The Christmas season is over and if you’re like me, your home feels like it has shrunk. Our home has become cluttered and packed full of books, food, clothes, and toys.
To try to re-gain some sense of sanity, you may be looking for better ways to organize it all.
Begin your organization and de-clutter! Give away the items which are no longer needed for your family.
We are working with the The Glad Products Company. They believe that communities are built around giving back to those around you.
Glad recognizes the role their products play in giving. They’re proud to lend a hand in an even bigger way with a movement called “Glad to Give.”
“Glad to Give” provides us with an easy, hands-on opportunity to teach our kiddos about the fun and enjoyment of giving to others.
Purging Toys with the Kids
After Christmas, we always do a toy purge and donate what isn’t being used any longer.
It feels great and the kiddos have fun…most of the time.
Do you notice that when you go to give a toy away, your kiddos immediately can’t live without that toy? Even though they haven’t played with it in forever?
Well, I encounter the same struggles.
But, when I involve them in the process of donating it helps them learn to share. As well as take part in their community. And it gives them some perspective on their life of abundance as they give to others.
Make Giving into a Game
One way that I make the experience of giving, a positive hands-on experience is by making it a game.
Anytime I can make something into a “game”, I get a lot of buy in from my kiddos.
One game we play is to see how many things we can stuff into the Glad Force Flex bags.
You can fit a lot of items into the Glad bags!
Pretend Play being Glad to Give
Another way I teach my kiddos about giving, is by talking to them about how one act of giving inspires another.
We actually do some pretend play, where I will hand a toy to my oldest kiddo and then have him hand it to a younger sibling.
More often than not, that younger sibling will then give the same toy to another family member.
We talk about how it makes them feel and that by giving one thing to someone, gives them a feeling of wanting to give to someone else.
Once your Glad bag is full of unwanted or unused toys donate it to a local donation center such as:
- Your local day care or school organization. (This is especially useful if your child attends the center and you’re having a hard time getting them on board with donating their toys.)
- A friend or child that may not have the abundance that we do.
- A charity of your choice found on GladtoGive.com.
You can also visit GladtoGive.com to schedule a free pick-up through Donation Town to a local charity or your choice.
Pro tip! I always bring my kiddos with me to drop-off all of our donations. The real-life experience of giving the items away provides them with an opportunity to see where the items go and how they are truly helping others.
Four additional ideas on how to teach kids to be Glad to Give:
- Gather books that aren’t being read any longer and donate them to a local library.
- Collect blankets and towels from around your home and bag them up to take to a local animal shelter.
- Purge those closets and donate any outgrown or unworn clothes to a local donation center.
- Raid your kitchen cabinets and pack up non-perishable food items to bring to a community food pantry.
All five of these simple ideas will allow your kiddos to be hands-on in the process of giving and will teach them to be glad to give.
For even more giving inspiration from celebrities and everyday people, plus additional resources and how to share your giving story, visit GladtoGive.com.
Glad believes that sharing stories of what people are doing every day to help their communities, inspires others to get involved and to be #gladtogive.
What is your family glad to give?
Five Ways for Kids to be Glad to Give on handsonaswegrow.com
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