Teaching Toddlers about Giving

My daughter just turned two so this is the first holiday season she’ll be actively participating in. She’s still learning the concept of sharing, as in, why exactly am I supposed to share my toys? But I’ve already seen her sense of pride when she does a small act of kindness, like giving her father his glasses first thing in the morning so he can see. She likes to be helpful, she likes the praise she gets when she is-- it feels good.

I’m going to take advantage of this holiday season to teach her more about giving. I’m going to have her make cards or pictures for her family members. We’ll keep it simple, just crayons and stickers. On Christmas, when she gives them out, I’m sure that the reaction on her aunts and uncles and grandparents faces, followed by  the exuberant thank you’s, and the swarms of hugs and kisses to follow, will help her to learn that giving feels good.