“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully,
everyone is blessed.” -Maya Angelou

Empathy development first emerges in the preschool years, as children begin to understand that other people have experiences, emotions, and even bodies that are different from their own. This concept, called Theory of Mind, is crucial for developing true empathy in later years. Developing emotional intelligence in a preschool child can be done in so many ways. Teaching them to identify their own and other's feelings, learning how to cope with their emotions, and discussing positive and negative behaviors you see in books, on TV, or at the park are all wonderful ways to pave this golden road to empathy.

Another powerful way is to teach our children the importance of giving. Our annual Empty Bowls Celebration in November was a beautiful reminder that 4 and 5 year old’s not only have the capacity to understand giving to those less fortunate but feel an immense and pure joy in the act. While glazing their creations in the Atelier one morning, children in the Owl Class were asked if they remembered why they were creating these bowls. “We’re going to ask mommy for a little money and the teachers are going to give the money to the people who don’t have very much money.”, answered one. “Yeah, we want them to stay healthy. So that they can stay alive for a long time. We want them to have a school and toys, too. Let’s give them money when we sell our old toys.”, added a classmate. “The kids that don’t have money, their tummies get hungrier and hungrier.”, another friend answered. “They’re thirsty, too.”

As the holiday season enters full swing and Santa, elves, candy, and wishlists fill our daily conversations, we thought it would be lovely to share some other ways you can include your own young children in the true spirit of the season; the spirit of giving. So, look through the list, pick one to try, and let us know how it goes! Happy Giving!  

1)     Help your child to gather a few toys that are no longer played with. Discuss that some

girls and boys do not have many toys, and how happy these things would make them.  Here are a few wonderful organizations that would greatly appreciate your gently used toys:

•   UMOM New Day Centers: umom.org

•   The Welcome to America Project: wtap.org

•   Phoenix Children’s Hospital: phoenixchildrens.org

2)   Shop at a store together and buy a new toy or book for a child that is your child’s age! Again, discuss how this toy or book would make another little boy or girl very happy and how good it makes our own hearts feel to give to someone else. Here are a few places collecting new toys during the holiday season or any time of the year:

•   Each year AZ Helping Hands has a Christmas toy drive: azhelpinghands.org

•   Toys for Tots is collecting toys until December 15 at various drop-off sites around the valley: phoenix-az.toysfortots.org

•   Phoenix Children’s Hospital: phoenixchildrens.org

•   Childhelp: childhelp.org     

3)    Participate in a neighborhood clean-up day together. Taking care of the world we live in is a wonderful step on the road to empathy development and a whole lot more!

4)    Consider driving a Meals on Wheels route once a week for approximately 2 hours with your preschooler! PPP teacher Shauna Winburn drove a route with her then 3 year old. The experience was not only life-shaping for Miss Shauna and her daughter, but for the elderly men and women on their once-weekly route, as well. To find out more call Diana Wert at the Area Agency on Aging, 602-241-6196.

5)    Grow out your hair together and donate it to Crowns of Courage! Our very own PPP parent Jessica Rinehart co-founded the organization, which crafts beautiful halo wigs for children who have chemotherapy-related hair loss. These wigs are given free of charge and bring nothing but joy to their very deserving recipients. Hair must be 10 inches or longer. Reach out to Jessica at crownsofcourage@gmail.com. 

6)     Read together! Here are a few books that inspire the true spirit of Christmas, whatever time of year.

•   How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

•   The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need by Stan and Jan Berenstain

•    Harold Loves His Wooly Hat by Vern Kousky

•   The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell

•   The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving by Ellen Sabin

•   A Snowy Surprise by Amy Hest