The holidays can be a cheerful and magical time of year. However, for many people the holidays can bring stress, loneliness or excitement. This time of year can be a stressful time for parents as they try hard to avoid disappointing their children and reward them for good behavior throughout the year. The added stress of finding the right gift and making to holidays feel magical can leave parents feeling burdened. Ultimately, the overwhelming stress can transform what should be a “jolly time” into a “dreadful time”. There are many ways to celebrate the holidays while maintaining that magical spirit the season brings. Giving can be a great way to bring inspiration during the holiday season. 

The Spirit of Giving   

Children struggle with giving and sharing at all ages. As children mature and move closer to adulthood giving becomes much easier. Depending on the caregivers capacity to give and share with others, some children may be more likely to give than others. Lifestyle and culture can greatly impact a child’s inclination to give. The United States has been a country predominantly known throughout the world for giving. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, the United States estimates that individual giving amounted to $228.93 billion in 2019, an increase of 3.9 percent in current dollars (1.9%, adjusted for inflation) from 2018. However, many recent financial crises have served as a discouragement to engage in giving. Nevertheless, giving can have a positive impact on individual well-being.

Nurturing the Spirit of Giving

Nurturing the spirit of giving in children can be quite challenging. However, children learn best through parent modeling. Encouraging your children to adopt your attitude of selflessness can reinforce thoughtful acts of kindness, service and leadership. Teaching children to take the focus off themselves can help them be less obsessive over what gifts they plan to receive. Children are highly sensitive to the stress of their caregivers. Prompting children to refocus their efforts to give can help alleviate some of the stressors parents face in trying to exceed their child’s wish list. Also, teaching children alternative ways to give including; time, talents and skills can help children recognize the value in non-monetary ways of giving back. Remember, today it is easier to give monetary gifts than it is to give others our time and support. Encouraging non-monetary giving can help children recognize how they can be of value to society without great financial wealth. 

Spend Time with Your Family During the Holidays and All Year 

Many people take this week off from work and school to spend time with their families. The holidays are a good time to strengthen our connections and renew relationships. So turn off the cell phones, computers and televisions and take time to focus on your family. Research shows that families who spend time together are strong families. They communicate better and share a sense of belonging. Here are a few ideas you can try to spend time with your family.

Family game night. Spend at least one night during the holidays with the TV off and the family huddled together to play a favorite game. You may play cards, bingo or any other family favorite. Consider continuing this practice throughout the year and designate at least one night per week as family game night.

• Go for a walk. After eating rich holiday foods, taking a walk provides not only time together but a great way to get some exercise.

• Movie night. Rent a movie or watch a TV holiday special, pop some popcorn, and kick back for some family fun.Like game night, this may be something you’d like to continue throughout the year as a way to spend time together.

• Play outdoors together. You can ride bikes, play ball, or go for a hike. It’ll give the entire family some fresh air, exercise and great fun.

• Go shopping. Hang out together while shopping at the after Christmas sales.
       
• Spend some one-on-one time with each child if you have more than one. Spending time alone provides time to bond with the child and helps him gain a sense of belonging and feeling of importance. It also provides an opportunity for the two of you to get to know each other better.

• Since grandparents and older family members usually visit during the holidays, take time to share family customs and tell stories about past generations. Families build strength when they share family customs and traditions give family members a sense of belonging, and they strengthen values and beliefs. 

One of the greatest gifts of the holiday season is the gift of time with family. Spend time together to strengthen relationships and to make wonderful family memories. Strong families spend time with each other - quality time in large quantities. So begin during the holidays and continue making time for each other throughout the year.

Gifts of Giving

Giving can have a lasting effect on overall well-being. Giving and supporting others directly targets the core of self-esteem. Essentially, giving is the best way to feel good about ourselves. When we feel good about ourselves we are better equipped to share that sense of goodness with others through kindness and encouraging interactions. Holidays can bring on stress including familial conflicts. Giving reduces stress which can help increase effective communication and emotional coping. Adopting the mindset of focusing on others can combat some of the negative mental health symptoms the holiday brings that are rooted in self-centeredness (loneliness, sadness, depression & discontentment). 

Tips for Cultivating a Heart for Giving

•  Encourage children to give regularly so that giving is not a challenge during the holiday season.
•  Give as a family so that children can emulate your giving attitude and behaviors.
•  Encourage children to create cards to learn how their talents, skills or encouraging words can bring value to the lives of others.
•  Help children choose gently used items of their own to give to another child in need. 
•  Teach your children about well-known figures in society that represent altruism.
•  Ask children how it felt for them to give. This encourages them to think about the rewards of giving.
• Encourage children to give more sacrificial gifts such as time, talents and skills.