Tag Archives: Activities for children

Teens Need to Learn About Cooking

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children,Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is….) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

Teens Need to Learn about Cooking

         Summer is a good time to let teens into the kitchen to learn how to use some of the appliances and prepare food.  Most schools no longer offer a home economics class and it is left to the family and individual to make sure teens have the basics needed to care for their future families. True, we can buy much food already prepared.  However, there are certain basics all should know about working in the kitchen.  

         All children can do something in the kitchen, but teens, especially, need to spend enough time there to learn about safety, measuring ingredients properly, and food preparation.

         What should a teen learn about safety?  They should learn not to let electricity and water come together.  Appliances need to be plugged in and unplugged with dry hands.  Knives should be used properly.  Cutting should always be done away from the body and not toward it.  Dull knives can be just as dangerous, or more so, than sharp knives.  Utensils and hands should be kept away from beaters or blades.  Knowledge of the fact that sugar in cooking makes a hotter temperature can prevent many burns.

         Although students learn about measurements in school, they need the practice of using that knowledge in cooking.  Their understanding depends on usage of the facts.  Teens need to learn that filled measuring cups and measuring spoons need to be leveled across the top with a flat blade for accuracy.  Doing this as a teen gives them the idea of amounts so that when they are older, they will be able to “eyeball” amounts in certain recipes.

         Here is a recipe that most teens really like.  It is one where the sugar mixture will get very hot, so a deep pan and long handled stirring spoon should be used to keep spatters from burning the hands. 

No Bake Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cookies (Boiled)

2 c. sugar (If you mix the cocoa and sugar together first, it is easier to get the lumps out of the cocoa.)

½ c. milk

1 stick butter

3-4 rounded Tbsp. cocoa

1/2 c. peanut butter

2 ½ to 3 c. quick-cooking oats

1 to 2 tsp. vanilla

½ to 1 c. chopped nuts (May substitute coconut for nuts.)

Boil sugar, milk, butter and cocoa for 1 to 1 ½ minutes; start timing after mixture reaches a full rolling boil. Stir occasionally until mixture comes to a boil; then, stir constantly while boiling. Remove from heat.  Add peanut butter and vanilla; stir to melt.  Add oatmeal. Add nuts and coconut, if desired.  Beat until blended; then, drop on waxed paper or aluminum foil. Work quickly so mixture won’t get firm before you finish.  (If cookies are runny, they were not cooked long enough.  If they get hard and crumbly, they were cooked too long.)

Don’t forget to clean up the kitchen.  Don’t leave it for mom to do!

Children and Bad Habits

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

Children and Bad Habits

       Parents do a great deal of fretting about the bad habits of their children.  What child at some time or another has not displayed a habit that parents wish could be broken?  There are a few things that may help parents as they attempt to work with their children’s habits.

         Children need to know how easily it is to form a bad habit.  They must be able to recognize when a bad habit has been formed, and they may need help in breaking that habit.

         One exercise to help children realize how easily it is to form a bad habit uses a few pieces of string. (Sewing thread or sticks may also be used.) Give the child one piece of string and ask the child to break it.  Next, give the child two pieces of string and ask the child to break them.  Continue adding another piece of string until the child is no longer able to break the string.  Explain that when we do something one time, it is easy to not repeat that action, but the more we do it, the harder it is to stop the activity until finally it is almost impossible.  This gives a child a basic idea of how habits are formed.  At the same time this exercise is done, it would be wise to point out the bad habits that should be avoided and their consequences. 

         Many children are unaware that they have formed a bad habit. They don’t realize what they are doing, nor do they realize how that habit might be offending others. One example might be a child who constantly interrupts when someone else is talking. In such a case, the child will need to be told that what is being done is very annoying to others and is a bad manner.  Telling a child is the first step, but it is hardly ever the last step to conquering the habit. It helps to use a piece of paper and a pencil and ask the child to keep tally of how many times the action is done.  Each time the child interrupts, the child must make a mark on the piece of paper.  After a period of time, ask the child to count the marks.  This is a painful realization of truth.  It is impossible to dispute the fact that the bad habit is there!  

         One activity that often helps a child overcome a bad habit is to give the child a certain number of pennies and ask the child to give one back to you each time the action is done.  Set a length of time for the “game” such as a half day or a day. The child is allowed to keep the pennies that remain after the time set.  Just as it takes about seven times for a child to start forming a habit, it will possibly take seven or more times of this activity to break the habit. It usually isn’t the amount of money involved as much as the challenge to the child to keep all of the pennies.  As with all learning, consistency is absolutely necessary.  If these activities are all done, and then the parent slips and lets the child go back to the old habit, much effort is lost.

         Breaking bad habits of children can result in a much happier family.  Tolerating a child who consistently bothers others is stressful.  It not only bothers people around the child, but without realizing it, those same people are having ill feelings toward the child that the child senses.  When a child is well-behaved, that child receives approval from others.  This is a real boost to self-confidence in any child.  The child also gains confidence in knowing he/she is able to overcome a trait.     

Children Benefit from Chores

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is….(Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and www.patlambchristianauthor.com)

Train up a child…

Children Benefit from Chores

         Many parents and grandparents search for ways to “keep kids busy” during the summer.  Often the insinuation is that children must constantly be entertained and kept happy and having fun.  Often overlooked is the value of having children do chores for at least a few hours each day.  If a study were done of adults who did chores when young as opposed to adults who did not do chores when young, I feel confident that the more successful adults are those who had regular chores for which they were responsible as a child.

Often adults think it is much easier to do something themselves than to take the time to help a child learn to do it.  This probably is true in the short term, but once a child has learned to do a chore correctly, that child can be a great deal of help.  However, the real benefits are for the child rather than for the adult.  The list is endless.  Here are a few benefits:

  • There is no way for a child to develop self-esteem or self-worth without actually being of worth or value.  When a child does a task well, that child can honestly feel good about having done something of value.
  • Children learn proper procedures for caring for belongings.
  • Children learn about the effort that goes into making or growing something.  This leads to greater appreciation of the effort others make on their behalf for the things they enjoy.
  • Children get exercise when doing physical tasks.  A lack of exercise can lead to depression. Physical exercise creates endorphins that fight depression.
  • Vocabulary is increased as children learn the names of tools and cleaning agents and words used in giving instructions.
  • Children learn that nothing in life is truly free.  We each must work to obtain and care for wants and necessities.
  • Self-discipline is learned in tasks that may not be the most pleasant and yet must be completed.  This self-discipline leads to perseverance.
  • Chores keep a child busy doing positive things when the time might otherwise be used doing things that may be harmful.
  • When a child learns the proper care of his/her belongings, that child will have more respect for the belongings of others.
  • Chores connected to gardening or the out-of-doors help children learn the names of plants and some principles they will later study in science classes dealing with botany.
  • Chores related to the care of animals help children learn compassion and understanding that carries over in their relationships with people.
  • Children learn to listen and follow instructions—a necessity for job success as an adult.

The list could go on and on.  The benefits listed here are enough to justify adults taking the time to teach children how to do chores and to require that they be done.  During the school year, children are so busy with school and homework that it is difficult to have children do very many chores. Summer is the best time for parents to concentrate on teaching those things that children need to know to care for their own home in the future.  The parent who does not take advantage of this time is missing a real opportunity to shape a child.

Experience is the Best Teacher

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon; Barnes & Noble; www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

Experience is the Best Teacher

       One of the best things that parents can do for their children is to give them a variety of experiences.  There are many benefits in doing so.  Giving a child experiences in various areas increases a child’s understanding of the world around him/her.  It also increases a child’s vocabulary resulting in greater comprehension in reading.  Of course, it is important to choose the right kind of experiences.  

         When my husband and I worked on the Navajo reservation, we had a little boy who had many social problems.  He could do practically nothing in school.  He was frightened and kept running away from the dormitory and school.  He was sent to Phoenix to see a psychiatrist.  The problem was that the boy had lived with his deaf grandmother most of his life and spent most of his time herding sheep.  He had no one to talk to and no experiences other than sheep-herding.  This is an extreme example of a child who needed experiences.  He was frightened because he knew nothing about other children or the world around him.  He was not retarded mentally.  He seemed to catch on quickly once we started working with him and allowing him to play with the toys we had purchased for the children.  

The more experiences a child has, the greater understanding the child obtains of the world. The child develops a greater understanding of the emotions of people and is better able to fit into society. S/he also observes job requirements of various jobs and will be more able to be self-supporting in adulthood.

         Every new experience introduces new vocabulary to a child.  We tend to block out the things we don’t understand and “latch on” to the things that are familiar to us.  Many times students in my GED classes will tell me, “I have never heard that word before!”  In actuality, it may be a word that is commonly used in conversations.  They had simply blocked it out because they didn’t understand it.  When a child has many experiences, the vocabulary obtained from those experiences becomes familiar and is no longer blocked out.  The child then not only has a better understanding of what is read, but also better understands conversations that are going on all the time.  

What kind of experiences can we give our children?  Visiting National Parks is perhaps one of the best.  Right now, Civil War reenactments are taking place at some parks. National Parks are set aside because of their benefits to us.  When our children were young, my husband had a habit of stopping at roadside historical monuments when we traveled.  At home, simple projects around the house add to a child’s knowledge.  When dad teaches a child to repair something, that child is learning the names of tools, etc.  Cooking and sewing are good experiences for children. Even refinishing furniture and cleaning are good for children. 

         Summer is the perfect time to give children good experiences that will increase their vocabulary and help them understand the world around them. It would be good to take advantage of this opportunity.

Gardening is Good for Kids

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

Gardening is Good for Kids

       When our children were young, one of their favorite records was “Carrot Seed”. It was a cute little song based on a book by the same name about a little boy who planted a tiny carrot seed and everyone told him it would not grow.  He watered it and pulled the weeds and finally one day he had a carrot!  The song expressed his jubilation about his accomplishment.

         Children can learn much by being involved in gardening.  They learn self-discipline as they work toward a goal.  They learn to appreciate the effort put into providing their food and they learn about the laws of nature.

         A child must follow instructions and do things right when planting, or the product shows it.  They learn about soil and soil nutrients. They learn about preparation for planting.  They learn about measurement when talking about the depth of planting. Once the plant is up, they must remember to water and discipline self to do so even when the temptation is to be lazy.  It is not a matter of having fun for a brief moment and then jumping to something else.  The child must learn to “stick with it” even when it is not fun. As children pull weeds, they learn about different plants. 

         It is through the effort a child puts into gardening that the child becomes appreciative of farmers who provide produce for our tables.  The child reasons that if that much work is required for a little garden, there must be a great deal of work involved in a big field of plants. Children will probably never look at vegetables on their plates the same way again after they have raised some themselves.  Hopefully, they will be less likely to waste their food.  Also, they will probably become more interested in different kinds of vegetables and how they are grown once they have grown one or more kinds.

         It is impossible to grow plants without marveling at the way they grow and produce.  We plant seeds, but God causes the plants to grow.  Children cannot help but think about their creator when they are involved in growing things. They begin to be amazed about other things around them as they expand their thinking to big plants like trees.  After they think about the plants, they begin to think about the other things that God made.  Boys and girls will consider big mountains, rivers, lakes, stars, and other things in God’s creation, all from planting one little plant or seed.

         Some of the easier things for children to grow are beans, potatoes, zucchini squash, and peppers.  Good flowers for children to start with are nasturtiums or marigolds.  These are more likely to produce success.  Carrot seeds are very small and even though the book and song are nice, I’m not sure that is a good vegetable with which children should start their gardening experience.

         Children are so very proud when they grow something that the family can enjoy eating.  This is a great way to boost a child’s self-esteem.  The child feels very important and worthwhile when one of the dishes on the table is provided by his/her efforts and the family talks about how good it tastes!  When the child says the blessing before eating, that child is likely to say thank you for the people who raised the food and thank you to God for making it grow…and mean it!

Children Can Learn to Think Ahead

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book, Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.patlambchristianauthor,com.

Train up a child…

Children Can Learn to Think Ahead

         “Children will be children” is a comment often heard from grown-ups.  The truth is that adults will still act like children if they have never learned otherwise.  If we don’t teach children how to be responsible adults, they will likely never become responsible adults.

         At birth all actions are done on impulse.  As the child grows, that child should become more and more aware of reasons for actions and become able to think well enough to know that certain actions produce certain results.  It has been said that right-brain dominant persons tend to act more on impulse than reason.  Even if this is true, much can still be taught to help any person to think before acting.  One method for teaching a child to think before acting is to sit down with a child, take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle.  On one side of the paper write the word “If” and on the other side of the paper write the word “Then”.  After the line has been drawn and it has been explained to the child that you are giving help so they will understand actions better, list actions on the “If” side and results of those actions on the “Then” side.  Following are suggestions of actions and results to list:

  • If I yell at someone/Then that person will probably yell back at me.
  • If I hit someone/Then that person will probably hit me back
  • If I say something ugly about someone/Then that person will probably say something ugly back to me.
  • If I don’t do my homework/Then I will feel badly when I go to school and the teacher asks for the homework.  I will also not learn what I need to learn and will not make good grades.
  • If I don’t obey my parents/Then I will not learn to obey the laws and my teacher.  I will be punished and feel badly.
  • If I don’t take care of my health/Then I will probably get sick.
  • If I make a mess/Then someone will have to clean it up and since I made the mess, it should be me who has to clean it up.
  • If I am unfriendly to others/Then they will not be friendly to me.
  • If I do not get a good education/Then I will probably not get a good job when I am older.
  • If I don’t learn to use money wisely/Then I will probably never have much money.
  • If I don’t keep things put away/Then they will probably get lost or broken.
  • If I don’t share/Then others will not share with me.
  • If I don’t control myself/Then I will probably get in trouble.

Sitting down and listing these and other things with a child helps to make life seem a little clearer.  These are simple facts of life that every child should know, but often children do not learn.  Even very young children can learn these facts. For example, I once heard two church nursery workers tell about two little boys in the nursery.  One little boy kept hitting the other.  The second little boy kept moving away and the first boy kept following and hitting him.  The second boy did not hit back but finally looked at the first boy and said, “You should learn to control yourself!”  

         We would be wise as teachers, parents, and grandparents to understand that very young children can learn these facts of life and learn to think before acting.

It’s Not Just Child’s Play

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

It’s Not Just Child’s Play!

         It is a wonderful thing when parents will play with their children.  There is great value in time spent simply having fun with them.  This time is an opportunity for bonding, teaching, and creating memories.

Right after Christmas there is an opportunity to explore the new toys and games together.  When dad or mom get on the level of the child and explore the new possibilities of enjoyment, the child learns to appreciate the fact that the parent has interest in his/her world.  A special relationship between the child and parent is created.  This new relationship results in a better understanding of each another. 

In the event that a toy breaks, as many are apt to do, as the parent helps repair that toy, the child learns about how things work.  Parents have an opportunity to teach new words and understandings to the child.

Even if there are no new games or toys, parents and children can create their own games. Our grown children still laugh about playing “sandwich” or “slobber ear” with their dad, and I laugh when I see them play the same games with their children.  These are rough and tumble games on the floor (or grass in the summer) where all involved laugh and giggle as they try to get away from each other to avoid having an ear chewed or to become the bottom bread of a sandwich.  They laugh as “the meat” wriggles out to try to become the top bread and the bottom bread tries even harder to escape being the bottom bread.  It is important, however, for the parent to know when enough is enough in these games.  It is cruel to tickle children too much.  Also, weight of individuals needs to be considered so no person is hurt.

Many board games offer opportunities for learning as well as having fun.  Long winter evenings are well spent in playing games such as Monopoly, Balderdash, Sequence, or others with older children. In Monopoly, children learn much about money.  They learn to count the money as well as a great deal about how business works.  Balderdash is a great game for teaching writing, persuasion, and vocabulary.  Our family has laughed until we cried at some of the silly definitions written for some of the words in Balderdash. Board games designed for younger children teach a child to take turns and that they cannot always win.  They can learn to lose graciously.

Laughter is a good medicine. King Solomon tells us in Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine”.  Playing and laughing with our children relieves our stress as well as theirs.  We sometimes forget that children, too, have stress as they seek to please their parents and teachers.  

Time spent playing with children is a wonderful investment that yields dividends for eternity.  Children grow up so fast!  Let’s take advantage of the opportunities we have to spend time with them while we can. 

 

The Most Important Gift of All

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble; www.patlambchristianauthor.com

The Most Important Gift of All

         Isn’t it strange how it is Jesus’ birthday and yet we sometimes forget to give a gift to him? How would we like to go to a birthday party in our honor and have all the gifts there be given to someone else?  Our children need to understand that we are celebrating the birthday of Christ.  They need to think of a gift that they can give to Jesus.

         Of course, we all know that the reason for the season is the gift that God gave the earth by sending his only son to the world for our sakes.  We are told that in John 3:16. so, what could we possibly give that would begin to show our appreciation for that gift?

         In the book of Matthew we read, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?  The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine; you did for me’. (Matthew 26: 7, 8) We see by this passage that we give gifts to Jesus by doing things for others.

         It is so heartening to see so many wonderful things being done at Christmas time for others.  I stopped to make a deposit at the bank recently and saw a notice that the bank had adopted a family to help this Christmas. .  One Springfield TV station had an article about someone providing coats to children.  A church in a nearby town gave a ham to every family in town.  Many of the shows in Branson have collected food to disperse.  Shows in Branson have given benefits for the LUC Boy’s Ranch.  One church gives the opportunity for folks to give a Christmas gift by giving to the building fund.  Many of the clubs and organizations have selected special Christmas projects that consider the needs of those around us.  All  these things provide ways to give to Jesus

         We are tempted to think that we should spend our money on our own family, but we need to teach our family to think of others.  Each family needs to choose at least one thing to do to give a gift to Jesus by giving to others.  There are wonderful stories of children taking some of their own Christmas gifts and giving them to children in other countries, or even in America, who have less than they have.

         Let’s make sure that our children experience the wonderful feeling of giving to others.  Let’s discuss with our children how they would like to give the most important gift of all—a gift to Jesus.

Finding Time for the Kids in the Christmas Season

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and www.patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

Finding Time for the Kids in the Christmas Season

         It is ironic that most of what we busy ourselves with in the Christmas season is for the kids, yet because we are so busy, we don’t have time for the kids.  The truth of the matter is that time spent with the kids may be far more valuable than any toy or other gift that we may give them.

         There is no doubt that intentions are good as we scurry about decorating, baking, buying, making gifts, singing songs, and all the other things that go along with the ideal picture we have painted in our minds of Christmas. Even with the best of intentions, we often miss the true meaning of Christmas and fall short of the ideal goal we have set for ourselves.

         It is unrealistic to think that we can go all year filling every moment and doing all we can, and then at Christmas time add “umpteen” other activities without subtracting something.  If our schedules are already full, how can we add anything?  Yet, we seem to think we can be super parents and do just that.  If we are already doing all we can, something must be subtracted before we can add anything else.  

         What can be subtracted from our schedules in order to add the special Christmas activities?  Of course, this is an individual matter.  Each of us must scrutinize the daily schedule to see what can be eliminated.  Perhaps this is the time to check the freezer for foods that can be heated and served without a great deal of cooking.  Deep cleaning is not a necessity.  It can wait until after the holidays.  Family togetherness can be accomplished in doing Christmas projects together rather than going places.  Many things may simply be put off until after the first of the year.

         Incorporating the children in the Christmas activities allows us to accomplish the special tasks and spend time with the children at the same time.  Children love to be a part of secrets.  They can help select a gift for dad from mom or for mom from dad or for grandparents.    It is surprising what children can think of that we often overlook.  They can be a big help in providing ideas.  While on that shopping outing, have lunch with the children at a special place of their choosing.

         By all means, let the children help decorate.  Their ideas may not be perfect in our eyes, but that is not the important thing.  The children will remember more about what they contributed than what we thought looked acceptable to our friends and neighbors.  To this day, I remember pasting together red and green strips of construction paper to make chains to go on the Christmas tree or to hang around the elementary classroom at school Those chains were not the prettiest decorations, but we had a part in making them! 

         Planning ahead and grouping activities together really helps to save time and nerves.  The more trips we make, the more time it takes.  (Also, the more gas it takes!)  

         A child can do without “a perfectly decorated home” or “the perfect toy” easier than that child can do without his/her parent’s time and attention.  Perhaps we should put on a DVD of soothing Christmas music, calm down, and really enjoy time with the children as all work together to show love to one another.  After all, isn’t showing love what Christmas is all about?  John Peterson wrote a cantata titled, “Love Transcending”. Christmas is “love transcending” from heaven to earth.  We can help spread that love around the earth as we remember the real purpose of Christmas. 

It Really is the Thought that Counts

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble; www.patlambchristianauthor,com

Train up a child…

It Really is the Thought that Counts

         A lot of joking takes place at Christmas and birthdays when gifts don’t seem to match up with the recipients.  There are those who think that if you spend a lot of money, the gift should be appreciated. Some folks like handmade gifts; others think it is a sign that the giver has more time than money.  Some people fret and fret and still cannot come up with a gift that they feel comfortable in giving to someone. Then, thankfully, there are those who just seem to have a knack for gift-giving and always seem to come up with just the perfect gift.  

         I wonder if the secret to knowing the perfect gift for someone is knowing someone perfectly well.  The better we know someone, the better we know their likes and dislikes.  When we wait until the last minute and feel that we simply must find a gift, usually neither the giver nor the recipient enjoys the choice. In fact, there are those wonderful, efficient people who are alert to appropriate Christmas gifts all year long, picking up things they know someone would like when they happen to see them or making things ahead of time for those they love.

         I’m glad there are still those folks who enjoy handmade gifts.  They are getting scarce as time to make them becomes more and more limited.  I’ve always felt that someone must care for another very much to go to all the trouble to make something. Counted cross stitch, embroidery work, handmade pieces of furniture, crocheted or knitted work, and other handmade items are really priceless.  

         In the movie, “Christmas in Canaan”, on the Hallmark channel a unique idea was given.  I had never heard the idea that was presented there.  The father wrapped up pictures from catalogs of items he wished he had money to buy for the family members.  In the story plot, the crops had been bad and money was scarce.  The family remembered that special Christmas in the years to come and treasured the love shown by a father who truly wished he could do more.  The story was another reminder that Christmas is love, not things.

         It is so very noble when people ask that gifts not be given to them, but rather the money for those gifts be used to meet the needs of others. There are needy families who can really use some help.  On the other hand, there are those folks who have so much that it is hard to think of anything they don’t already have to give to them.  It is amusing to look through some catalogs and see some of the unusual creations that are there to lure people to spend money.  

         When we give to others from the heart, it is like giving to Jesus.  After all, it really is his birthday, not ours.  We need to teach our children to give from the heart by setting the right example for them.  Children need to understand that we give to others to show our love for them.  Emphasis needs to be put on what would make the other person happy.  We can help children avoid selfishness when we teach them that gifts should be given with a great deal of thought and love.