making cards to give to friends telling them what is special about them.
- Calling a family member they don't normally talk to on the phone.
- Making artwork or cards and taking them to a nursing home.
- Baking cookies for neighbors.
- Baking cookies for firefighters and delivering them on Christmas.
- Tidying up the neighborhood. Picking up trash.
- Making a list of things they love about each of their family members and share with the family.
- Do something kind for someone secretly.
- Have a free car wash (warmer climates obviously).
- Make sandwiches to hand out to homeless people.
- Visit an animal shelter and pet the kitties & puppies.
- Visit family and neighbors collecting scarves and hats for homeless people.
- Do a chore for a neighbor or a grandparent.
- Taking some canned food to the food bank (or the grocery store donation bin).
- Donating some of their outgrown clothes to an organization that gives them to children in need.
- Donate a pair of gently worn shoes to Soles 4 Souls.
- Walk the neighbor's dog.
- Host a party to collect needed items for a local charity.
- Scrape the ice off your neighbor's car as a surprise.
- Volunteer to serve a meal at a local soup kitchen.
- Make a meal together to bring to a family that is sick or has a new baby.
- Purposefully play with someone who your child doesn't normally play with.
- Stay late at school or sunday school to help clean up.
- Write notes of appreciation to coaches and teachers.
- Have a bake sale or a lemonade stand to raise money for your favorite cause.
- Take a day to educate your children about poverty and pray for those suffering.
- Visit a nursing home.
- Draw a picture/make a card for your pilot (if you are flying)
- Drop change in a Salvation Army bucket.
- Write personal notes & cards to family members.
- Send a Christmas card to a recovering soldier.
A Recovering American Soldier c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue NW Washington,D.C. 20307-5001
You get the idea!! There are tons of things you and your children can do that don't cost much money! Even if you can't commit to 25 Days of Giving, try committing to 10, or 15!
What are other free or very low cost ways children can bless others?
