Watching your children opening up their holiday gifts can be a nerve-wracking experience to some parents. What if the child hates what is given and starts to throw tantrums? Ask any parents in this world, they would say that they want to raise children who not only appreciate gifts that are given to them, but also know the art of giving to others well.
However, the spirit of generosity does not always come naturally to children. They would want what others have, and they are certainly not afraid to let their parents know that fact.
According to a clinical child psychologist and Deakin University Professor, Jennifer McIntosh, when it comes to nurturing generosity and empathy, it is vital children are shown ‘the roots of empathy’ from a very early age1.
Teaching your children about the art of giving is an amazing way to encourage empathy and show compassion to others. The act of kindness to others also boosts their physical health, happiness, and sense of well-being.
Children will feel a sense of purpose and that promotes positive self-esteem. Indirectly, this also helps to increase children’s self-confidence and promote positive behaviours.
How to Teach Your Child the Art of Giving
Teaching your child to show generosity and kindness is not a one-time act, it should be an ongoing process. Persistence and patience are the main keys.
Here are a few tips on how to teach your children the art of giving from within.
Lead by example
Children listen to their parents and often emulate their parents’ actions and words more than you realized. Remember – you can’t teach your child to be gracious if you are not modelling the same behaviour.
Work together with your child on how to help the less fortunate. Carry out the art of giving in front of your child so they can observe and learn from you. The lesson here is for them to have more empathy towards others.
Make it joyous
Teaching our children the act of kindness and giving back should not be yet another task they need to tick off! Instead, get your child involved in the process of buying gifts.
Ask them what presents they want to give to others, where to buy them and how to wrap them. Getting them involved in the process makes them excited to do more good deeds in the future!
Make giving gifts a family tradition
We are used to giving other presents only when it’s their birthday or for holiday seasons. Why not treat gift-giving as part of your family tradition that can be passed down from one generation to another?
You can teach your children to give gifts to others just because it makes them feel happy, not just for special occasions. That way, your child will learn how to appreciate others.
Practice makes perfect
Sometimes as parents, we need to learn how to lower our expectations. Children might not be able to apprehend the meaning and the art of giving quickly, however with proper guidance, you will lead them in the right direction.
Most importantly, you should never give up on teaching empathy and continue to do so until your child shows positive change on their own. Remember, gift-giving does not only mean physical presents, you can also teach your child to give out to charity or the simplest ‘donation’ of all time, a smile.
Don’t forget to praise them
After your child gives away things to others, you must show your appreciation towards their gesture. Children are most likely to give more in the future when they feel that their actions are seen verbally.
The more positive the children feel towards the change they are making, the more likely they will be encouraged to take part in the future!
But Where to Get the Best Gifts?
With the holiday season coming up, we are most likely scrambling to find the best gifts for our family and friends. Here are some Christmas gifts ideas that you and your family can purchase for others:
Book collections
When you know a bookworm, getting them a set of book collections would be a dream come true! You can never go wrong when picking up someone’s next read. Just make sure you know what genre they like the most.
Where to shop?: Popular Bookstore
Tabletop football
Nothing screams family fun time other than a wooden tabletop football. Get this fantastic gift for your child and gather around for a family bonding session after the Christmas dinner.
Where to shop?: Toys R Us
Reed diffuser sticks
When looking for a fail-proof gift, reed diffuser sticks with brilliant scents are always a great choice. If you’re feeling festive, opt for one with hints of Christmas such as pine or plum. Plus, with the right packaging, it would be perfect as house decor!
Where to shop?: Maison Berger Paris
Festive hamper
When all else fails, getting your loved ones a hamper with all the sweet treats is an excellent fallback. We especially love cookies and popcorns that are Christmas-themed (think macadamia red velvet cookies, choco mint, butter caramel popcorn, cocoa melt popcorn, and many more!), perfect to be enjoyed by everyone of all ages.
Where to shop?: Eureka & Famous Amos
Your Ultimate Christmas Shopping Destination
We personally think the best place to find the perfect Christmas gifts should be under the same roof!
So come celebrate the magical Christmas season with Sunway Velocity Mall. In light of coming together to celebrate this festive season, Sunway Velocity Mall ushers in ‘Together for Good’ to spread joy and happiness.
With the theme that personifies the community rebuilding and reuniting again for a common goal, Sunway Velocity Mall has everything for everyone!
Want to create a magical experience for your children? Just bring your children over to the Main Atrium to light up the giant Christmas tree and experience the beautiful lights yourself! What’s more, you can also teach your children the art of giving by donating to charities at the Concierge counter, Ground Floor.
Receive a token of appreciation upon your donation as any small amount helps the good cause!
Plus, get your child to take insta-worthy photos at Sunway Velocity Mall’s Christmas Stations and upload the image on Facebook or Instagram and tag @sunwayvelocitymall & hashtag #SVMChristmas2021 #SunwayForGood.
For every photo uploaded and tagged, Sunway Velocity Mall will be a step closer to donating more essentials to the needy.
Sunway Velocity Mall is bringing in a fun engaging digital experience for all shoppers with a Christmas Guardians Augmented Reality (AR) that features five (5) interactive games.
What the shoppers are required to do is to complete all 5 AR games that can be found in Sunway Velocity Mall’s Christmas Stations around the mall such as Main Atrium, in front of Popular, Sushi Zanmai, and L5 Commune. And you will get to redeem mystery gifts such as Sunway Lagoon Annual Pass worth RM689, cash vouchers, and many more!
What’s more you can also spend and redeem exclusive merchandise from Sunway Velocity Mall here. All you need to do is spend RM300 & RM600 to redeem exclusive gifts and vouchers (limited stock only!).
Keep Your Distance & Stay Safe
If you are planning to visit the mall or other public premises, remember to always practice the safety measures such as monitoring physical distance, sanitizing, and wearing masks. While visiting the mall, do abide by the measures in place that have been set by the mall and their respective stores.
For more information, please visit the Sunway Velocity Mall’s website or check out their Facebook page for live and latest updates!
Reference:
- (Nov 28, 2018) First Five Years. Teaching children the joy of generosity. Retrieved from www.firstfiveyears.org.au/child-development/teaching-children-the-joy-of-giving
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