As the holidays approach, gifts and shopping are at the top of many of our “to do” lists. Let’s take an expanded look at the idea of gifts from a less commercial perspective. Although for many of us, the holidays bring joy in exchanging gifts and visiting friends and family, for many, the holidays bring loneliness and sadness. Consider using your homeschooling connections to bring students together for a project that can teach teamwork, creativity and cooperation while bringing joy to some who will welcome it with open arms.
During the holidays, many people in convalescent homes, group homes or long-term care facilities receive no visitors. Some members of your community may live alone at home and seldom have guests. Take some time with your child to discuss how much they love to see certain friends or family members and how lonely they might feel if they didn’t get to visit with these people. You can teach lessons of emotions from happy to sad to lonely. Then you can help them understand these feelings by reaching out to others in the community.
Are you connected with other homeschool families through your local school district or homeschool connection? If so, perhaps you can use December to work on an outreach project. Here are some ideas, but your city’s human services department might have more specific ideas to meet your community’s needs.
- Make tray favors for the local Meals-on-Wheels. These little craft projects can teach math lessons, following directions and awaken creativity. As well, your child will learn how easy it is to brighten someone’s day
- Go Christmas caroling to local shut-ins, group homes or nursing homes. Check with local churches or human services departments for ideas.
- Depending on your child’s skills, you can bring a craft project to a local group home. It can be as easy as bringing the items needed for making holiday cards. Let your child lead the activity or simply be an assistant as you lead.
- Make holiday cards for military service people who are not home for the holidays. You can use old Christmas cards, construction paper, colored pens and glue.
- Deliver little packets of holiday cookies to the local VA hospital. If your child feels comfortable handing them out, let him/her. If not, perhaps you can hand them out and your child can assist you.
- Get homeschool kids together and learn to knit on a loom (it’s easy). Make some hats for the local homeless shelter.
- Work at a Soup Kitchen during the holidays. If the actual serving is too over-stimulating, perhaps your child can set the tables ahead of time or help during clean up.
I am sure you can think of other ideas that might fit your child’s skills, interests or abilities, but take the time to teach lessons of heart-felt gift giving. Helping our kids feel a part of their community is such a valuable lesson.
About Martianne Stanger
Share Your Thoughts...