Monday, December 9, 2013

Teaching Kids to Give Back Using CWIST #MC

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for CWIST. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

I always love educational opportunities for my boys, and if they involve giving back to our community in some way, even better!  CWIST is a free digital platform full of creative challenges for kids - everything from creating a worm farm to completing daily chores to researching a particular subject.  I was immediately drawn to the Community section, and there were a good number to choose from.  Ultimately, I assigned Pierce the "Teaching the True Meaning of Christmas" CWIST.  This CWIST shows children how good it feels to help others during the holiday season. 


This challenge had five parts to it.  Pierce had to ask others questions like, "What does Christmas mean to you?".  We talked about the difference between wishes/wish lists and needs, and watched The Polar Express.  Then we wanted to help someone in need.  Pierce has already done several things this Christmas to help others (taking hats/mittens for the angel tree at his school, helping pick out snacks for the Pack A Snack program which sends home snacks for underprivileged children over the weekends, and an upcoming canned food drive).  But we had a great opportunity to participate in a fundraiser for Barn Cat Buddies (an organization that I dearly love - and two of our cats were adopted from their program).

This was the first time Pierce had ever been bowling.  He loved it (and he even got a few strikes)!  We talked about how the a portion of price of tickets went towards helping feed, spay/neuter, and vaccinate homeless cats.  There was a silent auction, and Pierce took some of his tooth fairy money and placed bids on a couple of items.  He also got some raffle tickets, and placed them in a few jars of items he thought were neat.  I had helped the previous weekend to prepare the raffle baskets, and taken some donations, so I talked about exactly where everything came from and how that specific money went directly back to the cats. 

 
It was a really special day and I think it left the impression in Pierce's mind of how we can do a variety of things in our community to give back. 
 
We still have one portion of the CWIST to complete it - Pierce needs to read The Giving Book by Ellen Sabin.  We don't have a copy, so we're going to try to track it down at the local library.  Once that is completed, Pierce gets to earn his reward.  I chose the reward of staying up an hour late for him.  I'm a real stickler for bedtime, and Pierce actually thought I was joking when I told him if he completed his CWIST he got to stay up an hour late.  He's looking forward to a special evening in the near future, getting to play board games with Paul and I until 9 pm. 
 
This holiday season, CWIST has kicked off a multi-week giving campaign where kids can complete CWISTs to earn gifts for children in need.  Once a child completes a CWIST, a toy will be delivered to the less fortunate child along with a holiday message, through Lighthouse Shelter and Sarah's House.  It's a wonderful way for children to focus more on giving, and less on receiving this holiday season.  I would encourage you to check out the site with your kids! 
 



24 comments:

Unknown said...

What a wonderful program!

Unknown said...

It is so important to teach children to 'give back' when they are young, and most of the time, it will stick in adulthood. I applaud you for doing so at this season of the year.

Marie said...

This is wonderful! The bedtime is funny, I was the same way. :)

Barbara said...

I love that you are teaching them how to give back. It is so important while they are still young.

Out on the prairie said...

good indoor activities

Sunnybrook Farm said...

That will be good to keep him busy with today since there is no school.

Sharon Wagner said...

That's a cool Cwist!

TexWisGirl said...

really great program - and love how you teach your kids, lisa.

Unknown said...

Nice. I think it is very important to teach children to give back. A few times a year when the girls outgrow their clothing, I help them go through their closets so we can give to the less fortunate.

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

What a neat program! And I think it's great that you are explaining to Pierce how what you're doing helps others--people and animals. I'm glad Pierce liked bowling. I wish I could have met up with you guys!

An Apel a Day said...

That seems great! I'll have to check that program out.

Our Neck of the Woods said...

What an awesome program! I love that you do things like this with your kids. So great :)

Harry Flashman said...

I'm glad he is helping out the cats. I don't really do "programs" but my wife and I put a bag of cat food in the shelter bin by the grocery store door when we go shopping.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Now THIS is the true Jesus kind of Christmas!! To help and care for others was huge to Him! And I love your encouragement of getting to stay up late! Your boys sure know that Christmas is not all about getting things.

Willow said...

What a great mom you are and your boys are just wonderful . So endearing this is ,

Michelle said...

This is really wonderful.

Chatty Crone said...

I will have to tell my kids about this!

LONDONLULU said...

Now this is the perfect Christmas experience for kids! What a lovely way for you to get fun, community spirit and learning all into one:)

Tweedles -- that's me said...

I think your a very good mom- to teach your boys these important things in life!
love
tweedles

Starry Dawn said...

Hi Lisa,
Oh! This is a wonderful program.
It's great the fact you are teaching your children, and helping them to develop their own thinking skills.
I wonder what happened with the horse you rescued some time ago.
Do you still have the horse?
Is he/she doing OK? I wonder.
I enjoy reading your older posts, especially the ones you and your children are riding the horse and pony. They are so cute.
Merry Christmas, Lisa, family and beloved ones!
Have a Happy New Year too!
Big Hugs,
Starry.

Linda said...

Pierce is off to a great start! What a great kid!

Endah Murniyati said...

A great program

mail4rosey said...

That does sound like a great program! We've been going over the differences between secular and religious meaning for Christmas too. My little guy's been impressing me w/his big heart. :)

Tanya Breese said...

what a great thing that is!