Life in most households with children can be hectic. Everyone is racing from work to school to practice to play dates to the grocery store to dance/music/daycare/etc. While many families value giving and wish to make it part of life, incorporating regular conversation and action in helping others can be difficult.

To help your family focus its philanthropic efforts and endeavors and clarify that which you care about as a group, come together to create your Family’s Mission in Helping. Not only will this make it easier to make helping others a priority, it will help your whole family recognize opportunities to make a difference and keep it top of mind. More

We recently heard a story about a five-year-old who suggested that her mother use Clorox ‘Veach’ to clean her younger sister’s stained paints. We also know a two-year-old who refused to wear a Pull-Up that didn’t feature Dora the Explorer’s pet monkey, Boots. You see, all the Pull-Ups in the box include Dora, but not all of them include Boots.

It starts early, and it’s intense. Annually $17 billion is spent by companies advertising to children in the U.S. Children are inundated by messages that tell them what they should want and why. Children are cash-cows for corporations, according to one author and “corporations manipulate consumers, including children, into believing they must have a product or service.” A 2009 study found that children in the U.S. spend one week of their lives each year television advertisements. Throw in the social pressure to have the latest and greatest, and it’s no wonder parents regularly hear, “I want, I want, I want.” More

It’s fun to surprise our kids with special treats or purchase them new items. The latest action figure for your seven-year-old. A fun new pair of earrings for your teenage daughter. A new basketball or catcher’s mitt for your athlete. There are probably others that like to spoil your children a little as well. Like grandparents, aunts, uncles and close family friends.

Instead of just filling up drawers and toy boxes with more stuff, there’s actually an opportunity in each gift or new item received to encourage appreciation and generosity if you employ a ‘Get One, Give One” policy in your household. And with this policy, there’s opportunity to survey that which we have and take stock on what we still appreciate. Does this sound like a dream come true? More

TAG Question of the Week

As you probably know, the Susan G. Komen Foundation recently caused quite a stir. We are certainly not here to debate their decision(s) or the fall-out(s), but in reading responses to articles and social media postings over the past week, it is evident that many of us are not completely aware of how the nonprofits we support use the money we donate or raise on their behalf.

It’s important to do your homework before supporting charities to ensure that your money is being used appropriately and in support of initiatives that you intend to be part of. For adults this can obviously involve significant financial investigation and vetting, however there are activities and discussions children can participate in to increase their awareness of what they are supporting and understand the importance of being sure our money is used well. More

If you grew up in the South, or if you have a Southern grandmother or friend, you might have received a sercy at some point in your life. Sercies can be better than birthday presents. More exciting than Christmas. Because a sercy is a special treat for no reason at all. It’s just a little present or act of kindness just because. Like a special trip to the park, a bag of your favorite candy or dessert, a little something that they saw and just knew you would love, a warm deed just for you.

“Those best parts of a good life: little, nameless, unremembered acts
of kindness and love.” –William Wordsworth More