A lot of parents worry about the commercialization of the holidays. Brandy's mom, Nicole, says they've cleaned out their toy boxes for a few years. I try to teach them to give instead of worrying about what they are going to get for Christmas. We were involved in a food drive for Thanksgiving and are doing another for the Christmas holidays with the Flagler County 4-H program. Helping the Hungry.
Youth benefit from participating in volunteer activities.
By giving them an opportunity to contribute, you are giving them an opportunity to understand their world and themselves better. Some research suggests that service during youth helps shape political activity, moral interests and a sense of identity in relationship to the political process. Service also can build cross-generational understanding. It helps youth look at adults in a different way, not just as rule-makers. It also helps that community realize that youth are much more than the negative images they see in the newspaper.