Everyone has a Christmas Wish List but have you ever heard of a Christmas Giving List? At this time of year, we often hear the phrase 'It's the giving, not the receiving' but how much do we really do, to live up to that? In this week's blog, Verity has a great activity to do with your little ones, to teach them about the spirit of giving and especially its importance at Christmas time.

Verity - (@mummasparks)

Tilly started school this year and now that she is a little older, her excitement levels for Christmas have definitely reached a peak! Between rehearsals for the Nativity play, trips to get our Christmas tree and dreaming of her list for Santa, it's safe to say that the festive season is on her mind all of the time right now! While we want to give her a wonderful family Christmas this year, we also want to teach her about the importance of giving and why a thoughtful gift, given with love and with no expectation of anything in return is the best kind there is.

With that in mind, we decided to create her very first Christmas Giving List. This list gives her the opportunity to identify the people in her life she would like to give to most and see just how beautiful a spirit of giving can be! We've made the list into a template that you can also download and print off at home, to create with your little ones too.

How does it work?

On the giving list, write the names of friends, colleagues and family members whom you want to give gifts to this Christmas.

Think about other kinds of people too, how about a teacher or sports coach? Or how about an elderly neighbour or someone who is separated from their family over the holidays?

These could be gifts of service, where you do something kind to help them, or gifts you have made yourself. They could also be gifts that you buy.

Gifts of service can be fun, you could bake or make a Christmas craft and there are plenty of ideas across many of our Christmas themed blogs!

When you have given your gift, cut out the bauble and stick it to the tree on page three.

By Christmas, you will have a beautiful looking tree, decorated with actual love and kindness. It's definitely something for the memory box, too.

We'd love to see your special giving-list trees! If you have a go at home take a photo to send to us or tag us online!

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