Many organizations reap the benefits of giving around Christmas time. Bring that giving spirit into the summer months, too, by Christmas-ing in July.

Christmas in July is actually celebrated in some parts of the world. Although it may be a marketing ploy for sluggish sales, such a holiday could have merit if used for good. I should have used this concept to spread Christmas cheer to others, cultivate the art of giving in my children, and provide a respite the middle of a long, hot summer.

I would have started by explaining to my children that we were going to have a special "Christmas in July" celebration. I would make clear that instead of receiving presents, we were going to be giving them. By putting children in the role of benefactors, their perspective changes from selfish to selfless.

We would start with a family planning party. We would read some of our favorite Christmas stories and eat some of our favorite Christmas desserts. We would look over old Christmas photos and remember fun holiday experiences. We would talk about the joy we feel at Christmas, and how we want to share that joy in the summer.

We would talk about gifting and choose a community resource as our recipient. We would choose one organization or several, depending on our interests. It could be a local family shelter or animal shelter. It could be a church's clothes closet or food pantry. By making the choice as a family, everyone has a vested interest in the project.

We would contact our chosen charity and take a family trip to visit the organization. We could personally observe the work they do and ask for their wish list. By recognizing the how the items on the list could be used, children can gain insight in the differences between wants and needs.

After finalizing the wish list, we would make a family shopping trip. Every member of the family would have an item to locate, choose a particular one, and put in the basket. Non-readers would have a picture list while older children would have a more detailed list. Being able to choose the specific baby blanket or dog collar encourages a child's discrimination and decision-making.

After all our purchases were made, we would find eco-friendly ways to wrap them. We could use trash bags that could be reused, or make our own cloth bags. For an animal shelter, we could use newspapers that could be used at the shelter. For a family shelter, we could wrap the gifts in towels or pillowcases. By finding innovative ways to wrap, we increase the value of our gift without waste to the receiving organization.

On delivery day, we would again make our favorite Christmas dessert to take along with our gifts. We would dress in red and green and maybe a piece of tinsel. We would load up our car like Santa's sleigh, and sing carols on our trip. We would take pictures and write our thoughts about this day. After our delivery, we would have an ice cream party in place of making a snowman.

Christmas can be a hectic and stressful time, but putting a different emphasis on the holiday during a different season of the year can open children to a new viewpoint. They can be involved in the planning, purchasing, and delivering of gifts for someone else. By realizing the joy in giving, children can begin to understand their part in making their world a little better.

About the Author:

Luanne Davidson is the proud mother of three adult children and wonders what might have been if she had done a thing or two differently. She writes her "Coulda, Woudla, Shoulda" column each Thursday.

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