‘Tis better to give than to receive. Even though the economy is in a tizzy, Christmas is still an opportunity to teach your children about the magic of being selfless. One Christmas, during a year of general economic difficulty, my parents took us to purchase several shopping carts full of toys. We dressed up like elves and delivered the gifts to random children in a needy neighborhood near my father’s office. I’ll never forget how that made me feel.

For your older kids, The Gift of the Magi is a timeless, touching tale about a couple who discovers the deep meaning of acting selflessly. After reading it, help them take the opportunity to act selflessly this Christmas and find a gift for someone who needs it more than they do. If your family is having a tough season, suggest that they sacrifice one of their own gifts this year for someone in greater need. It’ll build character and create a Christmas memory they’ll never forget.

The Book

Title: The Gift of the Magi

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Author: O. Henry

Illustrator: P.J. Lynch

Recommended Age: 9-12

Book Brief: In a shabby New York flat, Della sobs as she counts the few coins she has saved to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. A gift worthy of her devotion will require a great sacrifice: selling her long, beautiful hair. Jim, meanwhile, has made a sacrifice for Della that is no less difficult. As they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, the discovery of what each has done fills them with despair, until they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found more readily in their humble apartment than in any fine store. O. Henry paints a masterly portrait of unfaltering love, a haven from the harsh world outside. The poignancy of his story is captured in P.J. Lynch’s eloquent art, wherein every glance, every gesture, tells a subtle truth.

About the Author: O. Henry, aka William Sydney Porter, was born in North Carolina in 1862. A master of the short story, he wrote hundreds of tales whose wry humor and plot twists, often amusing or ironic, have earned him a place as one of the best-loved American writers. He died in 1910 at the age of forty-seven.

About the Illustrator: P.J. Lynch is the celebrated illustrator of many beloved and acclaimed books, including A Christmas Carol, The Bee-Man of Orn, and Ignis. He has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice, for The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and When Jessie Came Across the Sea. He lives in Ireland.

The Blast

Toys for Tots

Location:

Multiple drop-off locations.

Visit www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys.asp to find a drop-off location near you.

Cost: Varies

It’s a Blast! Toys for Tots collects unwrapped toys during the months of October, November, and December and then distributes those toys to children in need for Christmas. The gifts are distributed within the community in which they are collected. The campaign is run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, with the goal of giving hope to needy youngsters. The organization has been delivering Christmas joy since 1947, and tens of millions of toys are collected and distributed every year.

You can help! Take your children to the local toy store and let each one pick out a toy for another child. This is an easy program to participate in because you aren’t tied to a specific request. Give your kids a set dollar amount and let them explore the toy store or shopping mall for an hour. When you’re done, drop the toys off at one of the drop-off locations. Take some time to talk about what that gift will mean to a child whose family wouldn’t be having a Christmas without your help.

Extra tips for a Good Time:

• A convenient drop-off location is your local Toys R Us store. You can make a meaningful trip to the toy store without having to search around for someone to take your gifts.
• Realize that this may be difficult for your child. Don’t make it a bad experience by persistently scolding them about their selfishness. Instead, let the event make its impact slowly. Sit down over a cup of hot chocolate and talk about why it’s important to be giving this time of year.
• Make this a holiday tradition, and your kids will begin talking about it before December hits – very cool!