by Laura Falin posted in Life & Home

I don't think we give kids enough credit.
Sure, they love their games and toys and electronics. They don't always like to share (I'm looking at you, 2-year olds!). But they can also have an empathy for other kids that we don't recognize. I see it when we're clearing out some of our toys here. I know a lot of people will tell you to get rid of your kids' toys when they're not around to object, but when I explain to my kids that those toys will be going to other children who don't have any -- they end up donating more than I would have. I don't think my kids are exceptional in this. I think many kids would do the same if they were given the chance.
This is why I love the idea of charitable birthdays. What better way to celebrate your child's life than by making a difference in someone else's" I've heard of a ton of great ways to do this, but here are a few: 1.) Skip the school cupcakes. My mom is a retired kindergarten teacher. In her classroom, instead of cupcakes or treats, kids brought a new book to donate to the class. They picked out one of their favorites (check with the teacher to make sure she doesn't already have it), wrote a little note on the inside front cover and glued a wallet-sized school picture of themselves in it. And the class had it to read from then on. It's a fun way to get kids involved in thinking about what someone else would like to read...and frankly, with allergies and school nutrition requirements and ot...