In Eyres’ book, Teaching Your Children Values, Richard and Linda Eyre define unselfishness and sensitivity as “becoming more extra-centered and less self-centered. Learning to feel with and for others. Empathy, tolerance, brotherhood. Sensitivity to the needs in people and situations.” Teaching this can be a challenge. Often family discussion is a good starting point- discussing the meaning of the holidays, below is a list of conversation starters:

• What is most important about the holidays?
• How would you celebrate if you had no money?
• What is the holiday truly about? Do our current traditions celebrate that?
• What did you like most about our celebration? least? (This is a great question for younger kids because it often leads to conversation about seeing family, gift giving, etc.)

Don’t shy away from the conversation just because the holidays are over. Reviewing the holidays can be a great starting point for conversation for family goals for the coming year. Discuss while in the car or at a shared meal. Try to really listen and avoid the temptation to lecture. Make it about improving everyone’s experience of the holidays and teenagers will be hooked into the conversation as well.To truly make an impact, action is always required. Family volunteering makes a great action idea for teaching unselfishness and sensitivity in the new year. Consider having your family safe the money usually spent on friday night pizza and instead donate it to a charity. Kids as young as 8 years old can skip a meal or have a simplified meal, like peanut butter and jelly or a bowl of soup. Have your kids do odd jobs around the house for money to be sent to a charity. If your kids are nearing middle school or older, have them research a charity to which they want to donate. Charity Navigator is great place to compare charities and see what is available as well as ensure your family’s money will go towards making the biggest impact.Another idea is to consider starting a collections drive. Operation Iraqi Children is a US organization that shows groups how to collect school supplies for schools in Iraqi. The site includes everything from promotion letters, to a standard list of supplies and methods and address for shipment.Other ideas for teaching selflessness and sensitivity include working at a local food bank or older kids can work at Habitat for Humanity. Younger kids can sing, play musical instruments or simply draw picture birthday cards for nursing home residents. Activities directors are always looking for entertainment for the residents. Kids can also start their own Alex’s Lemonade Stand for children with cancer. Kids with more that ten inches of hair, can donate their hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that makes wigs for kids suffering from hair loss. US Freedom Corp has great resources and ideas for volunteering at all ages.”Happy Volunteering” in the new year!