Learning to give, to share and to make space with heart.

December is a month full of magic: the lights, the snow, the stories. It’s also a perfect time to pass on deeply human values ​​to our children: generosity, sharing, gratitude.

If you like incorporating simple little rituals before Christmas, you’ll love it!My eco-friendly and sensory Advent calendar (children’s version)Each day offers a small, gentle gesture, a nature activity, or a moment to connect. You can find it here.
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Toddlers (0-5 years old) understand much more than we think. They observe, imitate, feel, and the little habits we create with them — especially before Christmas — plant seeds for life.

Today, I’d like to suggest a simple, gentle, and very practical ritual: preparing a box of toys or clothes together to give to a child in need. It’s a tender gesture that benefits both the recipient and the child giving.

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The sharing box

Place a small box in the living room, bedroom, or near the Christmas tree. Gently explain to your child: 
“This box is for the toys you don’t play with much anymore. We’ll give them to a child who doesn’t have any.”

Children understand this kind of intention very well, especially if it is not experienced as an obligation but as a gesture of love.

You can guide your child by offering them a choice:

• one toy a day for a week
• a toy “who wants to go live another adventure”
• an object he loved when he was younger
• a garment that has become too small but is still beautiful

This ritual shows that things can circulate, be useful to someone else, and have a second life.

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Giving by telling a story

Children understand the world through stories. To make the ritual more engaging, you can tell a short story about each object: 
“This toy will go to a child who doesn’t have many toys.” 
“This truck dreams of exploring another living room!” 
“This stuffed animal would like a new bed in another house.”

Stories soften the blow of separation and give meaning. They transform a simple gesture into a tender moment.

A small gratitude ritual

Before putting the toy in the box, invite your child to say, 
“Thank you for playing with me.”

It’s a very small gesture, but it:

• values ​​what the child owns
• help to accept the separation
• strengthens gratitude
• shows that we take care of our belongings, even when we give them away

You can also say gently: 
“We’re going to give it to another family. It will make them happy.”

Toddlers understand very well the emotional intention behind these words.

Let the child choose

Even babies can participate in their own way. 
For a 1–2 year old:

• Offer 2 or 3 toys and ask: “Which one wants to go in the box?”

For a 3–5 year old:

• asks the question: “What might please another child?”

You’ll be surprised how readily children choose when they are gently guided.

Go drop off the box together

When the box is full, taking it to the store together makes the experience even more tangible. 
You can take it to:

• a community thrift store
• a neighborhood organization
• a toy collection
• a family support center

Seeing the action through to the end helps the child understand the significance of their action. Even if they don’t understand everything, they feel the pride and sweetness of the moment.

Other ways to share before Christmas

For families who want to go further, here are some ideas:

• make a small card to slip into the box (here’s some seed paperReally great for making a card as a family, I’ve been using it for years)
• Also offer a book or a warm garment
• Add a small surprise (pencils, stickers, mini notebook)
• create a small reusable gift bag to give as a present
• offer a homemade toy (decorated pine cone, nature craft)

They are small actions, but they become great memories.

Giving away a toy or an item of clothing before Christmas isn’t just about decluttering. It’s a heartfelt ritual. 
A simple gesture that teaches children that sharing is part of life, that objects circulate, and that everyone can contribute, even very young children.

This ritual conveys:

• generosity
• gentleness
• empathy
• gratitude
• and an immense sense of meaning

And above all, it makes room for the magic of Christmas — the real kind. 
Not the kind of accumulation, but the kind of gestures that come from the heart.

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