Christmas is just around the corner and we all know that when it arrives, people's spirits begin to change. Christmas is about transmitting values from generation to generation regardless of family beliefs. Although it is true that in our society Christmas had a more traditional or religious character until not long agoLittle by little, these dates are used so that children learn great values, regardless of the dominant family belief.
But these values that are taught to the little ones at Christmas parties should not be limited to these days. They are values that must accompany us during the rest of the year, because thanks to good values we can build a cohesive society where respect for ourselves and others are the protagonists.
Kindness and generosity
When Christmas comes, many people bring out their kindest side, They are seen in supermarkets where people buy a little more to give it to the associations and that they reach the most needy people. In one way or another, we know that in many homes there will be plenty on these dates and that many families will not be able to count on a hot dish for dinner unless other people can provide it. This value is undoubtedly that of kindness and generosity.
But why settle only when Christmas comes? Children must be taught that kindness and generosity is not something that has to be done only once in the whole year. It is a daily value, where united people can go further.
Help others
Followed by the first point is the courage to help others, to feel empathy, to know that not everyone has the same luck in life. For this reason, today there are many associations that have volunteers at Christmas - at Christmas time the volunteers multiply than during the rest of the year - to help the most disadvantaged. If you have children old enough, You can sign up as volunteers so that they can feel first-hand what it means to truly help others.
But not only can you help others by joining an association, there are many other ways that you can also work during the rest of the year. For example, children can be taught - through example and not just words - to do small daily actions such as helping an older person carry bags, helping a neighbor cut the lawn, helping a friend on a school assignment he doesn't understand, etc. Helping others, in addition to being a great value, will always provide children with great internal work that will make their self-esteem better.
Be thankful
Being grateful is a value that must be worked on both in children and in adults. We live in a world where it seems that materialism is the order of the day. People want the latest technology or the biggest cars… 'things' become indispensable and the more children they have, the more they want… without giving any kind of value to the things they have in their lives.
Have you ever seen a child so overwhelmed with gifts that they didn't know what to play with or even where to look? This is a problem, because when children have too much they begin to detract not only from things but also the meaning of being given something and the love behind each gift.. Since children are small, you have to instill in them the value of gratitude, to be grateful not only for gifts, but also for the little things in life.
As the saying goes: "It is a good born to be grateful." And it is that a person who learns to be grateful for what he has in life, regardless of whether it is more or less material ... he will not need things to be happy, he will not need what the other has to feel better, because happiness is found in the little things, in daily life ... and always, in the form of experiences and people - and not gifts.
Family traditions
Family traditions are also important this Christmas time. Children, when they live family traditions, will have a great feeling of belonging, something that will make them feel part of a group and will increase their self-esteem and internal value. Being part of a family or a group makes us feel good, satisfied and safe. Family traditions can create the best memories of children, memories that will shape their personality and that will accompany them for a lifetime. So much so, that many people reproduce the same traditions that they lived in their childhood to be able to feel what they felt at the time and transmit it to the following generations.
Traditions are also good at Christmas time because:
- Provides a strong identity.
- A family history and good memories are created.
- Family ties are strengthened.
- They offer comfort and security.
- Generations are connected.
- Lasting memories are created.
Family junction
Another value that is transmitted to children at Christmas time is family unity. But this is also something that should be promoted throughout the year and not only at Christmas time. Children need stability, they need to feel loved and safe.
It is likely that you remember a family dinner where people who do not speak get together for dinner at the same table because it is Christmas. But, why after the rest of the year they don't even speak to each other? This for children can be contradictory and they can learn falsehood or hypocrisy, values not appropriate for a good development of the personality.
For this reason, it is necessary that during the year, people are able to solve their problems and realize that family unity is very important, not only for children, but for each one of us. In life there are things much more important than simple discussions, love and family must be above all that.