Sharing and Giving Gifts - A Newsletter for Parents of First Grade Children

Sharing and Giving to Others

Sharing is a concept that is not always easy for a child to grasp. Your child will learn a lot about giving by watching others.

Here are some ways people share and give of themselves. Some cost money and some do not. Talk to your child about these when he or she sees them occurring. Try to answer any questions that may come up about why people do these things.

• Donating used clothing to the Salvation Army, local clothing drive, community clothing center, etc.
• Giving money to a charity or religious organization.
• Donating blood at the local blood drive.
• Taking food to a family when someone is sick or hurt.
• Contributing food to a food bank or pantry.
• Volunteering time to read books for story hour at the library.
• Visiting people at the nursing home.
• Helping family members with chores.
• Watering plants for the neighbors while they're on vacation.

Deciding Where the Money Will Go

Cut out these labels for your child to attach to three small containers. Place the jars in the child's room where he or she can get to them easily. Talk with the child about deciding how the money will be divided among the three jars. Having the three jars is a visible reminder of the importance of spending, saving, and giving when it comes to money management.

Prepared by Donna K. Donald, family life field specialist, and Vicki W. Sickels, former family support program associate, and edited by Laura Sternweis, communication specialist, Iowa State University Extension

. . . . and justice for all The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Stanley R. Johnson, director, Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.

This newsletter is published for families with first grade children by Iowa State University Extension. For more information about parenting education, contact your local county extension office or access the Iowa State University Extension to Families website, www.extension.iastate.edu/families.