The Green Parent

The holiday gift-giving season is an appropriate time to involve children in charitable giving and teach them why the old adage, “It is better to give than to receive,” is true.  Here are five great ways for parents to lead by example and teach their children the true spirit of the holidays.

1. As a family, select a charitable organization you’d like to support.  Use online tools like  to find an organization that you trust.  Give your children a budget and encourage them to decide how your family will donate to that organization this holiday.

2.

Cherish the stories of your family. Have your children talk to their grandparents and write down the stories of their past. Create a book to share with the entire family or record it online through .

3. Consider do-it-yourself gifts, like no-sew fleece blankets, that you can make with your children. Donate those blankets to a local homeless shelter. Find other homemade gift ideas at About.com’s 

4.

Work with your children to create a  for your neighbors that might need an extra hand this year.  Coupons could include shoveling their sidewalk, watching their children, or providing a meal.

5. Bake cookies or sweets with your children and deliver them to your local nursing home or school-in-need. Get started with this list of .

by Devin Hermanson, a charitable giving expert and national director of