With the purchase of each Global Kidizen doll using the link in this post, a 50% donation (that’s $32.00 PER DOLL!) will be made directly to OneSky, supporting their work of partnering with governments and communities in Asia to provide responsive care and safe learning environments so marginalized
young children can thrive.
*AND…if you’re interested in purchasing a doll to send to children in OneSky’s programs, please let us know in the notes section of the order and we’ll ship them for you!
Míng Lì from China is particularly special to the OneSky community because of OneSky’s work in Asia.
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Like many countries, there are a multitude of cultures and identities in the United States. I want to share why we chose Xander as the first of the Global Kidizens from the US. The inspiration for our brand started in 2015 with a young boy from Houston, named Dane. He closely resembles the current version of Xander...and my son, Matteo. At For Purpose Kids, we believe in embracing lived-experiences, which is why we work closely with development partners for each character. We felt it was important to maintain a connection to our origin story, and also acknowledge the responsibility that we have in raising boys in the United States. With privilege comes responsibility and that is something we take very seriously.
]]>As the parent of a seven year old, this is one of the most important things I want to teach him.
I want to inspire him and other kids to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
Like many countries, there are a multitude of cultures and identities in the United States. I want to share why we chose Xander as the first of the Global Kidizens from the US. The inspiration for our brand started in 2015 with a young boy from Houston, named Dane. He closely resembles the current version of Xander...and my son, Matteo. At For Purpose Kids, we believe in embracing lived-experiences, which is why we work closely with development partners for each character. We felt it was important to maintain a connection to our origin story, and also acknowledge the responsibility that we have in raising boys in the United States. With privilege comes responsibility and that is something we take very seriously.
Let’s Meet Xander from the United States and find out what brings him joy!
Hey y’all (Y-awl)! That’s how you say “Hello” where I’m from. My name is Xander (ZAN-der) and I’m 8 years old!
I live in Houston, Texas which is one of the biggest states in the United States of America (USA). The USA is part of North America, along with Mexico and Canada.
I. LOVE. CELEBRATIONS.
Some other fun things you might like to know about me:
I love playing baseball, my favorite thing to eat is macaroni & cheese, and I love balloons, probably because they remind me of celebrations! Sometimes I feel scared about not being liked, or not fitting in, but when that happens, I think about what I can do to spark joy in someone else, and that usually makes me feel better.
Now that we’ve told you all about Xander, we invite you to share his story with the kids in your life and engage in a conversation with them about what seems similar and what seems different between their lives and Xander’s life. It is in this discussion that we begin to nurture curiosity and wonder in the minds of our children about different cultures around the world, and this lays the foundation for building empathy* at the earliest of ages. Something I think we can agree we need a lot more of in this world.
*For additional tips on building empathy, please don’t forget to grab our FREE DOWNLOAD, 5 Tips to Build Empathy in Kids, available here.
Oh, one more thing! As a special offer for our community, we’d like to offer a free gift to welcome Xander into your home. Use code GLOBALKIDIZENS at checkout for 10% OFF of Xander or any of her friends on our website today!
Our Commitment:
For Purpose Kids is committed to helping kids and families journey through a world of global cultures with diverse characters and imaginative stories that build empathy, connection, and belonging.
Our hand-knit, all natural cotton, fair trade Global Kidizen dolls and stories cultivate wonder and acceptance of others around the world by highlighting similarities and celebrating differences through play and storytelling in a unique and fun way.
]]>As the parent of a seven year old, this is one of the most important things I want to teach him.
I want to inspire him and other kids to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
We chose to highlight the vibrant and rich culture in Kenya, because of several relationships we have made with friends who live there. They are doing amazing things and we can't wait for you and the kids in your life to learn about this WONDER-ful place.
]]>As the parent of a seven year old, this is one of the most important things I want to teach him.
I want to inspire him and other kids to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
We chose to highlight the vibrant and rich culture in Kenya, because of several relationships we have made with friends who live there. They are doing amazing things and we can't wait for you and the kids in your life to learn about this WONDER-ful place.
Let’s Meet Mapenzi from Kenya and learn more about what makes her feel alive!
Jambo! (JAHM-boh) That’s how you say “Hello” in Swahili (swah-HEE-lee), the language we speak in my home.
My name is Mapenzi (muh-PEN-zee) - which means “love” in my language- and I’m 7 years old.
I live on LamU (LAH-moo) Island in Kenya, which is located off the eastern coast of the continent of Africa.
My favorite thing to do is to make music- with my voice, with instruments, with just about anything!
I especially love celebrating my culture through music, using drums and other instruments. When I hear the music, it makes my body feel alive and I think that is the best feeling in the world.
Some other fun things you might like to know about me:
I love to swim, my favorite thing to eat is fried fish with ugali (oo-GAH-lee) & mchicha (mm-CHEE-chuh), and I love spending time at our local Community Arts Center!
Sometimes, I wonder why everyone can’t get along with each other. I think that if we all played and listened to music together, that might change.
Now that we’ve told you all about Mapenzi, we invite you to share her story with the kids in your life and engage in a conversation with them about what seems similar and what seems different between their lives and Mapenzi’s life.
It is in this discussion that we begin to nurture curiosity and wonder in the minds of our children about different cultures around the world, and this lays the foundation for building empathy* at the earliest of ages. Something I think we can agree we need a lot more of in this world.
*For additional tips on building empathy, please don’t forget to grab our FREE DOWNLOAD, 5 Tips to Build Empathy in Kids, available here.
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Conversation Guide for you and your littles (best for ages 3-8):
Do you like music? What is your favorite type to listen to? To play?
How does your body feel when you hear different types of music? Does your body come alive, like Mapenzi’s?
Do you share things in common with Mapenzi? What are some differences?
Would you like to visit Lamu Island, in Kenya? Is it close to, or far away from where you live?
Would you like to be friends with Mapenzi? She can’t wait to be friends with YOU!
Oh, one more thing! As a special offer for our community, we’d like to offer a free gift to welcome Mapenzi into your home. Use code GLOBALKIDIZENS at checkout for 10% OFF of Mapenzi or any of her friends on our website today!
Our Commitment:
For Purpose Kids is committed to helping kids and families journey through a world of global cultures with diverse characters and imaginative stories that build empathy, connection, and belonging.
Our hand-knit, all natural cotton, fair trade Global Kidizen dolls and stories cultivate wonder and acceptance of others around the world by highlighting similarities and celebrating differences through play and storytelling in a unique and fun way.
]]>As the parent of a seven year old, this is one of the most important things I want to teach him.
I want to inspire him and other kids to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
We chose to highlight the beautiful and rich culture in China, because I lived in Hong Kong for 2 years and it captured not only my heart, but my soul. I felt I “belonged” there in a way I have never experienced anywhere else, and can’t wait for you and the kids in your life to learn about this WONDER-ful place.
]]>As the parent of a seven year old, this is one of the most important things I want to teach him.
I want to inspire him and other kids to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
We chose to highlight the beautiful and rich culture in China, because I lived in Hong Kong for 2 years and it captured not only my heart, but my soul. I felt I “belonged” there in a way I have never experienced anywhere else, and can’t wait for you and the kids in your life to learn about this WONDER-ful place.
Let’s Meet Míng Lì from China and learn more about how she expresses her feelings!
Nĭ hӑo (NEE-how), my name is Míng Lì (Ming-LEE) and I’m 5 years old.
Nĭ hӑo means “Hello” in Mandarin, the language we speak in my home. I live in Jiaxing (jyah-SHING), China - which is not only the biggest country in Asia, but has the most people of any country in the world!
My favorite thing to do is paint.
I have a lot of things inside that I want to share with the world and I feel best when I do that through my art - especially because some people have told me I should keep my ideas to myself. I’m so glad I discovered how to do this at such a young age- that way my ideas don’t get all bottled up inside.
Some other fun things you might like to know about me:
I love going to art museums and art supply stores, my favorite thing to eat are Zhajiang (zhaa-jee-YAHNG) Noodles and I love jumping rope, especially when I compete with my friends! Sometimes I feel like I’m surrounded by too many people, in my home and in my city, but I’m too little to go out into the world by myself. That’s why I can’t wait to grow up and travel the world.
In honor of AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Heritage Month, we’d like to share a bit of a conversation we had with Selina Yu, our Development Partner who helped us develop both the character and story of Míng Lì, the Global Kidizen from China:
Q: 4. How do you think it makes kids feel to see a doll and story that represents them? Do you believe this is important for kids to see themselves reflected in the dolls, toys and games that they play with?
A: Yes it's definitely important. Though I'm not a child psychologist, I think that playing with dolls serves as an important pathway for kids to see who they are and how they behave in the outside world. Most of the pretend play they do with the dolls is a vital way for them to know the life around them. With that being said, having the dolls that can represent their appearances and culture can greatly help build the ties up.
Yes, we couldn't agree more. From a developmental perspective, it's extremely important for children to see themselves represented in both the books they read and the toys they play with. This builds self-esteem and let's them know they matter, particularly in a world that can, at times, be fearful of differences.
Now that we’ve told you all about Míng Lì, we invite you to share her story with the kids in your life and engage in a conversation with them about what seems similar and what seems different between their lives and Míng Lì’s life. It is in this discussion that we begin to nurture curiosity and wonder in the minds of our children about different cultures around the world, and this lays the foundation for building empathy* at the earliest of ages. Something I think we can agree we need a lot more of in this world.
*For additional tips on building empathy, please don’t forget to grab our FREE DOWNLOAD, 5 Tips to Build Empathy in Kids, available here.
________________________________________________________________
Conversation Guide for you and your littles (best for ages 3-8):
Do you like to create art?
What do you like to do best- paint, draw, use clay to make things?
How does it make you feel when you are being creative?
Do you and Míng Lì like similar, or different things?
Do you live close to, or far away from Jiaxing, China?
Would you like to travel there?
Would you like to be friends with Míng Lì? She can’t wait to be friends with YOU!
Oh, one more thing! As a special offer for our community, we’d like to offer a free gift to welcome Míng Lì into your home. Use code GLOBALKIDIZENS at checkout for 10% OFF of Míng Lì or any of her friends on our website today!
Our Commitment:
For Purpose Kids is committed to helping kids and families journey through a world of global cultures with diverse characters and imaginative stories that build empathy, connection, and belonging.
Our hand-knit, all natural cotton, fair trade Global Kidizen dolls and stories cultivate wonder and acceptance of others around the world by highlighting similarities and celebrating differences through play and storytelling in a unique and fun way.
As the Mom of a seven year old boy, this is one of the most important things I want to teach him.
I want to inspire him and other kids to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
We're so excited to highlight the rich and beautiful culture in Peru, because this is where our dolls are made. The talented artisans we partner with have lovingly brought Luna to life and can’t wait for you and the kids
]]>As the Mom of a seven year old boy, this is one of the most important things I want to teach him.
I want to inspire him and other kids to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
We're so excited to highlight the rich and beautiful culture in Peru, because this is where our dolls are made. The talented artisans we partner with have lovingly brought Luna to life and can’t wait for you and the kids in your life to learn about this WONDER-ful place.
Let’s Meet Luna and learn more about her BIG dreams!
¡Hola! (OH-lah) I’m Luna (LOO-nuh) and I’m 9 years old.
¡Hola! is how you say “Hello” in Spanish, the language I speak at home.
I’m from Arequipa (air-uh-KEE-puh), Peru, which is in South America. There are many countries on this continent, but Ecuador and Brazil are two that are close by.
Did you know that my name means “moon” in Spanish?
It’s a good thing because my favorite thing is learning about the stars and planets in our great, big sky. My biggest dream is to go up into space and see them up close- but some people laugh and tell me my dreams are too big. But I know, in my heart, that I can make it happen.
Some other FUN things you might like to know about me:
I love playing fútbol (FUUT-bawl) with my brothers and cousins, my favorite thing to drink is chicha morada (CHEE-chuh moh-RAH-duh), and I love wearing overalls- especially my most favorite ones with a moon on the front. They remind me to keep dreaming big, and that makes me feel excited about what’s to come.
Now that we’ve told you all about Luna, we invite you to share her story with the kids in your life and engage in a conversation with them about what seems similar and what seems different between their lives and Luna’s life. It is in this discussion that we begin to nurture curiosity and wonder in the minds of our children about different cultures around the world, and this lays the foundation for building empathy* at the earliest of ages. Something I think we can agree we need a lot more of in this world.
*For additional tips on building empathy in young kids, please don’t forget to grab our FREE DOWNLOAD, available here.
______________________________________________________________
Conversation Guide for you and your littles (best for ages 3-8):
What do you think about when you look up at the sky? Do you want to go to space?
What are some of your biggest dreams? What do your friends think, when you tell them about your dreams?
Do you and Luna like similar, or different things?
Would you like to be friends with Luna? She can’t wait to be friends with YOU!
Oh, one more thing! As a special offer for our community, we’d like to offer a free gift to welcome Luna into your home. Use code GLOBALKIDIZENS at checkout for 10% OFF of Luna or any of his friends on our website today!
Our Commitment:
For Purpose Kids is committed to helping kids and families journey through a world of global cultures with diverse characters and imaginative stories that build empathy, connection, and belonging.
Our hand-knit, all natural cotton, fair trade Global Kidizen dolls and stories cultivate wonder and acceptance of others around the world by highlighting similarities and celebrating differences through play and storytelling in a unique and fun way.
]]>As a parent, this is one of the most important things I want to teach to my son. I want to inspire him and other young children to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
We chose to highlight the colorful and incredible culture in India with a Global Kidizen, because this is a place that is near and dear to my heart. I had the amazing opportunity to travel there a few years ago and not only was the experience life-changing, but I made deep friendships...
]]>As a parent, this is one of the most important things I want to teach to my son.
I want to inspire him and other young children to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
We chose to highlight the colorful and incredible culture in India with a Global Kidizen, because this is a place that is near and dear to my heart.
I had the amazing opportunity to travel there a few years ago and not only was the experience life-changing, but I made deep connections and friendships as well, and that’s why I can’t wait for you and the kids in your life to learn about this WONDER-ful place.
Let’s Meet Ravi and learn more about him, what language he speaks at home and what his favorite things are.
NAMASTE, my name is Ravi!
Namaste is how you say "Hello" in Hindi, the language I speak at home.
I live in New Delhi, India. It is a country on the continent of Asia, which is the largest one of all. I'm 6 years old and I love spending time with animals- especially my 2 dogs.
My favorite thing to do is to spend time with my Grandfather, who I call Dada Ji, because he loves animals as much as I do.
(Maybe even more, since he works with them too!) He takes me to places where we see tigers in the wild, which are definitely my favorite animal. His job is to make sure that wild animals are protected and safe and I want to grow up to be just like him.
Some other FUN things you might like to know about me:
I love playing (and watching) cricket, my favorite thing to eat are samosas, and I love to dance with my family!
Sometimes I feel sad about the way that animals are treated in the world, so I think about what I can do, in my own small way, to make a difference.
Now that we’ve told you all about Ravi, we invite you to share his story with the kids in your life and engage in a conversation with them about what seems similar and what seems different between their lives and Ravi’s life. It's in this discussion that we begin to nurture curiosity and wonder in the minds of our children about different cultures around the world, and this lays the foundation for building empathy* at the earliest of ages. Something I think we can agree we need a lot more of in this world.
*For additional tips on building empathy, please don’t forget to grab our FREE DOWNLOAD, 5 Tips to Build Empathy in Kids, available here.
________________________________________________________________
CONVERSATION STARTERS for you and your littles (best for ages 3-8):
Do you like animals? What are some of your favorites?
Have you ever watched a game of cricket? What sports do you like to play or watch?
Do you and Ravi like similar, or different things?
Do you live close to, or far away from Delhi, India? Would you like to travel there?
Would you like to be friends with Ravi? He can’t wait to be friends with YOU!
Oh, one more thing! As a special offer for our community, we’d like to offer a free gift to welcome Ravi into your home. Use code GLOBALKIDIZENS for 10% OFF of Ravi or any of his friends on our website today!
Our Commitment:
For Purpose Kids is committed to helping kids and families journey through a world of global cultures with diverse characters and imaginative stories that build empathy, connection, and belonging.
Our hand-knit, all natural cotton, fair trade Global Kidizen dolls and stories cultivate wonder and acceptance of others around the world by highlighting similarities and celebrating differences through play and storytelling in a unique and fun way.
]]>
“What symbol comes to mind when you think of FPK?”
And, seemingly out of nowhere, but with confidence & excitement, I blurted out-
“A knit heart!”
Over the years, I’ve learned that that “seemingly out of nowhere inner voice” is my intuition, my inner knowing- my “true self”.
For years, anytime I heard the phrase “true self”, my stomach would do this strange flip-flop. Not only did I not understand why it did this, but it became a major source of anxiety for me to try and understand. It was like I didn’t trust myself to know what my “true self” was
]]>“What symbol comes to mind when you think of FPK?”
And, seemingly out of nowhere, but with confidence & excitement, I blurted out-
“A knit heart!”
Over the years, I’ve learned that that “seemingly out of nowhere inner voice” is my intuition, my inner knowing- my “true self”.
For years, anytime I heard the phrase “true self”, my stomach would do this strange flip-flop. Not only did I not understand why it did this, but it became a major source of anxiety for me to try and understand. It was like I didn’t trust myself to know what my “true self” was and after decades of seeking to understand- I feel like it’s starting to make sense.
In last month’s blog post, I talked about not feeling like I belonged as a child What I’ve learned is that a lot of that came from feeling like there was something wrong with my “true self”- I was too sensitive, too emotional, too talkative, too worried about the world and things that had nothing to do with me. And I don’t know about you, but when you’re constantly told you’re too “anything”, you try to change it, fix it, and turn that “wrongness” into “rightness”.
What sounded like BIG feelings of empathy, compassion and love to me now were clearly things that were uncomfortable for other people to see coming from a small child and things that seemed like too much for me to be feeling in ways that didn’t seem to make sense.
People in my life would always say things like “just be happy” or “let it go”...things I guess Bobby McFerrin and Elsa also heard a lot too- so I’m glad I’m not the only one. But, instead of turning those feelings and messages into award-winning songs, I tried to change them- make them go away. And that’s when I began to lose pieces of my “true self”.
The good news is that I’ve made my way back to my “true self”, the one overflowing with feelings of empathy, compassion and love for myself, my loved ones, my community and all of humanity. And I’ve learned how to balance that love with the darkness that often accompanies it in a way that feels at peace with my true self.
One of the biggest ways I’ve learned to embrace these overwhelming feelings of love is to accept them not only as a part of me, but as one of the best parts of me. And you know who’s helped me do that the most? My son, Matteo.
My son Matteo is close to 7 years old, and he has BIG feelings too. We started to notice these big feelings around 18 months old as they expressed themselves in bursts of explosive energy- before he had the language skills to communicate how he was feeling. Now that he does, I see lots of things in him that remind me of me as a child. And I do my best to validate and honor those feelings in him, so that perhaps he won’t dim as much of his true self to fit in, like I did.
OK, thanks for the multi-paragraph tangent but…
I’m sure you’re wondering what all this has to do with knit hearts? Well, everything.
While I didn’t understand at the time where the idea of a knit heart originated, I now know it was from somewhere deep within, from my true self. When I was sent the first prototypes of the knit hearts, they resonated with me and other members of the team in a deep way, even if we didn’t yet know or understand how they would be used.
The way they looked, in all of their brightness, brought feelings of joy and love, and the way they felt in my fingers and hands brought feelings of calm, of connection.
As someone who feels emotions intensely, I can become consumed with the emotions that others are feeling- regardless of their proximity in the world to me. And when I feel those emotions, I also feel like I want to do something to show support for the person or people experiencing them- whether they’re feelings of joy or sadness, elation or grief. I’ve done a lot of work on establishing boundaries, not only for myself but for others, around what are safe, healthy and appropriate expressions of support and for me, the knit hearts have become the answer.
About a year ago, I started sending the red hearts out to people in my life when I want to express love, to let them know they’re in my heart.
I’ve included them in packages for birthdays, to welcome new babies and just “because”.
I’ve given them to people experiencing hard things, like families experiencing illness, death and life-changing tragedies.
I’ve left them at memorials and installations honoring events that impacted the world in a big way.
They are my way of doing something. Not to fix, to erase or minimize. But to honor in a way that says “I see you. I hear you. I honor you. I love you”.
Some people send cards and flowers in this way. Others send stuffed goats and potatoes… (what IS this thing with spending money on sending potatoes to people?!? Ok, I’ll admit it’s kind of funny.)
And it’s starting to catch on. Ok, maybe just with my Mom, but she’s now asking me to send them out for her, when she wants to send love to someone in her life experiencing both joy, and/ or pain.
While hearts are certainly popular in the month of February for celebrating Valentine’s Day, we want our hearts to be something that can be sent and used the whole year round.
Our knit hearts are also a great thing to introduce to our kids- as a way for them to express their feelings too!
With our Keep One, Give One Knit Hearts Bundle, we include both a large knit heart and a small knit heart, so you’re littles can keep one for themselves as an expression of self-love and give one to someone else as an outward expression of love and compassion.
After all, Connecting Hearts Around the World through Play & Wonder, it’s kind of what we’re here to do at FPK.
Whether our hearts start a movement or just exist as a way for my family to express love and compassion in the world, I’m so incredibly grateful my true self knows what it’s here in this life to do. But it’d honestly be so much more fun if we can start a movement…will you and your family join us? We hope so.
In Kindness,
Misty
PS- you may have seen on our Instagram an image with our knit hearts in a FULL RAINBOW of colors. Can you imagine using our soft knit hearts with your littles to identify and inspire a full range of emotions such as bravery, joy, wonder and empathy? Us too and we wanted to let you know we’re working on it, so stay tuned.
Our Commitment:
For Purpose Kids is committed to helping kids and families journey through a world of global cultures with diverse characters and imaginative stories that build empathy, connection, and belonging.
Our hand-knit, all natural cotton, fair trade Global Kidizen dolls and stories cultivate wonder and acceptance of others around the world by highlighting similarities and celebrating differences through play and storytelling in a unique and fun way.
My Mom told me that she always worried about my heart getting broken when I was little, because I wore it on my sleeve. I think both my parents were concerned about that and tried to, from a place of love, toughen me up so that I’d be better prepared to deal with the real world. The problem was, those efforts made me question what I really felt, and ultimately, made me think something was wrong with me, because I felt so much MORE than others.
And I get it, because now I’m a Mom to a 6 year old who also wears his heart on his sleeve. It’s difficult, and often heartbreaking to watch him navigate life with his big feelings, the way I did. I want to rush in and try to protect him, and at times, “toughen” him up too.
]]>My Mom told me that she always worried about my heart getting broken when I was little, because I wore it on my sleeve. I think both my parents were concerned about that and tried to, from a place of love, toughen me up so that I’d be better prepared to deal with the real world. The problem was, those efforts made me question what I really felt, and ultimately, made me think something was wrong with me, because I felt so much MORE than others.
And I get it, because now I’m a Mom to a 6 year old who also wears his heart on his sleeve. It’s difficult, and often heartbreaking to watch him navigate life with his big feelings, the way I did. I want to rush in and try to protect him, and at times, “toughen” him up too. But I’m trying to resist that temptation, because I want him to connect to those feelings and learn that they’re a beautiful, and sort of superpower, part of who he is. Just like mine.
We all want to belong.
It’s a fundamental part of being human, and contributes much more to our feelings of security and safety than money, power or fame ever will, no matter how much society tries to convince us otherwise.
While working on “Our Story” for our updated website this past year, I came to the realization that…
…I didn’t feel like I belonged when I was young.
It wasn’t until I started traveling and being introduced to other cultures that I began to feel more “a part of”. It seemed that others outside of the US had some of the same questions I did, questions I often struggled to put into words and find understanding about here at home.
That’s why I’m committed to the work we do at FPK, because I want my son and the next generation to KNOW they belong.
I’ve been on this journey with FPK for almost 6 years, and it’s taken me and the team a while to get to where we are now. We’ve created a range of different products to teach kids and families about empathy, connection and belonging and inspire the next generation of global citizens. But it wasn’t until we brought the Global Kidizens to life that we knew we’d created the perfect way for For Purpose Kids to teach these skills in a unique and fun way. Using global cultures as the way to do this has always been a consistent thread throughout our entire journey, and that’s because I wanted to share with you and our community what best worked for me and so many members of our team. These dolls and stories are the culmination of all of our hard work and we’re not only excited, but confident in their ability to expand the hearts and minds of kids and families around the world.
Our focus for 2023 is to share with you openly and vulnerably about what we’ve learned along the way about building empathy, connection and belonging in ourselves and in our families with the Global Kidizens- and to invite you in to do the same.
We want this to be the year we THRIVE and we look forward to doing that with consistency, community, joy, wonder and commitment.
One of the questions we kept asking ourselves, over and over again over the past 6 years, was,
“Can we teach social/ emotional skills like empathy and belonging to the kids in our lives without embodying them in ourselves first?”
And while we had a *feeling* we knew what the answer was, we needed to find out for sure.
Through our many years of work, the honest answer to that question is “no.”
To truly teach these valuable social/ emotional skills to the kids in our lives, we need to learn them too. In fact, oftentimes our learning will happen right alongside them.
Is it hard? At times, the honest answer will be “yes.”
But here’s the good news- we’ll be here to support you and your kids in the process.
We’ve been hard at work over the past 2 years not only developing the Global Kidizens and their stories along with our Development Partners, but creating resources and fun ways to help you along the way.
See below for a couple ways we’ve come up with to get you started:
If you have any questions about what we’ve shared and want to connect with us, please do so in our Facebook Community above. We truly want to cultivate a community where we all come together to support each other and share our experiences of making the world a more empathetic and loving place. We’re on this journey with you and we can’t wait to see what this year has in store.
Oh, and one more thing. You know we weren’t kidding about wearing our hearts on our sleeves here at FPK, right? All of Global Kidizen dolls have small knit hearts on their sleeves…yeah, we know, we think it’s pretty special too.
Misty Castañeda
Founder
Connecting Hearts Around the World through Play & Wonder
Our Commitment:
For Purpose Kids is committed to helping kids and families journey through a world of global cultures with diverse characters and imaginative stories that build empathy, connection, and belonging.
Our hand-knit, all natural cotton, fair trade Global Kidizen dolls and stories cultivate wonder and acceptance of others around the world by highlighting similarities and celebrating differences through play and storytelling in a unique and fun way.
]]>There are so many voices to amplify, words to sit with, books to read and emotions to process and feel. It is time for us to listen and begin to understand what so many have been trying to share with us for so long. The world should be fair, it should be just and it should be equal for all…but it’s not. Black Lives Matter.
I wanted to mostly include books that are written and/ or illustrated by BIPOC (Black & Indigenous People of Color) for this list and don’t only focus on Black History or topics around social justice. While it is important to include those books on every bookshelf, we also want our kids to see themselves and see diverse characters experiencing the joys, and sometimes disappointments, of everyday life.]]>There are so many voices to amplify, words to sit with, books to read and emotions to process and feel. It is time for us to listen and begin to understand what so many have been trying to share with us for so long. The world should be fair, it should be just and it should be equal for all…but it’s not. Black Lives Matter.
As the Founder of For Purpose Kids and as a white woman of privilege, I’ve thought a lot about my role in this moment. I’ve gotten much more comfortable in my role as an individual, which is why I encourage people to follow me on my personal pages. I’ve committed to always being transparent to this community about who I am as a woman, wife, mom, friend, ally/ co-conspirator and all of the other things I am.
I will stumble, I will make mistakes, of that, I am sure.
But I’ve committed to that choice and I stand firm in that. That choice may not be right for all Founders, but it is right for me.
Where things get more difficult is with the role that For Purpose Kids will play.
The mission of For Purpose Kids is to cultivate empathy in young children through diverse characters and global stories, to start conversations that matter and inspire the next generation of global citizens.
While I have traveled and lived in diverse cultures around the world, I have always existed in those situations as a white woman and therefore view the world through that lens. If we are to raise kids to be more empathetic, then we need to ensure that they are viewing the world through many lenses- specifically the lenses that represent the cultures and ideas they are learning about.
Therefore, it is my commitment to the community and the world that we will always consider the lens that is being used to share information with our kids. We will seek input from and build a team of individuals that represent the cultures and identities that we educate about- because it’s crucial to tell stories to our kids in the most authentic way possible. That’s how we truly inspire the next generation of global citizens.
But what was true for me personally, will be true for For Purpose Kids as well- we will stumble and make mistakes.
We will be called out for those mistakes and we will work through them. The choice is to do everything we can to be better, or we can fade away because it’s hard. And that choice has already been made.
OK, that’s enough of an intro. Here's what I really want to provide to you:
Children’s books and resources to support raising anti-racist kids.
If you’re like me, you’ve received a zillion emails with links and articles about ways to educate yourselves and your kids over the past few weeks, but I’ve tried to capture the best of them in one place, while using the space to amplify the voices that we need to be listening to.
When I was thinking of putting this list of books together in a way that felt useful and connected to For Purpose Kids, I remembered a post I wrote back in October 2018:
Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be A$%holes (yes, my Mom was a big Willie Nelson fan, hence the inspiration for this title).
In this post, I talked about the challenge of raising a son in today’s world, where the phrase "boys will be boys" is still a phrase we hear often (click on link above to read).
And somehow, that title seemed extremely important to revisit again, as I think we can all agree that there are already enough a$%holes in the world.
The Importance of Diverse Characters & Books
Before I introduce this list of books, there are a few more things I want to share with you, and they speak to the importance of exposing our children to things that help expand their immediate knowledge of the world. We all know it’s important to fill our kids’ bookshelves and toy chests with diverse books, toys, characters and stories…it’s why we’re here.
But WHY?
I was introduced to this video this past week while attending a virtual event with friends, and it is of Rudine Sims Bishop, talking about the idea of books being mirrors, windows and sliding doors for their readers. This is a concept that she developed over 30 years ago and it really struck me as something I wish I’d learned about earlier (and perhaps did- but didn’t retain during my training as an Early Childhood Educator...sorry JMU professors).
Books can be mirrors for individuals to see themselves represented, windows can help people see into the lives of others that are different from them and the sliding doors can invite people into the story- something that is vital to increasing empathy.
While we know many races and cultures are underrepresented in books, we can think about what that communicates to kids when they read books containing characters that don’t look like them- it certainly does not add to feelings of self-esteem and self worth.
On the flip side of that, think about how kids, particularly white kids, will get an inflated sense of self when they are always seeing “themselves” in books. If you have a couple of minutes, I highly recommend watching this video, as it does an incredible job of explaining all of this in less than 2 minutes.
We Need Diverse Books also has a great post outlining 5 reasons why including diverse books in the lives of kids is important, including the mirrors and windows analogy, the building of community & unity, opportunities for conversations about current events, and emphasizing similarities while celebrating differences, if you want to check it out here.
The Book List
I wanted to include books that are written and/ or illustrated by BIPOC (Black & Indigenous People of Color) for this list (all but a few are) and don’t only focus on Black History or topics around social justice. While it is important to include those books on every bookshelf, we also want our kids to see themselves and see diverse characters experiencing the joys, and sometimes disappointments, of everyday life.
The following books are listed in alphabetical order and the * indicates that the book was written and/ or illustrated by BIPOC.
The links in this post will take you to either the publisher’s pages where there are several options for purchasing, or to indiebound.org, which supports independent bookstores.
We do encourage support of bookstores owned by BIPOC and you can find a list here. Several of the books that I ordered and recommend (Intersection Allies, A is for Activist, All Are Welcome, Anti-Racist Baby, Same, Same But Different, Whoever You Are, Let the Children March The Day You Begin, Let’s Talk About Race, Something Happened in Our Town) can be found at the Black Pearl Bookstore, which is a minority-woman-owned indie bookstore.
We do not receive any commissions for purchases made through these links.
A is for Activist* by Innosanto Nagara (ages 3-7):
Although this board book is recommended for ages 3-7, this is one I support reading as early as you begin reading to your littles (and is also a great gift for your activist friends that are soon-to-be parents). It goes through the alphabet, introducing language and images associated with modern day activism. While you may need to “google” a few words or phrases, this will be a great start for raising the next generation of little activists.
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold & Suzanne Kaufmann (ages 4-8)
This story celebrates the diverse backgrounds of the kids as it welcomes them into an inclusive school community. The beautifully illustrated book allows kids to see themselves represented in a safe and engaged environment while building connections with friends that represent cultures from around the world. This book presents a great opportunity to shift away from the idea of “colorblindness” and towards the idea of talking about and celebrating differences with young children.
An ABC of Equality* by Chana Ginelle Ewing and illustrated by Paulina Morgan (ages 0-5)
This colorful and visually stimulating board book is great for kids from 3 months to 5 years as it introduces concepts and language associated with social justice, equality, kindness and celebrating differences in a relatable way. If the concepts are a bit too lofty for your young ones, don’t worry, they’ll still enjoy exploring the playful & vibrant illustrations. But one thing I’ve learned with my son is that I can never underestimate how much information he is absorbing and filing away for later use, so introducing these ideas and concepts is always a good idea.
Counting on Community* by Innosanto Nagara (ages 3-7):
As “A is for Activist” goes through the alphabet, this board book by the same author, takes us on a counting journey from 1-10, showcasing the things that connect members in their community. Also geared towards ages 3-7, I think this book can be read to the youngest among us, stimulating their eyes and ears with both inclusive images and sing-song(y) language.
Don’t Touch My Hair* by Sharee Miller (ages 4-8):
This book is a favorite in my house with my 4 year old son- he’s loved it from the first time we read it and asks to read it often. This book directly speaks to something that many in the white community don’t realize is often not only not welcomed by black women and men, but is considered to be offensive, and that is requesting to touch their hair. This story does a fantastic job of teaching this, as well as the idea of consent, to young kids and parents alike. An important story told in a unique way, and a great reinforcement of the need for respect, especially when it comes to one’s body.
Dream Big, Little One* by Vashti Harrison (ages 0-3):
This is the perfect bedtime book to plant tiny seeds for big dreams in the minds of our kids. This board book highlights the amazing accomplishments of 18 Black women, encouraging our young children to “reach for the stars like Mae, Bessie and Katherine…”. This book is the perfect combination of history & inspiration as it introduces kids to women who were pioneers and legends that contributed in huge ways to our culture and community.
Homemade Love* by bell hooks with pictures by Shane W. Evans (Board Book ages 0-3, Picture Book ages 4-8):
Homemade Love is a wonderful book to read to little ones because of it’s beautiful language and illustrations, but also because it introduces them to an important author and figure in the world of feminism and social justice, bell hooks (Gloria Jean Watkins). Most of all, what I love about this book is that it provides several opportunities for hugs, kisses and snuggles with your kids as you read along, something we can never give too many of.
Intersection Allies* by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi, with illustrations by Ashley Seil Smith, Foreward by Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw (ages 6-12, with additional notes and resources for kids and parents):
This is a MUST READ for all kids and families looking to learn more about intersectionality (if you don't know what this means, get this book!) and how important it is as we begin to learn, and teach, about social justice. As excerpted from the Foreword, written by Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, “What might the future look like if all children were taught about justice, equity, and solidarity alongside the alphabet and arithmetic?”
I can’t overestimate the importance of this book as a story for kids to be introduced to the ideas around intersectionality and social justice, and as a resource for the adults and caregivers looking to be the example that their kids follow. The “Letter to Grown-Ups” at the beginning of the book outlines this so well, that to not include it in its’ entirety here would not accurately capture its’ full message.
If there is one book you decide to read from this list to better understand this moment of time that we are in, both for you and your kids, this is the book.
Just in case you want to fly* by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Christian Robinson (ages 3-7)
I recently found this book at the bookstore on one of my first outings following the quarantine and I fell in love with the illustration on the cover by illustrator Christian Robinson, whose award-winning book, Last Stop on Market Street, is also on this list. The book follows a lovely rhyming cadence and the pictures delight in a very carefree way- making this an all-around joy to read at any time during the day or night.
Last Stop on Market Street* words by Matt de la Peña, pictures by Christian Robinson (ages 3-5):
This is a beautiful and powerful story in many ways, but particularly in the sense of community it creates, one that is diverse, accepting and real. CJ’s Nana has a gift of recognizing beauty in hidden spaces and of sparking the imagination of her grandson, keeping him focused on the present moment and all that it has to offer. A great story to invite kids & families into a community through both mirrors and windows.
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment* by Parker Curry & Jessica Curry, illustrated by Brittany Jackson (ages 4-8):
I remember when I first saw the picture that went viral of a young Parker looking up, in awe, at the portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama at the National Portrait Gallery- everything about that photo represented hope. This book tells the story of that day, when Parker looked up and saw the image of everything she could be, as represented by the First Lady, in a moment of pure magic.
Saturday* by Oge Mora (ages 3-5):
Oge Mora brings us right into this mother-daughter story with such excitement for the day ahead and the bright colors and collage illustrations only add to the anticipation for what adventures are to come. But when things don’t unfold quite the way they had planned, Ava’s mother focuses on messages of resilience and gratitude to enjoy the day, regardless of what has happened. A fun and engaging story that focuses on a typical Saturday in the day and the life of a Black mother & daughter.
*This book is featured as one of our bi-monthly book club selections- it arrives as package #3.
Sulwe* by Lupita Nyong’o and illustrated by Vashti Harrison (ages 4-8):
This stunning and magical book will take you and your kids on a journey of understanding how a young girl feels about the darkness of her skin. This book introduces colorism to young readers, which is defined as “prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.” (Oxford Dictionary) You’ll learn how Sulwe learns to feel beautiful both inside and out, with a little help from Day and Night.
The Old Truck* by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey (ages 3-5):
This recently published book by two brothers, Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey, is definitely one of my favorites on this list. Kids (and adults) of all ages will delight in reading this book as they follow the old truck on many adventures over time while enjoying the beautiful images created by over 250 individually made stamps. And I’ve just learned that there will be a new book in this series coming out next year, called The Old Boat…so we’ll have many more adventures to look forward to soon!
What’s the Commotion in the Ocean*, words written by Nyasha Williams and pictures drawn by Sof’ya Glushko (ages 3-7):
I discovered What’s the Commotion in the Ocean last fall, as the author, Nyasha Williams was running a Kickstarter for this book at the same time I was doing mine for For Purpose Kids. When I learned that it was a kids’ book about the environment and cleaning up our oceans AND featured a Black mermaid- I was sold. I’ve been following Nyasha ever since and I’m happy to report she’s working on another awesome book too…so follow her @writingtochangethenarrative on IG for a sneak peek- I know I can’t wait!
Woke Baby* by Mahogany L. Browne and illustrated by Theodore Taylor III (ages 0-3)
This board book is perfect for the littlest of littles- as a mirror and a window for themselves and others. It tells the story of Woke Baby and all that Woke Baby is and all that Woke Baby can be in the world.
**One of the books included in the picture of the stack of books for this post, Racism And Intolerance, is not included here following a review we found by an early childhood educator who teaches anti-racism to parents and teachers. The review pointed out several instances where the book upheld harmful narratives of about racism. I apologize for including this book in the initial photo without doing my due diligence and deferring to those with more knowledge than I on the subject of talking to kids about racism and anti-racism.
Books on Order:
These are books I have not yet read myself but have been featured on several book lists discussing how to talk to kids about racism and anti-racism. Although it’s been hard to find some of them in stock, I’m looking forward to reading them with my son:
Let’s Talk About Race* by Julius Lester and illustrated by Karen Barbour (ages 4-8)
Same, Same But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (ages 4-7)
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox and illustrated by Leslie Staub (ages 4-7)
Antiracist Baby* by Ibram X. Kendi and illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky (ages 0-3)
Let the Children March* by Monica Clark-Robinson and illustrated by Frank Morrison (ages 6-9)
Something Happened in our Town* by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin (ages 4-8)
The Day You Begin* by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López (ages 5-8)
A Kids Book About Racism* by Jelani Memory (ages 5-9)
Books Recommended by Black Moms:
While seeking input and feedback for this post from Black Moms, these books were recommended as some of their favorites from their bookshelves at home.
B is for Black Girl* by Channing Moreland, Chelsea Moreland and illustrated by Delmaine Donson (ages 3-7)
Malcolm Little* by Ilyasah Shabazz and illustrated by AG Ford (ages 6-10)
Chocolate Me* by Taye Diggs and illustrated by Shane W. Evans (ages 4-8)
Final Thoughts
While this is a long list of books and resources, it is by no means complete.
Just like our learning and teaching about racism, anti-racism and celebrating differences amongst cultures, this is the beginning of a lifelong journey. There is no certificate of completion or graduation from this work, it is something we commit to embracing for ourselves, our kids and our communities every day.
As we continue learning, the following communities have been extremely instrumental in providing kid-friendly resources as well as resources for adults for me and For Purpose Kids and I highly recommend connecting with them if you’re interested in gaining a broader understanding of the importance of exposing the next generation to diverse books and toys.
And as previously mentioned, For Purpose Kids is committed to creating a safe space for kids and families to learn and grow as we cultivate empathy in the next generation through diverse characters and global stories. We will make mistakes- it is part of the process- but we will use those mistakes as opportunities to do better.
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
- Dr. Maya Angelou
Where Conversations That Matter, Begin.
]]>It's been a while since we've posted on our blog here at For Purpose Kids and we have some exciting news! We have a new heart-centered collaborator joining our team and we can't wait for you to meet her and her family.
Misty (our Founder) met Jennifer while both "Boy Moms" were visiting their "snowbird" parents in Florida last year. While initially connecting so their three boys could play together, they quickly realized they had a shared vision for the kind of future they wanted for their kids & for the world. When they met up in Florida again this year, the wheels started turning and it sparked a conversation of the two working together.
Jennifer & her family live in Indiana
]]>It's been a while since we've posted on our blog here at For Purpose Kids and we have some exciting news! We have a new heart-centered collaborator joining our team and we can't wait for you to meet her and her family.
Misty (our Founder) met Jennifer while both "Boy Moms" were visiting their "snowbird" parents in Florida last year. While initially connecting so their three boys could play together, they quickly realized they had a shared vision for the kind of future they wanted for their kids & for the world. When they met up in Florida again this year, the wheels started turning and it sparked a conversation of the two working together.
Jennifer & her family live in Indiana and she is now bringing her love of writing & photography to the world of For Purpose Kids- and we are so happy to welcome her! So stay tuned to more blog posts & photos from the Maas Family and read below about their first project with For Purpose Kids, #MayKindnessGrow.
- For Purpose Kids
“Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do.” -Mother Teresa-
Over the years I have practiced focusing on what I have, rather than what I do not have. It is not easy, but it holds true now more than ever. Instead of focusing on the cancelled events and the uncertainty of our current state, I am focusing on when I get to spend quality time with my family, May Day when I can be reminded of my truly generous friends and the #MayKindnessGrow Kindness Challenge, using the Kindness Calendar with For Purpose Kids. I am focusing on May and all that it still has in store for me, my family and the For Purpose Kids community!
For me, the month of May symbolizes a time for beginnings, growth and renewed energy. I open the windows, plant my flower boxes and I have a major pep in my step. With an abundance of fresh air I grasp the opportunity to spread my newfound happiness. Despite the current shelter in place, I still find myself especially excited for May because I have the chance to make a difference. I have the chance to spread kindness one day at a time. For Purpose Kids is challenging everyone to join us on an important adventure to grow kindness in the month of May by completing the Kindness Calendar with your loved ones.
The calendar is a call to action for both children and parents to take a moment out of your day to do a random act of kindness. Moreover, it is a fun and simple challenge which reminds everyone that kindness begins with us, the parents, in the home. Once that kindness is established at home it can grow and spread throughout the community and touch others in astonishing ways.
One of the inspirations I had for kickstarting the #MayKindnessGrow Kindness Challenge in May was cultivated through a very dear friend of mine who taught me all about May Day (May 1st). On May Day you and your children drop flowers, candy or gift baskets on a neighbors doorstep to help spread love and celebrate the beginning of Spring. Throughout the years I have found this act of kindness extremely touching. This year, placing the Kindness Calendar on a friend or neighbors’ doorstep would be a great way to brighten your day and the day of those around you! Moreover, #MayKindnessGrow is going to be a great way to connect with your children and the community...and to let their creativity shine!
I want to invite you to join us for the #MayKindnessGrow Kindness Challenge and follow along with us @forpurposekids and @maykindnessgrow on Instagram, where I'll be posting pictures of my family & I participating in the daily acts of kindness listed on the For Purpose Kids Kindness Calendar.
To grab your own copy of the calendar, you can purchase it on the For Purpose Kids website here, or stay tuned to our social media for the link to the free download in a few days.
We'll also be doing some fun giveaways (did someone say FREE TOOLKITS?!?) during the challenge, so make sure to follow along and post pictures of your family doing acts of kindness from the calendar using the hashtag #MayKindnessGrow on Instagram.
We can't wait to see all of the kindness that is sprinkled around neighborhoods and communities throughout the world so get your kiddos & family ready- who's in?!?
- Jennifer Maas
Heart-Centered Collaborator, For Purpose Kids
]]>
When my kids were young, I knew that I wanted to raise them in a family who was known for their kindness, generosity, and ability to love others well.
What I didn’t know was how difficult it would be as a parent to actually live this out.
We want our kids to be kind.
We want our sons and daughters to be compassionate.
We want our offspring to be loving and empathetic toward others.
We can’t just want our children to grow up with these essential values and character traits
]]>When my kids were young, I knew that I wanted to raise them in a family who was known for their kindness, generosity, and ability to love others well.
What I didn’t know was how difficult it would be as a parent to actually live this out.
We want our kids to be kind.
We want our sons and daughters to be compassionate.
We want our offspring to be loving and empathetic toward others.
We can’t just want our children to grow up with these essential values and character traits; we must purposely show up in our home, community and world and consistently show kindness, compassion, love and empathy to others.
But, how do we prioritize serving others in this busy culture we are raising our kids in today?
First, we must mind the gap between what we say we want and the way we are actually living.
In my book Parent on Purpose, I wrote about Harvard’s Making Caring Common Project 2014 report, “The Children We Mean to Raise,” where research indicates that 96% of parents report that moral character in children is “very important, if not essential,” yet 81% of the kids surveyed said that happiness or achievement is their parents’ top priority. The interviewees were also three times more likely to agree that “My parents are prouder if I get good grades in my classes than if I’m a caring community member in class and school.”
I don’t believe that this is what parents genuinely want, yet this truth is our youth’s perspective. Therefore, we must make a shift in how we, as parents, are prioritizing achievement and performance over character and values.
As parents, we say compassion, kindness, and empathy are traits that we want our child to embody, yet many times serving others is the last thing we schedule on our overpacked calendar. Therefore, our sons and daughters learn that we fit in helping others after serving ourselves.
In this me, myself and I culture that we’re raising our children in, it’s vital that we create opportunities to serve others regularly.
Weave volunteering and community service into your family culture so that helping others becomes who you are instead of what you do. If we want to raise kind and caring kids, then we must put as much emphasis on caring for others as we do achieving good grades and winning games.
If we want our children to learn the values of kindness, compassion, and empathy, then we have to take the time to teach them how to be kind, compassionate, and empathetic.
To close the gap between what we say we value and the messages that our kids are internalizing, we must confidently lead our child to opportunities and experiences where they can authentically absorb the values we want them to have.
How can we make serving others a priority, instead of an afterthought, while raising our kids today?
5 Ways to Make Serving Others a Priority in Your Family
Prioritize serving others in your own adult life first. Let your kids watch you care for people regularly. Always model how you can help make someone’s life easier.
If we want our children to be kind and empathetic, then we must embody those values ourselves. As Rabbi Lyle Fishman told us, “Service is caught, rather than taught.” What our children watch us do, is more important than what they hear us say.
Before we worry about taking our kids out to volunteer in the community or serve abroad, we need to make sure we are teaching our sons and daughters how to help out in our homes first.
What needs do you have in your home that your children can help fill? Allow them to help around the house by taking out the trash, doing the dishes, or helping take care of your pet. Family members should be expected to contribute and support one another, however, and whenever they can.
Go around the dinner table each night and talk about how you showed kindness to another that day. Let your conversations be focused on the values you want your child to embody instead of the grades you want to be on their report card.
Have consistent family conversations about how you purposely show kindness, love or empathy to others.
Schedule regular family service opportunities so that volunteering is just something that you do in your family. You may have to say no to something you already have scheduled on your calendar, to fit in community service but remember you want serving others to be a priority so something else will have to give!
Talk to others and see where they are serving and volunteering in your community. Join a service group at your place of worship, through your workplace or kids’ school. Check Volunteer Match to find local opportunities.
Print off the For Purpose Kids Kindness Calendar and look for ways to consistently show loving-kindness to your neighbors and your community. Use your a journal as a way for family members to take note of the fun ways you have helped people and showed random acts of kindness throughout your days.
When you travel, look for volunteer opportunities or places you can visit that can teach your children the values that you want them to have.
When our family traveled around the USA in an RV for seven months (LINK), we purposely visited places that supported our values. We visited Boys Town in Nebraska and served at Give Kids the World near Disney World in Orlando.
The next time you plan a trip, figure out where you may be able to serve that community amidst your family vacation.
If we say that we want to raise kind kids, then it’s us who must teach our sons and daughters how to be kind.
If we say we want to be a family who is known for their kindness, generosity, and ability to love others well, then we have to prioritize opportunities to consistently live those values out.
If we say we want serving others to be an authentic part of our family culture, then we have to show up to do that regularly.
No matter how overextended we may feel, it’s essential to take the time and make an effort to prioritize serving others, which will help our children develop the values and character traits that will make our world a better place.
Author of Parent on Purpose
]]>What does she need to hear from me today?
(“She” because “she” is my target demographic…but it could be a he or a they too- I want to be inclusive of everyone who may need to hear from me.)
And honestly…I’m not really sure anymore.
]]>What does the world need to hear from me today?
Honestly…I’m not really sure anymore.
But, today I felt the need to share in a raw, unscripted and honest way. Because, if you’re feeling like me, it’s all feeling like too much. And when things are “too much”, we shut down, or at least I do. And we can’t do that…because we have our kids to think about.
I decided today, in the shower (that I just took at 2pm today after staring at my computer doing mindless work all day) that I was going to post this image on my IG & Facebook every time there was another mass shooting in the US:
I originally posted this on November 8, 2018, after waking up to the news of another mass shooting. And you know what the worst part is…I couldn’t even remember which shooting it was when I looked on my Instagram today.
Do you remember which one it was?
It was the mass shooting at a country- western bar in Thousand Oaks, CA where 13 people were killed. It’s not your fault if you don’t remember- they’re hard to keep track of, because there are so many. But I guarantee you EVERY SINGLE PERSON who knew someone that was killed or was in that bar on November 7 will always remember that day.
Please understand, I’m not trying to call you out for not remembering…I’m calling all of us out, myself included. It’s human nature to not catalogue events like this that don’t impact us directly as a way of survival- I get it. But that’s part of the problem we’re facing right now- all of these “things” that are happening don’t seemingly affect “us”. And who is “us” anyway? I don’t know the answer to that anymore either, but I’d like to believe it is the collective “we”.
What I do know, however, is that what ARE doing isn’t working anymore- and hasn’t worked for a very long time.
Many people have known this for a lot longer than I have and I know I’m pretty late to the conversation- but I’m here now and I’m digging in.
Don’t worry- this isn’t going to be a post about gun control (although I’m ALL for it) because I think we’re way past that.
But it is going to get real…are you ready?
I started For Purpose Kids because I wanted to inspire kids to be kind and help others…because I saw a lot of kids and families that either weren’t doing that or were oblivious to the things in the world that didn’t affect them. Now, understand that this included me and my family as well. I wanted to make sure that we didn’t lose sight of what was really important and being kind & doing good has always been important in my life (although I’ve often fallen short) and I wanted to start teaching my son these things as early as possible.
But, “here’s the thing (“as my hero Brené Brown would say), I think things are getting worse, not better. And you know why? Well, I don’t really know the real answer, but I’m going to share with you what I think.
No one knows what to do anymore. There’s too much.
There’s too much and we just shut down. When I saw the news about the shooting yesterday I wanted to do something- but I didn’t know what to do. And I realized I’ve started to feel that way about a lot of things I see in the news and in my life.
I’ve started gathering all of this data and quotes and information to share with you about just how much we are shutting down (and funny enough, in the midst of all of this gathering- I’ve shut down and haven’t been sharing it with you, because there’s too much).
But here’s a start. I received an email from the ACLU this week that shared the following (full report here):
“We surveyed 2,776 K-12 educators who reported witnessing 3,265 incidents of hate or bias in their school in the fall of 2018 alone.
Most of the incidents witnessed by educators were not addressed by school leaders. No one was disciplined in 57 percent of them. And nine times out of 10, administrators failed to denounce the bias or reaffirm school values.”
The administrators don't know what to do (or it seems like "too much"), so they don’t do anything.
And as parents, we’re no different.
We say we know what we feel is important to teach our kids, but we don’t follow through on actually doing it. Our friends at Doing Good Together wrote about this in a recent article:
“Research finds kids are not seeing compassion and caring as priorities for the adults in their lives. In a fascinating study released by Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, researchers found that most children in middle school and high school value personal success (achievement and happiness) over concern for others, and they say their parents and teachers do, too. The study calls this a rhetoric/reality gap – "a gap between what parents and other adults say are their top priorities and the real messages they convey in their behavior day to day."
I also see this with For Purpose Kids…
...almost every person I talk to about our mission LOVES what we’re doing, loves our Global Kidizens and thinks it’s SO important- for other people. And what I’ve started to deduce, is that they think they’re already doing enough. They’re already teaching their kids to be empathetic humans…and they don’t think they have any more to do, so they have no need for what we create. Or…they shut down because they don’t know where to start and it all seems like “too much”.
Does it sound like I’m whining here about not “selling” enough (or committing entrepreneurial suicide)? Perhaps…but I’ve talked to two people in the past week who have estimated that our sales are about 10 times what they actually are. And why is that? Is it because our dolls are too expensive? Are not addressing enough of a pain point directly? Are they not “fun” or “educational” enough?
Maybe. But honestly, I think it’s because most people agree that this is a much- needed product so it must be doing well in the marketplace- but they don’t think they need to teach their kids to be nice- because they already are. And the research above kinda supports that.
But someone’s kids are saying hateful things- so how are you sure it’s not yours? I'm not.
I know my son is only in daycare right now, but I feel pretty confident in saying that while he DOES have a kind and loving heart at times (and hopefully one I can continue to nurture)…he’s a bit of a "insert word here" too. I’m comfortable enough with myself and my shortcomings as a parent to say that- and because I’ve done a lot of therapy in my life I’m willing to own my side of the street.
But while I’m honest about my son being a bit challenging with his behavior right now, I don’t sit back and say “boys will be boys” or “it’s just a phase, he’ll grow out of it”. Instead, I talk to him every day about the importance of being kind, of doing things for others, as well as for himself. And while he's learning all of these things and that hopefully will become second nature, I’ve started teaching him how to speak up for others and speak out when someone else is being unkind- because it’s no longer enough to just be kind ourselves, we must teach our community how to do it as well.
I wish I had a “5 Simple Things” list to give you to wrap this up today, but I think the whole point of this “unscripted” blog post was to share with you my feelings of “too much” too (and apologies if it’s a bit all over the place- I’m still learning how to put “too much” in my head down on paper).
Sometimes it’s OK to speak up and acknowledge the “too much” and then rest for a while before jumping into action. So if you’re feeling “too much” today too, perhaps just give yourself a break and know that by “shutting down” today, maybe you’ll save some much needed energy to show up tomorrow.
]]>These coordinated social interactions are important for young kids, as their personalities are developing and they embark on a life-long process of learning how to share, resolve conflict and get along with others. I'd also suggest that playdates are a perfect opportunity to incorporate simple acts of kindness and service into a fun, relaxed and routine activity.
As a passionate advocate for family volunteerism and a frequent writer and speaker on the subject, I am constantly challenged by the issue of time. Yes – we can all agree that cultivating empathy, compassion and gratitude in our kids is important and should be prioritized, but how can we find the time to make it happen? Parents are busy working, juggling responsibilities and shuttling kids around to myriad activities. Volunteering seems like just another item to check off on a lengthy and exhausting to-do list. My suggestion is to take a step back and consider the things you are already doing. As Arthur Ashe said – start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. And if you have a young child at home, where you ARE is likely to be in the middle of a playdate.
There are many creative options for parents and caregivers, depending on the age and attention span of children, the season, and the amount of time you want to spend on this endeavor while still giving children free time to play. Using the following tips to incorporate service into playdates and other family routines and planned activities (like birthday parties, milestone celebrations, family vacations and holiday traditions) will create a habit of kindness and allow kids to flex their empathy muscles as they grow.
Start with a story:
If you are hosting a playdate with purpose, it’s important to set a positive tone and engage young children right away. One of the best ways to do this is by reading a picture book together. Books like “Those Shoes” by Marybeth Boelts, “Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch” by Eileen Spinelli and “Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed” by Emily Pearson are some of my favorites, but there are many wonderful books about generosity and making a difference, as well as others that deal with social justice themes (like hunger and poverty) in a gentle way for young kids. There are many resources online that provide topical lists to help you identify stories that will make your efforts more accessible for young children, and spark important conversations and reflection.
“Kitchen Table Kindness” Activities:
You don’t need a ton of time or resources to engage kids in fun, creative kindness activities that spread joy and open conversations about issues being faced by people in your community. A stack of construction paper and crayons, a box of brownie mix, some arts and crafts supplies can keep little hands engaged while imparting important lessons about working together to show care, concern and love for others.
Make it Meaningful and Keep it Going
At the end of the playdate, or during a follow-up, plan a neighborhood outing to deliver all of the great things you’ve created. It is very meaningful for children to connect with the people that will receive the donations they’ve made, and to feel the gratitude and satisfaction that come from spreading joy to others. It’s important for adults to do a little research in advance to ensure that any community-based visit – to the local firehouse, police station or senior center - will go smoothly. When the weather cooperates, you can also plan a picnic in the park that begins with a quick clean-up (be sure to bring garbage bags and gloves for everyone), while talking to kids about the fact that it is everyone’s responsibility to help keep our public green spaces clean.
Talking to kids, and providing the space for open-ended questions and reflection, is key. You don’t need to make a big deal out of these many simple acts of kindness. The hope is that by keeping an open mind and heart, being aware of the needs of others, and walking through our days with intention and kindness, we are living our values and modeling this behavior for our kids. Each act of compassion and generosity is like a drop in the bucket of their developing character and someday, when they are grown and making a difference in the world, that bucket will be overflowing with good.
Natalie Silverstein, MPH, is the author of Simple Acts: The Busy Family’s Guide to Giving Back (Gryphon House, April 2019) and the New York Coordinator of Doing Good Together, a national nonprofit with the mission of helping parents raise kids who care and contribute. www.simpleactsguide.com
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But when it comes to the holidays, I’m ALL about it- especially because I think it will help support those of us looking to raise kids that are grateful…and not entitled little ______ (I’ll let you fill in the blank here).
So once again, this holiday season, we’re going to
]]>Yep…it’s still all the rage. And I love it in theory, but I have a hard time with it IRL (that’s “in real life” for those of you, like me, that are bit behind the times).
But when it comes to the holidays, I’m ALL about it- especially because I think it will help support those of us looking to raise kids that are grateful…and not entitled little ______ (I’ll let you fill in the blank here).
So once again, this holiday season, we’re going to adhere to the Minimalist Approach to Gift Giving for our kiddos with this:
Something They Want,
Something They Need,
Something to Wear,
Something to Read
AND Something to Give to Those in Need.
This concept has been making its’ way around the internet for quite a few years now, but this last bit about giving, is something we added last year because it fit in so nicely with what we do here at For Purpose Kids (and because the rhyme just worked TOO perfectly).
Last year was the first year that I tried this at home with my son and I’ll admit it was easy to do as he was only a year and a half, so there was no “Where are all of the presents?” nonsense to deal with. And I must say, it worked pretty well. Here’s a picture of his “Christmas” from 2017 (minus small stocking stuffers- I just can’t give that tradition up!).
Coming back to raising kids that are grateful, my son already has MORE than enough- of everything that he needs. I want bring him up with the idea of “less is more”, that “things don’t buy happiness” and that “giving is better than receiving”, especially when giving to those in need. I don’t want him sitting there on Christmas morning thinking “what else did I get?” or worse yet saying “that’s it?” I want him to understand how fortunate he truly is and for him to be focused more on how we can share what we have with others not as fortunate.
The last reason I love this so much though is much more selfish…I love it because it will help keep ME in check. I’d love to say that I’m a “less is more” kind of person and that the idea of Minimalism is ever present in my life…but those of you that know me know that this is not the truth. It is something that I’m working on and mindful of- but I’m the person who buys all of those last- minute things at the counter because I feel like I haven’t bought “enough”…and I want to make a change.
So if you feel like I do and want to give this “a go”, as my friends in the UK would say, here are a few ideas to get you started (with a shameless plug or two for our very own For Purpose Kids stuff!).
1. Something They Want
This one is pretty obvious and this would be something they’ve been begging for…that is not only at the TOP of their wish list but is also the thing they think they might not get if they dare touch the “Elf on the Shelf”. This would be something like Fingerlings, Hatchimal Hatchibabies or the LOL BIGGER SURPRISE (because last year’s LOL BIG SURPRISE wasn’t enough?!?).
2. Something They Need
In my family, this was (and still is) always socks & underwear. Things probably haven’t changed much, so I would assume these are the types of things that would fall under this category. This year, I ordered from PALS Socks, a company that makes fun, mismatched socks to teach kids about inclusivity and acceptance that ALSO gives back to kids in need. I LOVE companies like this!
But…If socks and undies aren’t your thing and you want to get a little more creative, we think learning about kindness and ways of doing good in the world is something that ALL kids need- so this is where our Global Kidizens could go…(wink wink).
3. Something to Wear
Again, the options here are endless and it’s typically not hard to find a nice outfit for your kids at this time of year. But here we’d like to provide a link to a list of items highlighted by DoneGood, an organization that is connecting consumers to unique mission-driven companies that strive to make the world a better place (like us!). Click here to shop consciously this year.
4. Something to Read
There are some awesome books for kids out there this year so this one shouldn’t be too much of a stretch. Although I stuck to “silly” and got my son Dragons Love Tacos 2, The Sequel this year, some of my favorite books about kindness this year are below. I guess the only good thing I can think of about a world filled with unkindness is a growing number of resources to combat it.
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Jen Hill
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold & Suzanne Kaufman
Come With Me by Holly M. McGhee and illustrated by Pascal Lemaître
5. Something to Give to Those in Need
My mom started doing this for my siblings and I a few years ago when really didn’t have a need for things like Cabbage Patch Kids anymore. We loved the idea and have continued it ever since. She asks us which organization we’d like to support, so each year we get to spread the goodness around to different causes.
Now is a great time to start this tradition in your family and carry it on for years to come. If you need help finding a cause to support, check out the organizations we support through For Purpose Kids here, or you can send us an email and we’d be glad to help. Whether you’d like to support with a donation, by volunteering your time, or both, this is a great opportunity to share with your kids the joys of giving.
If you’d like to join us with our new approach to gift giving, let us know how it goes on social media using #globalkidizens. We’ll keep you posted on how we do as well…even if we go a bit “outside” of the lines.
We’d also like to offer you, our For Purpose Community, 15% OFF ALL things For Purpose Kids. Use code TOPTOY at checkout and give gifts this year that will inspire the next generation of global citizens!
For Purpose Kids
Connecting Hearts Around the World
]]>So- here we are, discussing how scary it is to be raising a son in today’s world.
But not for the reason that you may be thinking. It’s scary for me- because of the overwhelming responsibility I feel to raise a compassionate and empathetic little boy that treats everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, with kindness and respect.
And it’s hard.
I grew up with three sisters, so I didn’t really understand too much about boys. Of course, I heard things like “boys will be boys” and “it’s a guy thing” my whole life, but I didn’t really understand it until I had one of my own.
This is my son, Matteo, when he was 7 months old. He was sweet, even-tempered, flexible and a GREAT sleeper!
I thought, “WOW, am I lucky! He is going to be such a sweet and kind little boy.”
…and then he started walking. And everything changed, literally overnight. He became that kid that was fearless. And he’s big, he’s always been in the 90+ percentile for height and weight, so I liken him sometimes to a big puppy that doesn’t realize his size.
And now he’s 2.5 and we are in full-on toddler mode. His favorite words are “No Mama!” & “Again?”…the first usually in response to something I want him to do, and the latter in response to something I DON’T want him to do.
AND…he’s aggressive.
Of course, I’d like to say I have that well-mannered child I hoped to have after reading “Bringing Up Bébé”, but I don’t. Sometimes he communicates with his hands, in an “unkind” way (also referred to, at times, as hitting). And every time he does, I cringe. Now, I don’t want to paint my son as this anti-social, super aggressive kid, because he’s not, most of the time. He’s incredibly smart, cuddly, social and sweet- he wants to be a part of everything- just like his Mama. But I wonder where this behavior comes from, as it’s not something he sees at home or at school.
Sometimes I find myself thinking “he’s SUCH a boy!” and when he’s aggressive, I think, yep, “boys will be boys,” but I try to stop myself, as I now understand how damaging those comments can be.
Watching events unfold in the US over the past few years, I’ve seen the consequences of these types of comments and not only are they deeply triggering and harmful to many, they are simply dangerous to us as a society. And I will not let those ideas continue to apply to my son.
Even at 2.5, my son knows his actions have consequences.
I’m definitely the disciplinarian in the house and I thank my parents for raising me with very clear boundaries as to what was, and was not, acceptable. And I try to do the same with my son. I’m not perfect, but I DO carry through with the consequences that are “suggested” when he is exhibiting unacceptable behaviors. We “chill for 20” and we talk about why what he’s doing is wrong- but it doesn’t always “get through”. I just hope that, over time as we continue to work on it, that it will fade away with his toddlerhood.
I’m also extremely aware when these behaviors are directed at girls, whether it be when he snatches a toy from another girl or pushes her aside to get to what he wants. Some may think I’m being too over-reactive, as they’re just kids, but I think these types of ideas DO begin this early and I want my son to understand those things are not allowed.
I’d like to share a story with you of something that happened a few weeks ago at the playground 2 blocks from where we live. It was nothing short of amazing- and was an example of how I’d like to see things shift for the future, the future that my son will grow up in.
_____
We were walking towards the play structure and we passed the basketball court- it’s a half court with a backboard and a hoop. There was a little girl there, about 5 years old, shooting the ball with her Dad. Now, my son is OBSESSED with ALL types of balls (sure, you can laugh here if you need to) and his attention is always drawn in their direction when he sees one. So, we stood watching the little girl shoot hoops for about 5 minutes. The little girl then came over and asked if my son wanted to play with her- which was super sweet because he was so much younger than she was.
Matteo couldn’t wait to start “playing” and soon they were passing the ball between them. At one point, Matteo ran towards her and was trying to grab the ball from her, a bit aggressively. She told him to “stop” a few times, but he was so focused on the ball that he wasn’t listening to her. Now, I never thought I’d have to have this conversation with my son at 2.5, but I intervened immediately and told him how important it was to listen to someone, especially a girl, when they say “stop”.
Of course, he didn’t really understand the gravity of what I was trying to explain, and neither did the little girl more than likely, but I found myself understanding that it, indeed, DOES start this early. WOW…it was kind of an AHA moment. And then this happened, which is, to me, the MORE amazing thing.
The Dad asked the little girl why she was saying “stop”? He explained that they were playing a game and the object of the game is for the opponent to take the ball away from the person who has it, which is what my son was doing (sort of- although it wasn’t that organized of a game for a 2 and a 5- year old). He then continued to stress the importance to her about choosing when to use that word- as in, this situation didn’t really warrant that. Double WOW. It’s not that he was telling her NOT to use the word “stop,” but was explaining why this situation may not be the time to use it.
Again, I’m sure neither kids realized the power of the lesson they were being taught, but it seemed as if her Dad and I were communicating with each other about how we’d like to see the future look for both of them- and it was powerful. And it was done in a kind and respectful way. Both kids continued playing for the next half an hour, the Dad and I exchanged a couple of smiles, but that was really it- we didn’t even introduce ourselves to each other. BUT…it was an important moment and one I hope to see more of in the future.
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So…how do we continue on this path of raising kind sons, daughters, kids…people?
We have a few ideas here- and they reflect a lot of the ideas we talk about in our Toolkits. They’re simple, but not easy…but nothing ever worthwhile, is. 😉
“People are opting out of vital conversations about diversity and inclusivity because they fear looking wrong, saying something wrong, or being wrong. Choosing our own comfort over hard conversations is the epitome of privilege, and it corrodes trust and moves us away from meaningful and lasting change.”
YES! Although she is specifically referencing conversations about diversity and inclusivity, this can be applied to ALL topics and is especially pertinent here, in conversations with our kids.
So, where is the love? It is all around us, but we must TEACH it. We must choose to teach our kids that love is stronger than hate, that kindness towards all people is stronger than fear and that sometimes doing the right thing is hard. Are you in? We are…and we’re here to support you.
* T-shirt in Blog Post (Boys will be boys/ Good Humans!) by Free to Be Kids. We are not affiliated with them, nor being paid to endorse this product- we just liked it!
]]>No, but really, picture it…
…you’re driving home from soccer practice with your kids in the car, the light turns yellow and you slow to a stop at the intersection and there’s a man or woman standing there, with a sign saying
]]>No, but really, picture it…
…you’re driving home from soccer practice with your kids in the car, the light turns yellow and you slow to a stop at the intersection and there’s a man or woman standing there with a sign saying that they are homeless and in need of help.
What do you do?
There are a few likely responses to this question and we’re going to talk about them- even the ones that make us feel uncomfortable. Yep, come on, it’s time.
You ignore the person.
You suddenly decide you LOVE the song on the radio so you turn it up and start jammin’ out and invite your kids to join you. In your head you’re thinking “Whew, that was a close one- I'm so glad my favorite Taylor Swift song was on.”
(By the way…it’s not a coincidence that this is listed at the top as we guess that this is the most common reaction and that’s ok, until now.)
You grab for your purse in the front seat
…slowly…and pretend that you’re looking for money in there. From here, you do one of two things- you intentionally don’t open the section of the wallet where the money is (if there’s some in there) or you DO intentionally open the section where you keep your money because you KNOW there is none in there. This reaction solves a couple of things for you - first, it allows your kids to think that you are actively looking to help this person (therefore are kind-hearted and compassionate) and second, it allows you to then glance out of the window showing the empty wallet and smiling faintly as if to say “sorry, I don’t have any money to give but I tried”.
You grab your wallet and grab some cash
…quickly, so you can hand it over and feel like you did your good deed for the day, while your kids were watching.
You roll down your window, make eye contact with the person,
say hello and wish them a good day.
Some combination of all of these things…
…but it really depends on the day.
Most of us will admit that we’d like to respond better (and we DO want to do better, that’s why we’re reading this post!), but more than likely we respond with the first option, which is ignoring the person. I’d be lying if I said I knew the perfect thing to do in this situation ALL OF THE TIME, but I don’t- and I’ve found it can be even harder to navigate when my 2- year old son is in the car.
So we’re going to talk about a couple of things you can do,
together with your kiddos, that will not only help someone in need, but will show your kids how to act in a kind and compassionate way toward another person experiencing a difficult time.
At the bare minimum, making eye contact and saying hello
should always be considered in situations like this, whether in the car, or walking on the street. Of course, you must always trust your instincts and make sure that the situation is safe and there’s no sense of danger (this also provides a good opportunity to talk to your kids about safety and common sense), however, most situations that I’ve encountered are perfectly safe for exchanging a greeting. People deserve, and want to be, acknowledged and seen- if there is one thing that is MOST IMPORTANT to communicate to our kids, it’s that ALL PEOPLE MATTER. We have some great resources for additional reading about this at the end of the blog, so don’t forget to scroll all the way to the bottom.
If you want to do a little more than exchange a greeting
AND want to show your kids how they can make the world a little bit brighter, then The Giving Bag is a perfect solution. In our last blog post, one of our For Purpose Fans, Jolene, talked about making Kindness Bags with her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. Today, we’re going to tell you how you can make your very own Giving Bag by outlining a few things that you may want to include.
5 Things to Include in the Giving Bag:
While we know there was a lot of information included in this post, we could've continued writing for several more pages to talk about all we wanted to cover. That’s why we’ve included additional resources at the bottom for you to read, should you be so interested (we especially like the one from the More With Less Mom, who speaks honestly and from experience about this topic). And as always, if you have any questions, comments or feedback for us, let us know on our Facebook and Instagram @forpurposekids.
Resources:
EVER WONDERED WHAT TO SAY TO A HOMELESS PERSON? HERE ARE 5 THINGS TO SAY AND 5 THINGS NOT TO SAY
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Jolene Leisure, in her own words:
Growing up, I always thought I would do big things.
Head to Africa and adopt a child? I'll get my passport. Donate a kidney to a friend in need? Sign me up!
But as time goes on and I realize how much I want to focus on my family, and I realize those huge aspirations are not right for this season of life. There are weeks that even volunteering in my local community is challenging.
One way that I've been really grateful to impact my local community and my family at the same time is to serve as a leader in many of my children's activities.
One of those activities is a Girl Scout troop that I'm co-leading for my five-year-old daughter.
There's something magical about children at that age and how they view the world.
One week we talked all about giving back in our local community and how we could do that. I found a local nonprofit called Caitlin’s Smiles that delivers art materials and kits to children in hospitals.
Being aspiring artists, the girls were all over making cards and letters for the kids who may receive packages.
I went to my local dollar store and bought a couple packs of construction paper and new markers and crayons for less than $10. The girls made numerous cards with inspirational and kind messages for the kids.
They also kept busy for 40 minutes!
Another item that we compiled was something called a Kindness Bag, or Blessing Bag.
How many times do you see someone that is clearly in need and are at a loss as what to do?
The girls and I brainstormed what daily things we take for granted and how could help someone that may be displaced from their home or in a tough situation.
Again, I went to my local dollar store and bought some basic items to put into a bag to be given to someone in need. We put in soap, deodorant, granola bars, water, crackers, and other small things like that. The bags were easy to put together and each scout left with one for their family to use in their communities. We also had some extra supplies from our card making so the girls put in a card or note in each bag too.
I’m so grateful for the chance to give back in my local community and the world.
I may not have a trip to a foreign country in my future but I'm pretty excited that I was able to impact twelve future leaders on a Sunday night. I often think of this quote from Mother Teresa:
”If you want to bring happiness into the whole world, go home and love your family.”
I’m looking forward to showing my kids simple ways to show love, compassion and kindness while at the same time just loving them. And that’s a pretty good purpose for us both!
_________________________________________________________________
Jolene- thanks for being a For Purpose Fan and for taking the time to share a bit of your kindness journey with us!
We know that every little bit of kindness helps and we can’t wait to hear MORE about how you and your For Purpose Kids make the world a better place.
* Our next blog post, to be published on September 26, will talk more about the Kindness Bags referenced in this post, so stay tuned!
For Purpose Kids
Be Kind. Do Good. Make the World Better.
]]>Yep…it’s all the rage this year. Have you figured it out yet? No, well let me help you out.
It’s the cool way of referring to the 4 Gift Challenge you may have heard about, the…
“Something They Want, Something They Need, Something To Wear, Something To Read” approach to gift giving.
]]>Yep…it’s all the rage this year. Have you figured it out yet? No, well let me help you out.
It’s the cool way of referring to the 4 Gift Challenge you may have heard about, the…
“Something They Want, Something They Need, Something To Wear, Something To Read” approach to gift giving.
But wait, there are still a few more letters there that we didn’t explain. Oh yes, that’s because we added a 5th “Gift” to the 4 Gift Challenge.
Can you guess what that might be? Yes, of course! It’s the…
“Something to Give to Those in Need.”
An idea that fits in so nicely with everything we do here at For-Purpose Kids.
(And the WTH…if you don’t know what that means, you’ll have to figure it out for yourself!)
I came upon this idea within the last year or two, but this will be the first year that I actually try and do it. And I’m lucky, as this will only be my son’s second holiday season, so it will be easy for me to set the precedent this year without yells and screams of, “Where are all of the presents?”
But I do love this idea…and for a couple of reasons. One- because my son already has MORE than enough- of everything. And I’d like to try and bring him up with the idea of “less is more”, that “things don’t buy happiness” and that “giving is better than receiving”, especially when giving to those in need. The second reason I love this so much though is much more selfish. I love it because it will help keep ME in check. I’d love to say that I’m a “less is more” kind of person and that the idea of Minimalism is ever present in my life…but those of you that know me know that this is not the truth. It's something that I’m working on and mindful of, but I’m the person who buys all of those last-minute things at the counter because I feel like I haven’t bought “enough”…and I want to make a change.
So if you feel like I do and want to give this “a go”, as my friends in the UK would say, here are a few ideas to get you started (with a shameless plug or two for our very own For-Purpose Kids products!).
If you’d like to join us with our new Minimalist approach to gift giving, let us know how it goes on social media using #forpurposekids. We’ll keep you posted on how we do as well…even if we go a bit “outside” of the lines.
We’d also like to offer you, our For Purpose Community, 15% OFF with code TOPTOY on our Global Kidizen Doll Collection this holiday season.
Give gifts this year that will inspire the next generation of global citizens!
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My parents had never pressured us to have kids or whined continuously that they were not yet grandparents, so even though they were excited, I never thought they’d be the type to be constantly showing their friends (or the cashier at the grocery store!) the latest pictures from Facebook.
But I was wrong.
And to say this shocked my Mom most of all, is most definitely a true statement. She became “obsessed” with this little man in a way none of us expected.
This is probably not a surprise to anyone reading this that either IS a grandparent, or has watched their parents transition into the role of grandparents…there are even some pretty cool books out there about this, my favorite being “Becoming Grandma: The Joys and Science of the New Grandparenting”, by Lesley Stahl. And to quote a passage from this book, Lolly (that’s Stahl’s Grandma name) says,
“Becoming a gran exhilarated me with a new purpose.”
I guess it’s a chance to experience an intense love and connection with a new member of the family…with less of the responsibility. I mean, if they turn out to be brats, it won’t be the grandparents’ fault, right?
So, what does this have to do with For-Purpose Kids?
Well, shouldn’t part of that “new purpose” that Lesley Stahl referred to, be about teaching kids to be more kind and compassionate global citizens?
Why yes, OF COURSE it should!
And now that there is less responsibility (like meal planning and middle of the night “needs”) with the “not so fun” stuff, maybe they’ll want to spend time focusing on some of the “important” stuff like this.
So, if you’re a Grandparent looking for new and different things to do with your grandkids that DON’T involve smart phones and computers or middle of the night feeds- we have some great ideas for you to help your grandkids grow into nice human beings. And if you’re a parent who WANTS to do this kind of stuff with your kids but is overwhelmed with all of the OTHER things you have to manage on a daily basis…send this blog to your parents and see if they get the hint!
5 Things Grandparents Can Do with Their Grandkids to Inspire Kindness
Hopefully we’ve convinced you to consider some new ways of teaching your grandkids to be kind and compassionate global citizens of the future…and that you’ve already started thinking about the projects you can do together to make the world MORE awesome. We’d love to hear about your projects and activities, so please take pictures and share them with us on our website and social media channels.
Happy Grandparenting!
For-Purpose Kids, Inspiring Kids to Be Kind Since 2016
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But over the past week, we’ve all been inundated with articles and social media posts about how to provide support after Harvey…
…and as helpful and informative as some of them like this one are (and they are!), I decided to go in a bit of a different direction.
Today, I want to tell a story about Savannah, an awesome For-Purpose Kid in Florida, who came up with her own way to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
And I want to talk about Savannah’s journey of becoming a For-Purpose Kid, over the course of the past year.
So…full disclosure, Savannah’s Mom and I volunteered in India together in 2013.
She was there with 10 colleagues from around the world, as their company supported them to participate in an international volunteer experience as part of their focus on Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Involvement (how cool is that?!?). Now, you may be asking…
Why is that important?
It’s important because I didn’t have to convince her that teaching her daughter about giving and volunteering from a young age would have a tremendously positive impact on how she would act towards others and the world around her. The lessons we learned while volunteering abroad, literally changed the course of our lives, and are lessons we want to pass on to our kids. Savannah’s Mom was, therefore, an early advocate and supporter of For-Purpose Kids.
Now, getting back to our story. Savannah received her For-Purpose Kids Toolkit this past February, about 2 weeks after they were launched. The picture here shows Savannah opening her Toolkit with her friends and proudly displaying “The Giving Book”, a fun and interactive book which we use to introduce the idea of giving and volunteering to kids (yes, that was a bit of a shameless plug for our awesome Toolkits).
The first activity that she and her friends did to “give back”, with support from her Mom, involved creating Valentine’s Day cards to send to women in the military. Along with these cards, they included hair clips and other accessories as a way to say “thank you” for their service. Pretty cool, huh? GO SAVANNAH & FRIENDS!
Now, I know what you’re thinking here…OF COURSE she and her Mom are doing things like this…
…her Mom volunteered in India so she must be one of those “Peace Corps” types that has tons of time on her hands to “Save the World”. Nope, she works full-time at a very demanding job, is a Mom and a wife and can often be found tailgating on Saturdays in the Fall, proudly sporting her FSU Football Fan Gear (Go ‘Noles)!
But what’s important to note here is that while Savannah’s Mom may have recognized the importance of involving her daughter in these types of activities and made the time to teach her about the benefits of giving and volunteering (which isn’t always easy)…
…it was Savannah, herself, that started to experience the positive feelings of helping others, first hand.
Now…fast forward a few months to the end of the summer. Savannah and her Mom revisited “The Giving Book” to brainstorm ideas for another project that she and her friends could do to help others in the community. And while they were thinking about what to do…Hurricane Harvey SLAMMED into Texas…and provided them with a sense of urgency for their next project.
But here’s the cool part- instead of Savannah’s Mom taking the lead on the fundraising, Savannah and her friends did…at only 7 years old!
They were so sad watching the devastation from the storm, that they approached management at their local grocery store (shout out here for Publix…anyone who’s familiar with this company knows how awesome they are and how much support they offer to the community!) and asked to set up shop at the entrance to the store for 2 hours to raise money for Hurricane Harvey Relief.
Now you may be asking- what were they going to do to raise money?
Draw pictures for donations, of course…just like “The Original” For-Purpose Kid, Dane (click here to watch Dane’s video from 2015 that inspired us to begin For-Purpose Kids)!
They set a goal of $100 and got right to work with their art supplies & easels- as you can see in the picture below.
And can you guess how much money they raised in those 2 hours outside of a Publix in Parrish, Florida?
$529.88- OVER 5 TIMES THEIR GOAL!!!!
WOOHOO- WAY TO GO SAVANNAH & FRIENDS!!
I’d say you are all amazing For-Purpose Kids that have definitely made the world MORE awesome with your efforts!
Now, I’m sure you can understand and appreciate how excited I was to learn that For-Purpose Kids inspired these 4 kids to raise over $500 for Hurricane Harvey Relief. But what excited me MORE were the other things that these 4 girls have started to learn about- things like empathy, compassion and purpose- values that are central to our mission at For-Purpose Kids.
Merriam-Webster defines empathy as “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts and experience of another…” and compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” Savannah’s Mom shared how evident it was that Savannah and her friends were exhibiting both empathy and compassion, not only because they wanted to do this fundraiser, but in the way they talked to people about why they were doing what they were doing to help. I think we can all agree that teaching our kids a bit more about empathy and compassion from an early age will have a BIG impact on the future in which they grow up in.
And purpose, which Merriam-Webster defines as “something set up as an object or end to be attained”, is yet another idea that I believe is important to teach young kids. I think, a lot of times, society tells kids they’re too young to have purpose, to do something that matters- and one of the things we want to do at For-Purpose Kids is change that. In this experience, Savannah and her friends learned about what it feels to have purpose, to set an intention, to be empowered to make a difference in the lives of others.
So- if you want to inspire your kids to do awesome things like Savannah and her friends, while cultivating empathy, compassion and purpose- check out our website here and see what resources, ideas and products (like our Toolkits and Quarterly Subscription Boxes) we have to help you do that (you knew that was coming, didn’t you?).
One last thought before I sign off…some may think it ironic that these kids that worked so hard to provide help for those most recently affected by a devastating hurricane in Texas, are now preparing for what could be an equally devastating storm in Florida. But one thing is certain, if we continue to inspire our kids to be more empathetic and compassionate members of the community, someone will ALWAYS be there to help them in return.
For-Purpose Kids, Inspiring Kids to Be Kind Since 2016
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THAT…is The Ugly…the thing we don’t want to acknowledge
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THAT…is The Ugly…the thing we don’t want to acknowledge is still happening and don’t want to look at.
A city that I used to associate with The Dave Matthews Band and that some of my friends used to refer to as the home of THE University (although, as a JMU Grad, I would beg to differ)…has now become another example of a country some would say has gone mad.
And a young woman, named Heather Heyer, died- and several others were injured.
THAT is The Bad…the TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD, BAD.
Now, some of you may be thinking- didn’t I sign up with For-Purpose Kids to read about how to get my kids more involved in the community, with giving and volunteering? I see enough of this “political” or “social activism” stuff on my Newsfeed...why are they talking about it here?
Because it’s important…and it’s important for our kids. This isn’t about politics or religious beliefs- it’s about basic human rights. It’s about treating others with respect, love and kindness, which is how all of us deserve to be treated.
One of the things we talk about with the “Champions” of For-Purpose Kids is the power that we, as adults, have to be an example for the next generation. If we choose to stay silent about these uncomfortable issues and topics, what does that say to our kids? Our kids are watching…and what do you think they see?
If they are seeing what I’m seeing- they’re scared and confused. They are seeing things that don’t make sense and seem to go against everything they’ve been learning.
I want to share an excerpt from a social media post I read from a dear friend regarding how Charlottesville affected her family this weekend. You may have seen this woman’s review of For-Purpose Kids on our social media pages this week- and you may have seen a collage of how her daughter is taking action to become a For-Purpose Kid. This woman is brave, she is strong and although it breaks my heart that she has to have these conversations in 2017, she is showing up to talk to her kids about what they are seeing, she is making a call to action and she is teaching her kids to be brave:
“Yesterday I had some of the most difficult conversations I've had thus far with two beautiful fantastic children who couldn't understand why anyone would hate someone just because of what they look like. I had to explain what flags meant, what words spoken meant, and why the president wasn't doing or saying something. Yes, part of this is because they overheard/saw some media creating the whirlwinds they are paid to create, but some of it is a harsh reality. There is still racism and hate in this world. There is still a lot of work to do here in America. We must come together as people and continue to make efforts to bridge the divides.
Looking into my babies eyes I know that the work may be difficult, but it's worth it. I encourage those that really truly love my family and other families of color to find something, no matter how small, that you can do to be a bridge builder today. Talk to someone you fear because you've been taught to fear them, serve in your community, work with the youth and help them find the gifts and talents that make them special, work with a union or faith-based organizing/action-based group that understands this world is wonderful because of its people (ALL people), and question your own thought patterns. “
So what’s the Good in all of this?
The Good is that two students were brave enough to document what they saw on Friday night and spread the word to those that wanted to come and show support for ALL people on Saturday. The Good is that hundreds of people showed up and “counter-protested” what happened on Friday night. The Good is that we are talking about it and hopefully beginning to shed some light on “The Ugly” that is very much a part of our American society. The Good is that we can heed these “Calls to Action” and get involved- and get our kids involved too. What better way to affect change than by teaching our kids, from an early age, how to be kind, respectful and loving towards ALL? THIS is why For-Purpose Kids is talking about Charlottesville.
THIS…is The Good.
Here is where we usually include a list of things to do to involve your kids in the community, to give back and volunteer as For-Purpose Kids- because that's what we’re all about and we KNOW that getting our kids involved in the community at an early age will have a HUGE impact on the future. But you can find a lot of that stuff in our past blog posts and on our website (www.for-purposekids.com), so in this post, we’re going to do something a little different. We’re going to suggest that you take 30 minutes out of your day and listen to this Facebook Live Video* (click here), from Brené Brown, that she posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, entitled “We need to keep talking about Charlottesville”. WHY? Because it’s important…and it’s important for our kids…you’ll see what I mean when you watch.
*Just a heads up here, if you are not familiar with Brené Brown- she is REAL. And with REAL comes REAL language, so you may want to listen while the kids are sleeping, or in the other room. While there is not a lot of profanity, there is some. And if any of you are questioning why, as a kid’s brand, we have chosen to include something with this language and content on our blog, it’s because we believe in authenticity (something we learned from Ms. Brown)…and because we feel it’s time.
So for our parting words today…we’ll leave you with this.
We have a choice as to how we show up for our kids…
Today, we choose to represent The Good. What will you choose?
For-Purpose Kids, Inspiring Kids to be Kind since 2016.
]]>For some of us…the summer is half over.
We are well into the month of July, have eaten at least 5 S’mores (if you don’t know what those are, you are MISSING OUT!), have given up screaming at the kids to pick up their wet bathing suits off the floor
]]>For some of us…the summer is half over.
We are well into the month of July, have eaten at least 5 S’mores (if you don’t know what those are, you are MISSING OUT!), have given up screaming at the kids to pick up their wet bathing suits off the floor and have probably glanced at the calendar wondering why school can’t start TOMORROW so we can get a break. OR…if you are like my Mom, you are trying to drag out each day just a liiiiittle bit longer so the time doesn’t come when the grandkids have to pack up and head back home. Either way, the time is drifting by…
…and what do our kids have to show for it (and high scores on video games don’t count!)?
Now…I am NOT one of those “overscheduling” types that thinks that kids need to be busy every minute during the summer. In fact, I’m quite the opposite. I believe that summer should be about exploring and playing and lazing around- inside, outside, at the beach, in the woods or any other place that sounds like fun. I look back fondly on the summers where my sister and I watched the Sound of Music…EVERY DAY…FOR AN ENTIRE SUMMER- or built forts- or watched the trials and tribulations of Josh & Reva with my Papa (yep, true story, I think that was the summer I was 9 years old). And the folks at Psychology Today seem to agree with me- check out the article here, entitled “Let Kids Be Bored (Occasionally)” to read more about their perspective.
But with that being said, I do think there’s room to incorporate a few meaningful projects with our kids this summer that support the community and help others. Is a few too many? OK…
How about trying to do ONE meaningful activity with our kids, grandkids (nieces, nephews, neighbors’ kids, you get the point) this summer that gives back to the community?
Great! Here’s a list of 10 ideas to get you started:
In addition to our suggestions above, we’d also love for you to check out this wonderful post by our friends at Doing Good Together, entitled “Be Curious: 7 Tips for a Summer of Wonder” (click here to read) for other ways kids can get involved in meaningful activities this summer.
So we’re all in for ONE meaningful activity of giving and volunteering with our kids this year, right? Good.
Let’s give our kids something DIFFERENT to write about in their journals this year when asked what they did over the summer…
…because doing good and helping others can be contagious and who knows where that might lead!
For-Purpose Kids- Inspiring Kids to Become Compassionate Global Citizens Since 2016
]]>Wait…what just happened?
]]>Wait…what just happened?
Yes, the current administration in the US just announced that they will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, a global initiative to address climate change and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet. And out of ALL the countries in the world, the US has now become only the 3rd country (in the WHOLE WORLD) that will not be participating in this important action, joining this short list with only Syria and Nicaragua. Now we, at For-Purpose Kids, try to steer clear of discussing politics most of the time, as our mission is focused on inspiring more empathy, compassion and purpose in the next generation through giving and volunteering. But we feel that this decision is not a political one, but a moral one and it is crucial that we address it as it relates to our mission.
So…what can we do about it?
Well, we take matters into our own hands and begin to discuss this landmark decision with our kids and start teaching them about the importance of protecting the environment…now. Not tomorrow, or next week, or when school starts, or next year…but NOW.
Do I really have to?
YES! Now is the time to be the example we want to be for our kids- this is no joke. If we want our great grandkids to have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink, we need to get our families and communities involved in activities that will ensure these things are possible.
But do I really really have to?
Unless you want to find yourself in a scene straight from the movie, The Day After Tomorrow, YES! You need to get it together, pull out your gardening gloves and trash bags and get signed up to get involved TODAY. And we’ll make it easy for you. Here’s a list of 10 kid friendly volunteer ideas you can easily do to teach the next generation how to help protect the environment through giving and volunteering:
In addition to our list, click here to check out this article from our friends at Doing Good Together for more family friendly volunteer opportunities to help protect the environment. And as always, you can click here check out the For-Purpose Kids products we have that will further engage and inspire your young ones to get involved with giving and volunteering. Since we’ve kept your attention until now, we’ll even reward you with FREE SHIPPING (in the US only- sorry for those of you moving to France!) for the next few days if you use the code SAVETHEPLANET at check-out.
The time to get involved with our kids is now…so let’s not waste any more time wondering about what we can do, let’s take action and commit to being the powerful examples we want to be for our global citizens of the future.
For-Purpose Kids- taking small steps today to create (and preserve) the world we want for tomorrow.
]]>My son had his first birthday.
]]>My son had his first birthday.
And aside from all that goes along with that (mostly looking back at pictures of my 39-week pregnant self, thinking, “you have NO idea what you are about to get yourself into” both in terms of the birthing process AND the first year of motherhood), we celebrated this momentous milestone with a good ole American Style Birthday Party. Yes, one that was complete with pizza, cake, face painting and balloon animals (OK, we may have gone a bit overboard, but he only turns 1 once!). Of course, no one throws a one year old a birthday party because it will be fun for the child, they do it to let their friends know that they survived- and because they want cake. For some of us…
…it’s always about the cake. And presents.
Presents are a big deal to us Gen X-ers…the ones that were brought up with “stuff” and more “stuff” AND an endless desire for “more”. But you know what? By now, most of us have realized that “stuff” doesn’t make us happy. You know what we’ve realized does make us happy, though? Giving to others, especially giving to those in need. So how about this…instead of passing down the desire for “more” to our kids, we could change things up a bit and instill in them the notion that giving is better than receiving, or as St. Francis of Assisi put it,
“For it is in giving that we receive.”
And what better way to teach our kids about this than at their birthdays and other special celebrations? (If you still need convincing as to why this is a good idea for our kids, read this article posted by PBSparents here).
For example, at my son’s birthday this past weekend, we asked our guests for donations to one of our favorite charities, instead of gifts. I know, I know…it’s easy to do when he’s little because he won’t know the difference, right? We can continue this from this point forward and he will think that this is just how birthdays “work”.
But you can do this with your kids too…
…for their next birthday, bar/bat mitzvah, or any other celebration/ milestone in their lives. I’m sure some of you are worried about the reaction that your kids will have to this idea- that they will be disappointed and sad about missing out on gifts and presents. And while that may be true at first, remember that it’s our job, as adults, to present this to them in a way which gets them excited about sharing some of what they have, with others. Parents Magazine published a great article that gives examples of 3 families and how they creatively suggested donations and the idea of helping others into their kids’ birthday celebrations- check it out here.
For additional tips on how to incorporate donations into your kids’ upcoming celebrations and teach them about giving back, see below:
Easy-peasy, yes? Yes. But don’t forget about what we talked about last week in our blog post…start small. Perhaps this year you only bring up the notion of donations instead of gifts and see how it goes- your child may need another year or so to warm up to the idea. As they continue along the path of becoming a For-Purpose Kid, they will inevitably start to understand a bit more about why giving is important and they will also get to experience the joys of giving. As that happens, don’t be surprised to see a huge heart emerge that is filled with empathy and compassion, one that is enthusiastic and inspired to share what they have (or may receive) with others.
The BIGGEST challenge with all of this, I promise you, will not be with convincing your kids though…it will be convincing the invitees that this is what you (and the child) truly want. While I’d like to say that we raised some money for one of our favorite charities last weekend at my son’s birthday…almost everyone that came brought a gift. So, either I need to work on my messaging in next year’s invitation…or I need to start sharing with others why this is so important to me, and the benefit that it will have for my son.
* Buy 1 For-Purpose Kids Toolkit, Get 1 Free. LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE SO ORDER NOW! Use code BUY1GET1FREE at check-out by May 31, 2017. Toolkits must be sent to the same address*
]]>So now you’re ready.
You’ve been thinking about different volunteer opportunities for your kids, grandkids, students or any other kids you find (JUST kidding, please don’t go in search of kids... use the ones that are already in your life!) and you’ve gone from collecting cans of soup in the neighborhood to planning a month- long volunteer experience building houses and rescuing orphans in remote areas of the world…and, of course, looking like the “formerly known as” Jolie-Pitt clan while doing it.
But before you go booking those plane tickets, let’s pause for a moment.
We don’t want this to be like those New Year’s Resolutions we all make every year, where we set these grandiose goals and then, 7 days in, give up because we realize it’s way too hard to lose 50 pounds, get a new job that pays more AND save the world…all at the same time. So- what do we do?
We start small.
We start with things we can literally do with our kids, on the couch (yes, even if our kids are buried under pillows) or on the carpet during circle time in the classroom (where you may ALSO have kids buried under pillows).
Here's a list of 5 things you can do that won’t take too much time or preparation while teaching kids about giving back:
So- we first told you WHY it’s important to get our kids involved in giving and volunteering and now we’ve told you HOW you can get started- literally while sitting down. But remember…
Be realistic- don’t take on more than you can follow through on…
…or more familiarly, bite off more than you can chew. We want to be an example for the kids in our life and we want them to see that this is a priority and not something that gets moved to the “later” pile of “things to do”. Good luck and here's to serving the community well.
For Purpose Kids
Taking small steps today to create the world we want for tomorrow.
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