Avoid the Too Much Stuff Syndrome

Often, children have too much stuff. One way to deal with over abudance is to give on a birthday rather than receive. Set up birthday parties as a time for giving to others. At your child’s first school age birthday party, ask guests to bring a gift of a book (new or used) to be donated to a local charity. Talk to your child about the books he or she has and about children who have no books. Explain that one way to celebrate a birthday would be to give to those who have less. Involve the birthday child in the decision of whether to give the books to a woman’s shelter, a daycare for homeless children, or some other appropriate organization. When you deliver the books with your child, record it on camera, so you can revisit the occasion and talk about the book and what it meant to another child.

If children celebrate their birthday at school, they can give a book to their class in honor of  their birthday. Place a photo of the birthday child with a handwritten inscription that the book was given in honor of his or her birthday. Childen in future classes will then have a wonderful example of generosity.

"It's better to give than to receive" takes on real life meaning.