Oooooh, the moans of the Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday! Your bellies and hearts are full, time with your families was well spent, and you were more than NOT ready to return to work, school, or the other daily and routine activities of your life today. I know the feeling! However, with much to be thankful for and with the Christmas and holiday season just around the corner, positive attitudes and cheerful hearts must abound...even on this Monday after Thanksgiving.
Last week we discussed how important it is to teach your children how to express gratitude and thankfulness, no matter what time of the year it is. This week I would like to focus on the topic of helping your children to help others, especially as the holiday season rolls around. Giving is often only expressed when the twinkling lights begin to go up on a variety of coniferous trees, when holiday music begins to emit from all radio stations, and when the weather begins to turn chilly. However, giving and teaching your children how to give and help others with a cheerful heart, is important all year round. So, the topic for this week's blog is "Helping Your Kids to Help Others this Holiday Season," but of course this concept applies beyond the realm of the holidays.
In a recent study, 94% of Americans believe that parents play a key role in getting their children involved in charity efforts, yet in the same survey, 70% of parents admitted that their children are not currently involved in any charitable activities. Parents cited family commitments, concern over how contributions will be used, and time as the most common excuses in not getting their kids involved in helping others (familyeducation.com).
Here's some interesting ways to think about giving, and teaching your kids to help others:
-Be honest and talk with your kids about those in need. Make it a reality for them, maybe drive them past the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen and explain to them why people live/eat there. Also explain to them the dangers, and remind them to never visit a location like this without an adult.
-Teach your kids that giving and gratitude go hand-in-hand. Your kids won't be able to give with a cheerful heart, without first expressing and feeling gratitude for the things that they have and have been blessed with. Remind them of this, and first teach them gratitude before teaching them giving.
-Let your kids decide how to help others and give. Make it a decision that they have to make, instead of telling them how they are going to help others.
-When giving money as a family, whether to a church , or dropping it into a "Salvation Army" worker's pail at a storefront entrance, explain to your kids how this money is used, where it is going, who it may help, and how it makes a difference. Make the giving experience real for them.
-Help your children learn how to give non-material gifts. Teach them to help out a neighbor, carry in groceries for you when you get home, lend a snack to a friend at school without a lunch, etc. These simple steps are ways of helping others, without giving anything of real material value. Simple things, like accomplishing a chore without complaining or expressing thankfulness can all be ways of helping and giving without purchasing a single item.
Remember, you can make helping fun and teach your kids that giving back to others is truly a joyful experience. There are many ways that you can make helping others and giving back experiences real and fun for your children. Here are some suggestions of things you and your kids can do together for others:
-Donate to a charitable organization
-Invite an elderly neighbor over for a family celebration or meal. Explain to your kids why this might be something that neighbor will enjoy
-Deliver a meal to a family in need
-Write colorful notes or cards for other children who are experiencing long hospital stays
-Help your kids to donate clothes and toys they have outgrown to local shelters, churches, and nonprofits
-Volunteer at a soup kitchen (may be more appropriate to do with your older children)
-Send a care package to a soldier
-Visit hospital patients and spend time talking with them
-Foster a pet from a local shelter
-Shovel snow or rake leaves for a neighbor without asking as a neat surprise
-Help pick up trash at a local park
-Join a local, community group that does community service projects
All of these are ways to help teach your kids how to help others, not just this holiday season, but all year long. Simple actions and involving your kids in those actions, while explaining the good that they do for others, can help to show your children the true meaning of helping others. Often, while teaching our children these important lessons, we as adults find that we have more joy in helping, because we are setting an example for our own children. Helping others is an important tool in helping your kids to learn gratitude and to be thankful for all they have been blessed with. Remember, helping others helps us to find joy and share that joy with our children.
Be sure to visit our Family Builders' Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @fambuildersok for ways that you and your kids can serve and help others around the metro this holiday season. Enjoy the week and enjoy your kids!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!
Good morning and what a beginning to a fabulous week! Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I know all of you are looking forward to a short work week and spending a long weekend with your family and children. Thanksgiving is such a fun, wonderful, and overall exciting time of the year. This holiday often offers great food, even better time spent with family members, and begins to usher in the sights and sounds of Christmas. Oh, how I love the holidays!
In honor of Thanksgiving week, this blog post will be dedicated to all things Thanksgiving: a recipe or 2, some fun, family games to play around the table, a seasonal craft for your kiddos, and some activities to participate in for Thanksgiving weekend, around the Metro. Soooooo, let's get started:
Okay, so as this is my first Thanksgiving where I will be cooking the turkey (usually my mother and aunts hold that grand honor), I began stressing out late last week, looking for a simple turkey recipe that I thought I could handle. If any of you, like me, have kitchen/cooking anxiety (especially when it means cooking an oversized bird in your oven for hours upon end), then this is the perfect turkey recipe for you and me - simple and requires minimal ingredients. Thank you Food Network:
Good Eats Roast Turkey
Okay, so I'm sure you all have your Thanksgiving, traditional sides, but I also wanted to share a bit of a non-traditional side that my family enjoys each year at our Thanksgiving fiesta! Due to the fact that no one in my family (except my husband) enjoys that cranberry sauce out of a can, my family took a new twist on cranberries, and now makes this delicious recipe each year:
Cranberry Fluff Salad This is a fabulous recipe, and it doesn't make that strange slopping sound as it falls out of the can!
Okay, so dinner is made, turkey is done, and the meal is almost ready to go on the table. As you prepare the finishing touches for the meal you wonder how you will incorporate the old "tell us at least one thing you are thankful for this year" conversation into your Thanksgiving meal. Well, here is a great idea. All you need is some newspaper, a white table cloth, and colorful felt tip pens. Cover your table surface in newspaper and then lay down the white table cloth. With the felt tip pens, have each member of your family write somewhere on the table what they are thankful for this year. Then, when you are all seated, take turns reading off the items that are closest to where each person is sitting. This is a great way to encourage conversation, and puts a new spin on stating what each of you is thankful for.
Of course, we can't leave the children out...and as we all know, they are always the first ones done at the table, ready to move on to the next fun thing, while the adults wish to sit around and visit, or perhaps simply talk while they digest the copious amounts of food that they just inhaled. Haha...well here is an easy craft to set up ahead of time, that you can send the kids off to complete while the adults at Thanksgiving visit, catch up, and clean up from a fun meal:
Spoon Pilgrims
Okay, last but not least, I would like to provide you and your family some activities that may be going on Thanksgiving Day and the few following days, around the Oklahoma City area. Many of you may have relatives in town for the weekend, or are enjoying the first weekend in a long time, together with your family. Here are some great activities to enjoy with your family and others:
Thursday:
-Start off at 8:00 am with the Edmond Turkey Trot
-7:00 pm is the Norman Library Music Connection at the Norman Library
-10:00 pm begins the All Night Madness at the Outlet Shoppes in OKC
Then on Friday:
-at 12:00 pm visit the Express Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink
-3:30 pm is Scuba Santa at the Oklahoma Aquarium
-6:00 pm is the Holiday River Parade on the Oklahoma River
On Saturday:
-at 11:00 am is FREE crafts for Kids at Lakeshore Learning Center
-12:00 pm is Chesapeake Energy Snow Tubing at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
-5:30 pm Christmas Lights are Up on the Farm at Orr Family Farm
There's plenty to do this Thanksgiving weekend. For more info visit the Metro Family Magazine's online calendar at: http://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/Calendar/
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. Enjoy the holiday and enjoy your kids!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Teaching Thankfulness & Gratitude to Your Kids
Happy Veterans Day! Today is the day that we celebrate the men and women who past and current, work hard to make sure our great country experiences freedom and remains a democracy. On a day like today, in the season of thanksgiving, it is easy to remember to be thankful and express that thankfulness to those service men and women around us. But what about the rest of the year? Admittedly, I am one of those people who is grumpy and un-thankful sometimes, forgetting all that has been done for me and all the blessings that have been showered upon me and my family. Thanksgiving often brings out the "thankfulness" in all of us, but isn't it important to be thankful year round, and to teach our kids to express gratitude as well?
Teaching thankfulness can be difficult. The children of today often are growing up in an era where they rarely here the word "no" and often have an over abundance of things that they do not necessarily need. However, it is SO important to raise thankful kids and here are some ways that you can help your kids to gain an 'attitude of gratitude.'
You can often teach thankfulness by leading through example. If you are thankful and can learn to express that verbally, often your kids will follow suit. It is sometimes difficult to remember that the simple "chores" in life that we might consider a burden (such as cooking AND then also cleaning up the kitchen, right moms?) are the fallout from a greater blessing: being blessed with children whom you love and love you back. If you, as a parent are able to express thankfulness to and for your children, they often will learn to do the same. Another way you can be an example for your children is by giving thoughtfully yourself. Build charity into your budget and have your kids be a part of picking out a purchase or giving to a non-profit that will benefit another child or parent in your area. Explain to them the process and allow them to participate - this will teach them what giving selflessly really looks like.
Also, be sure to reward thankfulness and good manners, especially when your children are very young. By reward, I don't mean a physical present or money, but when you hear your kids say 'thank you' take the time to stop what you are doing and simply acknowledge their thanks, give them a hug, and tell them how proud of them you are for their grateful attitude. Teaching your kids how to share everything will also help them to see that sharing benefits others, giving them a selfless attitude about material items in life. Expressing approval and encouragement when an expression of thankfulness comes from your children will encourage them to continue on the path of being thankful.
Another suggestion is to go through the motions of helping your kids to give to and help others. This can be as simple as having them go through their old toys and clothes and picking out the ones that they would like to donate to other children that year. Encourage your kids to give gifts to others, and to participate in such things as "Operation Christmas Child," which involves picking out gifts for a another child and sending them in a shoebox. Help your kids to pick out gifts for others that are thoughtful and reflect an attitude of truly wanting to bless someone else through the gift.
Additionally, expose your kids to some events and circumstances that will help to raise their level of gratitude. By this, I don't mean traumatizing your children through horrible images of starving people or homeless children. Instead, talk to your children while serving them dinner, reminding them that some families are not eating dinner tonight. Or, after a hot bath or shower, explain to your kids the fact that many children never take a hot bath due to their being without warm water facilities. Maybe take your kids with you to serve dinner at a soup kitchen one evening. (Remember, this may be age appropriate for older children only!) Or have them help you volunteer at church putting together food baskets for families in your area. These hands-on experiences will teach your kids to serve others.
Lastly, create family traditions that will encourage thankfulness. This can be done in many ways. Maybe each year construct a "thankful tree" or "thankful chain", where everyone writes down several things they are thankful for that year as leaves or a link to the chain. At Christmas, have your children help pick out gifts for others. Maybe each night as you tuck them in bed encourage them to name one thing they are thankful for that happened that day. These small traditions can encourage your children to learn to be thankful and to express that appreciation through simple, everyday actions.
Teaching your children to be thankful for what they have, no matter how much or how little, will help them to help others someday and will give them a positive outlook on life, no matter what their situation is. Giving your kids the blessing of learning to be grateful and having a positive attitude could perhaps be the greatest gift that you give to them. So start now and show them by example. As a parent, each day practice being thankful so that your kids can learn too. Here are some great resources for following through with some of the suggestions listed above:
http://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/November-2012/Easy-Tips-For-Raising-Thankful-Kids/
http://www.justmommies.com/articles/giving-thanks.shtml
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/articles/give_thanks.aspx
Have a great week everyone and practice thankfulness! Enjoy your kids!
Teaching thankfulness can be difficult. The children of today often are growing up in an era where they rarely here the word "no" and often have an over abundance of things that they do not necessarily need. However, it is SO important to raise thankful kids and here are some ways that you can help your kids to gain an 'attitude of gratitude.'
You can often teach thankfulness by leading through example. If you are thankful and can learn to express that verbally, often your kids will follow suit. It is sometimes difficult to remember that the simple "chores" in life that we might consider a burden (such as cooking AND then also cleaning up the kitchen, right moms?) are the fallout from a greater blessing: being blessed with children whom you love and love you back. If you, as a parent are able to express thankfulness to and for your children, they often will learn to do the same. Another way you can be an example for your children is by giving thoughtfully yourself. Build charity into your budget and have your kids be a part of picking out a purchase or giving to a non-profit that will benefit another child or parent in your area. Explain to them the process and allow them to participate - this will teach them what giving selflessly really looks like.
Also, be sure to reward thankfulness and good manners, especially when your children are very young. By reward, I don't mean a physical present or money, but when you hear your kids say 'thank you' take the time to stop what you are doing and simply acknowledge their thanks, give them a hug, and tell them how proud of them you are for their grateful attitude. Teaching your kids how to share everything will also help them to see that sharing benefits others, giving them a selfless attitude about material items in life. Expressing approval and encouragement when an expression of thankfulness comes from your children will encourage them to continue on the path of being thankful.
Another suggestion is to go through the motions of helping your kids to give to and help others. This can be as simple as having them go through their old toys and clothes and picking out the ones that they would like to donate to other children that year. Encourage your kids to give gifts to others, and to participate in such things as "Operation Christmas Child," which involves picking out gifts for a another child and sending them in a shoebox. Help your kids to pick out gifts for others that are thoughtful and reflect an attitude of truly wanting to bless someone else through the gift.
Additionally, expose your kids to some events and circumstances that will help to raise their level of gratitude. By this, I don't mean traumatizing your children through horrible images of starving people or homeless children. Instead, talk to your children while serving them dinner, reminding them that some families are not eating dinner tonight. Or, after a hot bath or shower, explain to your kids the fact that many children never take a hot bath due to their being without warm water facilities. Maybe take your kids with you to serve dinner at a soup kitchen one evening. (Remember, this may be age appropriate for older children only!) Or have them help you volunteer at church putting together food baskets for families in your area. These hands-on experiences will teach your kids to serve others.
Lastly, create family traditions that will encourage thankfulness. This can be done in many ways. Maybe each year construct a "thankful tree" or "thankful chain", where everyone writes down several things they are thankful for that year as leaves or a link to the chain. At Christmas, have your children help pick out gifts for others. Maybe each night as you tuck them in bed encourage them to name one thing they are thankful for that happened that day. These small traditions can encourage your children to learn to be thankful and to express that appreciation through simple, everyday actions.
Teaching your children to be thankful for what they have, no matter how much or how little, will help them to help others someday and will give them a positive outlook on life, no matter what their situation is. Giving your kids the blessing of learning to be grateful and having a positive attitude could perhaps be the greatest gift that you give to them. So start now and show them by example. As a parent, each day practice being thankful so that your kids can learn too. Here are some great resources for following through with some of the suggestions listed above:
http://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/November-2012/Easy-Tips-For-Raising-Thankful-Kids/
http://www.justmommies.com/articles/giving-thanks.shtml
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/articles/give_thanks.aspx
Have a great week everyone and practice thankfulness! Enjoy your kids!
Monday, November 5, 2012
New Ways to Give this Holiday Season!
Can you believe it is November already? Where has the time gone? Before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and then 2013! I don't know about all of you, but as the holiday season begins to roll around, I realize just how much that I have to be thankful for. After all, I am healthy, have a wonderful family, fabulous friends, a great support system, and have been blessed in many other ways. Being thankful gets me thinking about all the ways that I can give to and support others. After all, everyone deserves to have not just a great holiday season, but a life that is blessed and full of joy.
At Family Builders, our mission is focused on strengthening families so that they to, can have a blessed and joyful life. Our goal is to protect children and to educate their parents so that their lives can be enriched in every way. At the start of November and the holiday season, we are reminded that children everywhere deserve to have every day feel like the holiday season - full of warmth, tenderness, giving, joy, and of course laughter and a loving family.
With this mission of strengthening families in front of us, Family Builders has implemented a few new fundraising plans that we hope you will share in with us. All of our fundraising is directed at having the monetary funds to be able to continue to serve families and children around the Oklahoma City metro and surrounding area, making their everyday feel like the holiday season. We want to enrich families' lives so that they are able to have stable and cohesive relationships with each other, benefiting children emotionally, psychologically, and physically.
First, I'd like to introduce to you a new series of "Dine-Out" nights that Family Builders will be holding at local, family friendly restaurants all around the metro area. These "Dine-Out" nights will be held twice a month starting in December and run through the summer. Our first "Dine-Out" night is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4th at Kamps 1910 Cafe located at 10 NE 10th Street in Oklahoma City. The event will run all day long, and if you eat at Kamps, mention the Family Builder's name and a portion of your tab will be donated to Family Builders.
Our second "Dine-Out" event will be held, Thursday, December 13th at Zio's Italian in Bricktown. Watch for printable flyers on this blog, as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages, as you will need to bring a flyer with you when you go to eat dinner at Zio's on the 13th. When you bring your flyer, a portion of your tab will go to Family Builders and you will be helping to support us in our mission to strengthen families.
Be sure to stay tuned for the location, dates, and details of all of our "Dine-Out" nights over the next upcoming months. Be sure to pay attention to the location and what you will need to say, BEFORE YOU ORDER your food, in order for the donation to be made to Family Builders. These unique events are a great way for you to spend time eating out with your family, while donating to our cause. Come celebrate our "Dine-Out" events with us!
Secondly, Family Builders has introduced a new way to give through everyday purchases. Family Builders now has three, newly designed Capitol One, Visa cards that allow you to donate as you purchase holiday gifts. When you sign up for a card, an initial $50 will be donated to Family Builders and then from there,
Our new credit card is an easy way to give, while holiday shopping, purchasing the fixing for Thanksgiving, or just through everyday purchases! Join in our cause!
With the installation of these new fundraising concepts, Family Builders recognizes that these events and options are not feasible for everyone. If you are looking for a more traditional way to give this holiday season, just visit our webpage http://www.familybuildersok.org/make-a-donation.html
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this important post. Family Builders wants to make big changes in the families in our community this holiday season and beyond. But we need your help and your support! So as the holidays begin to roll around, take a moment to be thankful and remember all that you have, then give a little to help us help those families around you. Your support is appreciated, as well as all that you do! Thank you for being our biggest fans and biggest supporters! Enjoy your week, and enjoy your kids.
At Family Builders, our mission is focused on strengthening families so that they to, can have a blessed and joyful life. Our goal is to protect children and to educate their parents so that their lives can be enriched in every way. At the start of November and the holiday season, we are reminded that children everywhere deserve to have every day feel like the holiday season - full of warmth, tenderness, giving, joy, and of course laughter and a loving family.
With this mission of strengthening families in front of us, Family Builders has implemented a few new fundraising plans that we hope you will share in with us. All of our fundraising is directed at having the monetary funds to be able to continue to serve families and children around the Oklahoma City metro and surrounding area, making their everyday feel like the holiday season. We want to enrich families' lives so that they are able to have stable and cohesive relationships with each other, benefiting children emotionally, psychologically, and physically.
First, I'd like to introduce to you a new series of "Dine-Out" nights that Family Builders will be holding at local, family friendly restaurants all around the metro area. These "Dine-Out" nights will be held twice a month starting in December and run through the summer. Our first "Dine-Out" night is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4th at Kamps 1910 Cafe located at 10 NE 10th Street in Oklahoma City. The event will run all day long, and if you eat at Kamps, mention the Family Builder's name and a portion of your tab will be donated to Family Builders.
Our second "Dine-Out" event will be held, Thursday, December 13th at Zio's Italian in Bricktown. Watch for printable flyers on this blog, as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages, as you will need to bring a flyer with you when you go to eat dinner at Zio's on the 13th. When you bring your flyer, a portion of your tab will go to Family Builders and you will be helping to support us in our mission to strengthen families.
Be sure to stay tuned for the location, dates, and details of all of our "Dine-Out" nights over the next upcoming months. Be sure to pay attention to the location and what you will need to say, BEFORE YOU ORDER your food, in order for the donation to be made to Family Builders. These unique events are a great way for you to spend time eating out with your family, while donating to our cause. Come celebrate our "Dine-Out" events with us!
Secondly, Family Builders has introduced a new way to give through everyday purchases. Family Builders now has three, newly designed Capitol One, Visa cards that allow you to donate as you purchase holiday gifts. When you sign up for a card, an initial $50 will be donated to Family Builders and then from there,
- Earn 2% Cash rewards at most major Gas and Grocery merchants
- Earn 1% Cash rewards on all other purchases
- Earn up to 10% Cash rewards at select merchants
Our new credit card is an easy way to give, while holiday shopping, purchasing the fixing for Thanksgiving, or just through everyday purchases! Join in our cause!
With the installation of these new fundraising concepts, Family Builders recognizes that these events and options are not feasible for everyone. If you are looking for a more traditional way to give this holiday season, just visit our webpage http://www.familybuildersok.org/make-a-donation.html
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this important post. Family Builders wants to make big changes in the families in our community this holiday season and beyond. But we need your help and your support! So as the holidays begin to roll around, take a moment to be thankful and remember all that you have, then give a little to help us help those families around you. Your support is appreciated, as well as all that you do! Thank you for being our biggest fans and biggest supporters! Enjoy your week, and enjoy your kids.
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