Giving trees are an easy way to change kids' focus from getting to giving at the holidays
Giving trees and holiday wish list projects are very popular this time of year. You can find them in your church and your workplaces and even at the zoo.
Here's how a holiday wish list project works. An organization wants to provide gifts for families in need — families who likely wouldn't be able to provide holiday gifts for their kids. The families in need will tell the organization what their kids want. Then, that organization reaches out to volunteers — sometimes through email or social media, sometimes by hanging gift tags on a Christmas tree — to have them sponsor a child and buy whatever's on their wish list.
Toddlers and Kids on a Mission (TOAM) — a Milwaukee-area organization that organizes service projects that families can participate in even with their youngest kids — is in its second year of using a giving tree concept as its holiday service project.
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TOAM participates in the Milwaukee Women's Center giving tree project to help provide gifts for 100 children — gifts that are opened either on Christmas morning in the clients' homes, or at the shelter's annual holiday party.
"It's our goal for every child to have at least one thing to open for the holiday, said Jeri Kavanaugh, the volunteer coordinator at the Milwaukee Women's Center. "Amazingly enough, Milwaukee always comes forward and we get what we need."
Here's why a giving tree or holiday wish list project is a particularly good idea for families with young kids.
It's an easy project that even little kids can do
The whole reason TOAM was organized was because moms realized that volunteering as a whole family was difficult with little kids. Carey Drees, a Brookfield mom to 5-year-old Cameron and 3-year-old Cooper, definitely found this to be the case. "Before I became a stay-at-home mom, I worked in the local nonprofit community, and I was aware of several organizations out there doing great things," Drees said. "But, it can be difficult to find volunteer opportunities for families with small kids, which makes sense because if you're doing something like working at a meal site, it can be dangerous to have toddlers underfoot."
But, going to a local store and shopping for toys? That's something even the littlest kids can do. In fact, it's something even the littlest kids are well-practiced in doing.
Perhaps the only thing that's hard for kids about shopping for others is that they're not shopping for themselves. But that's not a bad thing either. In fact, it leads right to the second reason a holiday wish list project is great for kids.
It's a project that builds empathy in young kids
"It's fun taking her shopping for gifts that she doesn't get to keep because it's important for her to get excited about buying things for others," said Krista Rosolino, mom of 2-year-old Adelaide. "We go to Target or a toy store, and I have her try to use her imagination as to what a kid would want to play with. Having her try to figure out what others think about or would want is a good way for her to practice empathy."
"My boys are so good at picking out things they want," said Molly Goetzinger, mom of 4-year-old Will and 2-year-old Ty. "It's nice for them to solely focus on someone else."
Bridget Brown, mom to 5-year-old Harper and 2-year-old Elinor, said, "It's a very tangible project for kids. Harper can relate to other kids who are really hoping for something for Christmas. She can understand how they would feel to know they might not be getting what they wish for."
It's a project that changes the focus of the holiday season
Parents are always trying to explain to their kids that giving is more important than receiving. But, that can be a difficult lesson to teach during the holidays when kids are surrounded by gifts to open. For a lot of parents who participate in wish list projects, the best part is being able to change the focus of the holiday from receiving to giving.
Whenever people see my kids during the holiday season, well-meaning adults are always asking them what they're asking Santa for, so the focus is on what they're getting for the holidays, said Drees. "This is a great way to shift the conversation from what they're getting to what they can do for others and what they can give as a gift to others."