The holidays are on the horizon — one minute it’s pumpkins, and the next it’s peppermint!
With school and social events, family gatherings, and gift lists adding to our already heavy mental load, life can feel like a blur as our days quickly fill with to-do lists and endless errands. Between the planning and the busyness of the season, and in the middle of all the excitement, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters.
From Thanksgiving to Christmas, I like to put service projects into action with my children. We fill boxes with gifts and necessities, contribute to food, clothing, and toy drives in our area, and do what we can to bring a little light to someone’s day.
There is no shortage of simple yet meaningful ways families can show thankfulness, spread kindness, and strengthen the community around them —from thank-you notes and gratitude jars to care packages and donation drives.
This November and December, let’s celebrate gratitude and giving — beginning in our homes, and doing what we can to have a positive impact in our communities, which teaches our children a valuable lesson about appreciating what we have and caring for others.
Gratitude Goals
- Thank You Notes: Ask kids to write or draw cards to show appreciation for teachers, bus drivers, or first responders.
- Thankful Chain: On individual paper strips, have kids write an act of kindness or something they are thankful for, then connect the links to make a chain. This can be used as a decoration around the house or on a Christmas tree.
- Gratitude Jar: Invite kids to fill a jar with notes of gratitude to share at a holiday gathering.
- “Count Your Blessings” Tree: Have kids list the people or things they are grateful for on paper leaves, and put them together to make a tree.
Serving by Sharing
- Bake and Deliver: Make pumpkin bread or sugar cookies with kids and deliver them to neighbors, fire stations, or the elderly.
- Holiday Meal Helpers: Kids can help prepare and serve food at a community meal or soup kitchen. Many organizations welcome family volunteers.
- Decorate for Good: Encourage kids to be creative and craft centerpieces or placemats for a senior center or Meals on Wheels trays.
- “Blessing Bags”: Have kids assemble care packages with socks, toiletries, tissues, snacks, and notes of encouragement for anyone in need.
Giving to the Community
- Food Drive Helpers: Collect canned and non-perishable goods for a food pantry, shelter, or church. Many schools also hold food drives this time of year, making it easy for families to participate. Let kids decorate boxes or pack bags.
- Clothing Donations: Kids can sort through and donate gently worn or outgrown coats, hats, scarves, and gloves to keep people warm during the cold season.
- Toy Donations: Purchase new toys together and donate to a Toys for Tots collection, demonstrating to kids that the holidays are not just about receiving presents, but brightening the day for those who could use some extra cheer.
Make this holiday season one of thankfulness, compassion, and community by helping our kids show gratitude, share kindness, and give joy and hope to others.
