Finding happiness during the holiday season

The holiday season presents a wonderful opportunity to celebrate themes of renewal, peace and kindness within a variety of world traditions. But it’s also a time when holiday advertising creates the consumerist pressure to purchase material goods. For many people, the pressure to consume can sometimes override the messages of the season.

By presenting positive key messages about the intrinsic themes of the holidays and by creating opportunities for students to explore these themes outside the classroom, teachers can help their students to think about the holidays in a new way. 

In their book, Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World, Craig and Marc Kielburger argue that by helping others, we can find true happiness. This holiday season, let’s put this idea to the test.

Elementary Classroom Activity
  
Through picture books and direct experience, students will learn that happiness can be achieved by helping others.

Sam and the Lucky Money. 
By Karen Chinn. 1995. Lee & Low Books Inc., New York.

Synopsis:

Sam wants to spend his Chinese New Years money, but after looking at many expensive and unnecessary items, he chooses instead to give the money to a homeless man in need of shoes. Since he only has a small amount to spend, Sam tells the man it might not be enough for him to buy shoes, but it might buy him some warm socks. The book is a wonderful illustration of the natural desire we all have to consume, but also how one child’s decision to give a small gift to someone in need can make a big difference in the life of another.

The Lady in the Box
By Ann McGovern. 1997. Turtle Books, New York.

Synopsis:

Two sisters discover a homeless woman living near their home in the winter. Concerned about her ability to survive the cold weather, the girls secretly take items from their home to give to her. They finally tell their mother about the humanitarian scheme and she joins her daughters in befriending the homeless woman. The book provides insight into the North American experience of poverty. Children are presented as problem-solvers who can take small actions to help eradicate large issues.

Activity:

Read and discuss the story. Facilitate a discussion in which students explore pressures to spend money and consume, especially during the holiday season. Brainstorm ideas on how they can provide a joyful experience for others without buying gifts. In small groups, students investigate local shelters, food banks or community centres, then generate ideas on gifts they can make (i.e., storybooks, pictures, banner/quilt, write and perform a play or song, etc.). 

This activity can extend into a larger project where students can visit the community agency then write a reflection piece on the impact of helping others. 

One just for teachers….

Students present gifts of appreciation during the Christmas season. As an individual or even as a school staff, suggest that instead of gifts, a contribution could be made to the Adopt a Village Alternative Income campaign—a gift that will have a lasting impact on a whole village in a developing country.  

In peace,

Catherine McCauley, M.Ed.
Director of Teacher Development
Free The Children

Free The Children is the largest network of children helping children through education in the world, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has an established track-record of success, with three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and partnerships with the United Nations and Oprah’s Angel Network.