They receive presents for holidays, birthdays and sometimes for no reason at all. It’s up to parents to teach them that giving gifts is a joy, too. And it will help them become responsible and caring.

Holidays are a natural time for gift giving, but children will enjoy giving all year round. All it takes is a few afternoons of your time and some simple craft or baking materials.

• The youngest children can help you bake cookies or a cake. They can decorate paper to give as stationery. Or they can wrap the paper around a can to give as a pencil holder.
• For a special gift, laminate your child’s drawings in heavy plastic. These are great place mats!
• Sometimes the best gifts are gifts of time. Children can sing songs to elderly neighbors. Or they can help them with simple chores.

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