Joy of Giving Christmas Tree | 50 Ways for Kids to Give Back

Teach kids to give this season with this Joy of Giving Christmas Tree for Kids | 50 Ideas to Give Back. This post is sponsored by Zonderkidz. All magical holiday opinions are my own. May contain commissioned links.

Joy of Giving Christmas Tree | 50 Ways for Kids to Give Back

You’re never too young to give at Christmas time. ‘Giving over gifts’ is an important focus for our family, especially during the holiday season.

But I admit that getting our kids to be joyful givers is not always an easy achievement. When teaching about the importance of giving during the holidays, I turn to good books and classic characters to help guide my kids into the spirit of giving.

Get your kids into giving with joy with this adorable Joy of Giving Christmas Tree (perfect for using year after year!) inspired by the classic Christmas book The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving, and 50 Ways for Kids to Give Back This Season.

The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving Inspires Us to Give

It can be hard to get my kids to give from the heart. With the focus on “me, me, me!” and what toys they will get, shifting our focus from gifts to joyful giving isn’t always easy. Sometimes I need more than just my words and actions to help guide my kids – I need really deep and meaningful Christmas stories.

The Berenstain Bears have always been a friendly family that my kids adore. Each book we own is filled with teaching tools and strong values that encourage my kids to grow up as good human beings. Just in time for the holidays, The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving book (released 2010) helps remind my kids that the act of giving isn’t enough without the joy in their hearts.

In The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving, Brother and Sister Bear can’t wait for Christmas and all the presents they’ll open. But during the Christmas Eve pageant, something special happens! The Bear cubs learn a very valuable lesson about the joy of giving to others.

Joy of Giving Christmas Tree DIY

A simple reminder, a beautiful piece of holiday décor and a teaching tool for my kids – I LOVE this Joy of Giving Christmas Tree DIY. With ideas to inspire my kids to give and give joyfully throughout the holiday season, this mini Christmas tree is the perfect addition to our family traditions. Ready to make your own? It’s so easy!

What You Will Need:

(1) Mini Christmas Tree (this one was only $5!)
(1) Set of Mini Christmas Ornaments (as low as $1 at your dollar store)
Ornament Hooks
Ribbon Label Machine (I have THIS one) with gold-on-red satin ribbon cartridge
List of Giving Back Ideas at Christmas time (see list below)

Directions:

Using your ribbon label machine, write and print out labels, being sure to leave a wide enough space (at least 1 inch) between words.
Cut ribbon as shown.
Thread ribbon through mini ornament. Add an ornament hook.
Every time your child completes the “giving” task on the ornament this season, hang the ornament on the tree. Keep on encouraging your kids to give and give again as you add new ornaments to the tree throughout the season!

50 Ways for Kids to Give Back This Christmas Season

Inspired by the classic Christmas book, The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving, we are finding joy in giving back as a family this season. I love when my kids be involved in the act. So in case you’re looking for some new ideas, here’s 50 ideas for kids to give back this Christmas season:

Bake cookies for neighbors (grab these FREE Christmas Cookie Tags)
Donate old toys to your favorite charity
Send Christmas cards to military overseas
Donate supplies to local animal shelter
Volunteer time at local charity/soup kitchen/church
Host a party, encouraging your kids to invite someone who is forgotten, lonely, or new at school
Do a Random Act of Kindness for a stranger
Pick up trash
Compliment someone
Thank your teacher
Call a family member or friend who lives far away
Donate new toys to Toys for Tots
Make a special shoebox of toys and supplies for Operation Christmas Child
Show love to a family member
Give a hug
Donate to your local food pantry
Make meals for a family in need
Pick a gift for your local church giving tree
Give a treat to your local trash collector/mail carrier
Donate loose change to the Salvation Army
Pet sit for a neighbor
Donate clothes to kids in need
Visit Your Local Hospital
Sing Christmas carols with your family
Help a neighbor
Buy gifts that give back
Write thank you cards
Adopt a zoo animal
Make a homemade card for someone special
Send treats to your local firemen and police officers
Spend time with someone in a nursing home
Join a canned food drive for your school
Open the door for everyone for a day
Write an “I love you” note for your parents
Feed the birds
Walk a dog
Smile at everyone today
Let someone in front of you in line
Adopt a child in need
Babysit for free
Leave an encouraging note for a friend
Draw a picture for a special someone
Make coupons for free hugs, high fives, kisses
Give out extra snacks to a classmate or your whole class
Give part of your allowance to charity of choice
Share a laugh by telling a good Christmas joke
Recycle and take care of the planet this holiday season
Shovel snow for a friend or neighbor (or for us Florida folks, clean up lawns/leaves)
Donate used books to a local library or kids in need
Host a garage sale and donate profits to charity of choice

It’s so much more than just giving during Christmas. The joy of giving really hits home when your kids’ hearts are open to how much giving IS the gift. With this Joy of Giving Christmas Tree, a good book like The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving, and simple reminders to keep the act of giving the focus of the season, my kids are growing up each Christmas season with just a little more joy in their hearts.