How to Take a Little of the "ME ME ME," Out of Christmas for Small Children.

Keep doing what you're doing- they'll get it. My two older boys are in college now and they called to ask "what are we doing for Christmas" and I knew just what they meant!! They want to know who we are doing something for this year. My kids were brought up with a sense of giving. I was a single Mom of three for a lot of years and there were years when all I could afford for my own kids was a book, but we always gave. They have learned to be good citizens and giving people in a world where it sometimes seems ME,ME,ME. Good for you in raising them with a sense of responsibility toward others :)
Peace and Merry Christmas, T.

We're an atheist family that celebrates Winter Solstice and Christmas, although our reasons for celebrating Christmas obviously haven't anything to do with the religious reasons, but more to do with family and giving. Every year, before the winter holidays, we go through the toys and clothes that they have (as a family). we select toys and clothes to give to the D.I., Big Brothers & Big Sisters and The Salvation Army, all the while,explaining that there are families less fortunate than our own. My husband and I explain to them, during this process, that what we're doing is kind of like what Santa does...giving to others. We also have them help contribute to Toys for Tots and Salvation Army's monetary collections, so that they're active in the process (they use part of their allowance for these things). Truth be told though, you can only explain to them so much of what the holiday season is about when they're still this young and caught up in the excitement. Mine understand (to an extent) the giving part of it, but they're still excited about presents. I figure if I'm doing what I can to set a good example while they're this young, when they get older and have continually be exposed to it all..they'll finally get the message,especially by my husband and myself leading by example. I'm sure yours will as well. It sounds like you're on the right track already. Good luck!

Hi A.. It sounds like you are on a great track and I'm sure it will sink in eventually for your kids. I'm trying to enforce the same values for my 3 year old. A tradition that I remember as a child is that we have a birthday cake for Jesus Christmas Eve night. Last year it was a huge hit with my little girl. She is already talking about how Jesus' birthday is coming up. She also adds that Santa will bring him presents. For now I'm satisfied that she has a good concept for her young age.

We are also starting something new this year with my sister and my husband's siblings. Rather than buying gifts for the adults we are all going to pick out angel trees. Whatever money we would have spent on each other will go to less fortunate children. I hope to continue this tradition to show my own children as well as their cousins about giving. Good luck!

I just borrowed a great book from the library called "From Innocence to Entitlement" by the folks at the Love and Logic institute. It's all about how to help our kids stay sweet instead of have the "ME ME MEs." Hope that helps! I'm excited about the things it's teaching me. I was starting to get discouraged about the gimme's at our house! Plus, with Christmas coming it does seem super-timely!

They are young and as they grow they will enjoy helping you Giving and Doing for others during this season. I got some crafty things for my daughter to make when she was pretty young.. probably about 4 yrs. old. Of course they were projects that I had to help with, but the idea was to get her excited about the giving process. Since she made little gifts herself she was very excited about giving them and of course was so happy about the responses from those she gave them to. She now helps me with easy cooking/baking items too. I have also ordered little craft kits from "Oriental Trading Co" they have lots to choose from. Happy Holidays!!

I agree with Elizabeth O in this one. I have taught my children that it is about giving. Every year about this time, my children go through their toys and clothes to give to the DI and the toys we take to Primary Childrens Hospital or Davis Hospital to give to the children who are in the hospital during Christmas. My daughter asked me to do this in Aug this year. She is now 8 and this is something I have done since she was old enough to know that Christmas is coming. I think this is something that not only teaches them to give to others but to enjoy it also. Good Luck and happy holidays

I think you have done a great job trying to show them that it is more giving then receiving! This is one thing that I have found children have a hard time with the concept that it isn't about the gifts, especially at such a young age! I sure hope you can get through to them, but always remember they are still young! Another thing is, on Christmas morning, it is great to see all the gifts together, but this shows how much they got and tends to add to the greed! Try making it fun with taking turns, and slowly enjoy each gift! Good luck! Merry Christmas!

Keep doing what you are doing. Stay consistent.

Hi A. my first thought on your question is do they go to sunday school? they teach what Christmas is really about. my granddaughters also understand its about Jesus simple and sweet, they are never to young to learn about Jesus Merry Christmas..Vickie

Hi A.,

I don't know if you have ever heard the phase "The reason for the Season" but I sure you can figure it out. Have you ever read the Christmas story from the Bible? There are childrens Bibles that can be read at their level of understanding. Maybe that is where to start. Do you remember in "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" (or whatever its call) Charlie Brown cries out "Doesn't anyone know the meaning of Christmas?" and Linus reads something from the Bible thats saids "Today in the town of David; a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger". This is not about religion (religion is us, humans trying to reach God) its about God reaching down to us. Another place saids "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This is why the Christians celebrate the birth of a child that lived more than 20000 years ago. He gave to us his love so we are to love others and giving to other is a way to do that, but not just at Christmas time. I hope you think about this. If you want to know more or find a church that believes in the "reason for the season" please let me know.

L. Smith

Your doing great and it takes time for children sometimes because Christmas is so commercialized. Children are very visual, when mine where little we took them to a live Nativity play, it was outside and really great. I would read the story books for years straight from the bible and they loved them but something about seeing it helped it all click.

Also- picking a project focused on giving is always great. There are plenty of places in need. We make our christmas gifts that we give. They can be as simple as Christmas ornmaments. Familyfun.com has alot of fun crafts kids can made.

Baking is always fun and sharing it with others, children love to cook..

At the first of the month we always go through what we have and see if there is anything we can get rid of and pass along to someone else if it is still in good shape. Making room for what is to come and such.

Hope this helps, C.