Good Projects
Living Joy
Well wishes and displays of joy should be offered to your loved ones on a consistent basis and shouldn’t be limited to any particular season. It’s something that should be practiced all year long. But in the spirit of the season we can all use a booster on spreading and receiving the love and appreciation.
During the holiday season children learn how to clearly state their gift expectations and what they want. They just ask Santa, of course! And many argue that the upcoming generations are the most selfish generations yet. How exactly that is determined is fairly unclear but how to ensure that we teach our children to be caring, considerate and responsible citizens is rather simple...practice!
Here is a great practice tool that also serves as a keepsake and can even become an annual tradition. It teaches children how to give and highlight the attributes of all the family members. It can also be a thoughtful gift idea for teachers and caregivers.
The Living Joy Scrolls
Objective: To create scrolls to be shared with each family member to show appreciation.
Time Allotment: 40 minutes
Items needed:
- Colored pens (bright or metallic)
- Holiday stamps and ink
- Scrap sheets of paper (notebook paper)
- High quality paper large enough to write a list on (parchment if you want to get fancy)
- Ribbon to match your holiday theme
- Holiday stickers (optional)
- You will also need tissue for when you read the scrolls!
Directions:
Have everyone select a piece of paper for each person in the family, excluding themselves. On a scrap piece of paper have them write what they love/like/respect about that family member. Encourage everyone to write as many things as they want. (If your child can't write, get an older member of the family to help.) Using the decorative pens, have your children write the list of accolades on separate pieces of high quality paper. They can also decorate the scrolls by doodling on them or putting stickers on them. This can be done in one sitting or be done spread out the weeks before the holidays.
Next roll the papers up like a scroll and tie a ribbon around them. Write the name of the person it is for on the outside of the scroll. Then put them in the Christmas tree or in their stocking until the day of your celebration.
On the holiday pass out the scrolls to each family member. Have everyone pick one or two or all of theirs to read aloud.
