Hold a Childs Birthday Party for Charity

As a parent, you probably know that the birthday party routine can be an almost painful experience. With about 20 children in your child's class, going to more than one birthday party in one weekend can occur quite often. If you have more than one child, birthday-party weekends can take over your entire life. Finding the right gift takes hours, wrapping the present and preparing the card is more time. When it is your child's turn for a birthday party, do you really want to put other parents through the same routine? Will your child really appreciate 20 birthday gifts on top of what you and your family have already given him? Does your child really need more toys?

Teaching our child that it's just as wonderful to give as it is to receive is almost never easy. But once they understand the concept, the rewards can last a lifetime. As a parent, you probably want to guide your child to become a healthy and ethical adult. How can you lead your child to a healthy future? What kind of activities can you do together as a family that will steer your child towards becoming a compassionate adult? Community service and Volunteerism are your answer. Not only will you show your child that it is "cool" to care for others, but it will also be a wonderful way to get others involved. You can do just that with a charity birthday party.

Firstly, you must discuss this with your child. You can't just announce to your child that some or all of his gifts will be going to charity. Avoid bribing and coercion, the mission is to get your child enthusiastic about helping others. I suggest the following:

1. Know Your Child and How Much He Can Be Expected to Give - Just because you are enthusiastic to give all of your child's presents to charity, it doesn't mean that your child will feel the same way. Again, don't coerce your child to have a charitable party. Discuss with your child different ways that his party can become a means to give and not only to receive. For example, The child can keep half of his presents and the other half go to charity.

2. Know Your Child and His Interests? Each child has interests that can be converted into a great giving and charitable experience. If your child is interested in art, match them up with an art charity (http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org). If your child is interested in homelessness, match your child's party up with a homeless shelter. Once your child is matched with the right charity, your child will have a rewarding charity birthday that he will always remember.

3. The Actual Events of The Party Can Be For a Charitable Purpose ? Instead of giving away your child's presents, you can consider holding a charitable project as the entertainment. For example, Charity Making and Stuffing a Teddy Bear Project (http://artistshelpingchildren.org/donateteddybears.html) and donate all of the teddy bears to a local pediatric hospital, orphanage, or shelter.

4. Have Every Child Bring a Used Toy or Item to Give to Charity ? Instead of having every child bring a new item to be donated to charity, have everyone bring in a used toy, or other item. These items can then be donated to a non-profit organization. For children who aren't excited about having a charity party, you can have everyone bring in a small gift for the birthday child in addition to a used item.

5. Remember to Still Make the Event Special for The Birthday Child ? Don't take all gifts away from your child. You must allow your child to still receive gifts from you, family members, and other close people in his life.

6. Meaningful Conversation First ? If our child is having a difficult time figuring out what charity he wants to give to, it might be a good idea to watch the news together and see what sparks your child's interest. Sometimes seeing less fortunate people and suffrage can spark a child into wanting to give. Also, bring up social issues and discuss them with your child.

7. What Do My Parents Do? ? Children learn by example. If your child sees you as a giving individual, they will be more likely to want to give of themselves as well. How can you expect your child to give up things that are important to them without giving items yourself. Consider doing something giving at your birthday every year as well.

Can Having a Charitable Birthday Party Really Be Good For My Child?

You bet it can! It has been proven by researchers that a child's self-esteem is boosted when taking on altruistic responsibilities. When children help others, they will begin to understand that they have the strength to make a real difference in their world?and this is a great feeling. Another enormous benefit of a charitable birthday party is that a child will gain a deeper understanding of the needs and wants of others. Researchers have also noticed that children who volunteer or give charitably might gain increased academic skills, including critical thinking and problem solving skills.

I run Artists Helping Children ? http://www.ArtistsHelpingChildren.org - A non-profit charity dedicated to bringing comfort to children in hospitals, clinics, and shelters by brightening their environment with murals, artwork, toys, and art supplies.

Rachel Goldstein is Founder of Artists Helping Children ? http://www.ArtistsHelpingChildren.org - A non-profit charity dedicated to bringing comfort to children in hospitals, clinics, and shelters by brightening their environment with murals, artwork, toys, and art supplies.

---

Water Hazards For Young Children

Unfortunately each year many young children drown in swimming pools,... Read More

Crazy Colors Fun Kid Experiment as a Party Activity

Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for... Read More

5 Solid Reasons: Why Your Child Can Be An Achiever

All of us, including your child, entered this world equipped... Read More

How to Make Kids More Likeable?

Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent more than the... Read More

Featured Article on Parenting: The Power of Belonging

Search for Assurance: The Power of BelongingThe job hunt is... Read More

Sharing Books with Children

One of my first memories of childhood is that of... Read More

How NOT to Motivate Your Children and Students

Chaim Ginott was a schoolteacher whose ideas and observations helped... Read More

ADHD: Dialogue with a Non-Believer, Part Four

Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More

Unschooling - the Benefits of Home Based Education

Home schooling benefits children. As a parent, I feel it... Read More

14 Romantic Time-Outs for Parents

Here are fourteen spontaneous time-outs, specially designed to help you... Read More

Punishing the Victim -- Why Public Schools Pressure Parents To Give Their Kids Mind-Altering Drugs

Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More

Hints on how to encourage children to read

Hints from Ruowen Wang? Keep a small basket filled with... Read More

Is There Any Real Use For A Fun Quiz?

Q. I don't like my children spending so much time... Read More

The POWER of Your Words

Words are truly powerful things. They are something that becomes... Read More

The Truth Behind Having Children

In the beginning, having children was just a byproduct of... Read More

How To Teach Your Children Self-Reliance and Potential

Self-reliance and potential are two very important values that I'd... Read More

Eating Disorders in Children

If I had a dollar for every time I persuaded... Read More

Homeschooling Takes Your Child Out of Public School --- A Unique Benefit

Home-schooling removes children from public school. That alone makes home-schooling... Read More

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

What is child sexual abuse? Any sexual activity that is... Read More

Babys First Month at a Glance

Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your... Read More

One Definition of Success

As parents, we want our children and teens to grow... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: Responding to a Poor Progress Report in School

Q. We just got our daughter's progress report, and it... Read More

Television - The Great SATAN!

I've often thought that in 6 million years, archaeologists will... Read More

School Days - Top 10 Tips for Establishing a Good Routine

Teachers know that children thrive in an environment with routines,... Read More

How To Live With Your Teenagers Untidy Room

'Whose room is it anyway?'If you have a teenager, you're... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: When is it OK to Quit?

Q. My daughter is a junior in high school and... Read More

Time Managment Skills for Children

Time management is an organisational concept traditionally associated with adults... Read More

Son, Can I Use The Car Tonight?

I recall somewhere in the recesses of my aging brain... Read More

6 Ways to Communicate Clearly with Your Teen

How would you like to have a closer relationship with... Read More

Fuzzy Names, Sweet Names

As with everything, names go through cycles of change with... Read More

Healthy Eating Alone Is Not The Answer

Along with eating healthier we need to be more active.... Read More

You Want Whaaat???

Not too long ago my teenage daughter approached me with... Read More

Managing Sibling Rivalry

It is human nature to feel competitive and envious toward... Read More