Helping Your Child Learn Responsible Behavior

Gifts From the Heart

Have your child give a gift of themselves at the next holiday or any time they want to do something nice for someone else.

What you’ll need

• Crayons, pencils, paints, or other art supplies
• Paper
• Packaging from around the house
• Your child’s special gift

What To Do

1. Talk to your child about gift giving. What does it mean to give something to someone else?
2. Instead of buying a gift, have your child make a gift. Does your child have a special talent? Maybe your child would like to sing or write a song for a relative? Is there a chore your child could do? Maybe wash the dishes for a week. Is there a special toy that could be loaned to a sister or brother for a week?
3. Use materials from around the house so that little, if any, money is spent.
4. If the gift is an activity or chore, have your child make a card with a note on it, telling what the gift will be.
5. Have your child use imagination in making an inviting package. Perhaps your child could paint a small rock and wrap it in a big box. Or make an envelope out of the comics from the Sunday newspaper.

Most young children don’t have money to buy a gift for a friend or relative. You can teach your child that a gift that shows effort and attention can mean more than a gift from the store.