Thursday's Kids and T(w)eens: Giving Back for Birthdays?

Hi Friends,

We hope you are enjoying our focus on birthday celebrations this week.

It's making Mommy quite the Train Wreck when it comes to obsessing over my next big (2!) celebration.

Mommy and I think it's a nice idea to consider charitable donations on birthdays (and other events).  We think it's a great way to teach kids about the value of giving back and service (and to get family and friends involved).  Also once kids get to a certain age, they probably don't need too many more toys!  What do you think?  Apparently we are not the only ones that feel this way ... after doing some research, this is apparently quite the latest craze for children's birthday parties: Cake, but No Presents, Please (New York Times).  And like all parenting topics, there is a heated debate on both sides.

Although it is our opinion that getting your kids involved in donations and charity (even on their birthday) shouldn't be seen as negative at all.  We would never force someone to make a donation or get involved in a charity!

For my 1st Birthday Celebration, we did make charity a small part of my birthday with the Gift of Grub for the Houston Zoo, and we are definitely considering making charity a part of my future birthdays.

But your older kids will have an even greater understanding of the importance of charity.  So how can they incorporate charity into their birthdays?  Two ideas.

First, they can pick a charity (either local, national, or international) from the web that has an easy and user-friendly ability to provide donations.  charity: water is one example that already has an area for birthdays!  I suggest letting your kiddos pick a charity that is either important to them, and / or goes well with the theme of their birthday celebration!

Second, for your older kids, we think it would be a unique and valuable idea to host a birthday celebration where all of the guests go complete service together in your community!  What do you think?  Another idea (that may require less logistical planning) is to make items at your birthday that can be taken to a local charity (maybe at a slumber party your kids could create cards to be taken to a local nursing home?).

And we would love to hear your ideas ... do you have any online charities your kids may be interested in supporting?  Or local charities?

And a few photos from my 1st Birthday (first one with Auntie Tam):

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

-Mad Max