It seems like such a bland, non-activity. And it is boring and uneventful if that's how you treat it. But your average charity donation can actually be a great activity full of fun teachable moments just waiting to happen.
Maybe your kids are whining that they are bored. Maybe your house is overrun with clutter and it's time to clean it out. Or your church is having a food drive. Perhaps you're just looking for a chance to get out of the house and break up the monotony of a slow day. Whatever your reason, the first place to start is with a conversation. It goes something like this:
Wow, it looks like we've got a lot of toys (clothes, books, games, food, etc.) in this room. You know I've seen some kids who hardly have any toys (clothes, books, games, food, etc.) at all. Do you think there's anything in this room that you might be able to share with those kids?
Or you could lead by example.
Look at this big box of shoes I just cleaned out of my closet. I don't wear them anymore, so I'm going to give them away to someone who can use them.
Some kids are ready to jump right in and start getting rid of stuff, others may need a little extra encouragement. Start by grabbing a small box and asking your kids to find something to put in it. Don't be discouraged if your kid tries to fill the box with garbage (not just junk, but literal garbage). Another common trick is for kids to try to fill the box with their siblings toys instead of their own. Be patient and keep redirecting them to look at their own things and think about what other children might really enjoy.
For little kids this can also be a good time to refresh concepts of big and small as they try to sort out what fits and what doesn't, or what's for big kids and what's for babies.
Once you have a small box filled, close it up, step back, and look at it.
Wow, I bet whoever gets this box will be really grateful. Do you think we could make even more people happy by filling two boxes?
Some kids will catch on too fast, and you'll have to slow them down before they give the whole house away. But a child who is too generous isn't exactly something to complain about. Once you're done filling boxes, take them out to the car right away. You don't want them cluttering your house any longer than necessary. And you really don't want little hands opening up those boxes and discovering they still want to keep what's in them.
It's always best f you can make the trip to the drop off site on the same day. It helps with the continuity of the lesson you are trying to teach, and reduces the chances that the things you are trying to get rid of will find their way back into your house. (Last month I spent an afternoon sorting through all our old jackets and boxing up what we didn't need. Then I put those boxes in the trunk and forgot about them. A few weeks later we were at a football game and my kids forgot their jackets. We raided the donation boxes in the trunk and found coats for everybody. It was definitely great that night, but now all those jackets that I wanted to get rid of have found their way back into my house where I'll have to sort through them again!) When you get to the donation site, let your kids help deliver the boxes. They will feel good about helping, and they'll get to see that someone (even if it's just a scruffy looking dock loader) is happy to receive their donation. Use the delivery trip to continue the conversation and help them identify the good feelings they are (hopefully) feeling.
Isn't it awesome to see all our old things going to a new home where someone can appreciate them? I bet someone is going to be really happy to have those jeans that don't fit you anymore. How does that make you feel.
When you are back home, take a minute to look at the space you created.
Wow, you're room looks really clean now. There's a lot of room to play here! Doesn't it feel good to have a clean room?
or
Look how organized your closet is. It will be a lot easier finding your favorite clothes in here now, won't it?
In just a few hours you've done a lot of really great things here. You've cleaned up a space that needed cleaning. You've helped out local families in need. And you've given your kids a chance to feel the joy that comes from giving. Win-Win-Win.
Marcia
P.S. If you itemize your tax deductions, don't forget to get a receipt!
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