WHAT SHALL WE GIVE THE CHILDREN

What shall we give the children?
The holidays are almost here.
Toys, and games, and playthings,
As we do each year?

Yes, for the magic of toyland
Is part of the Yuletide lore
To gladden the heart of childhood
But I shall give something more.

I shall give more patience,
A more sympathetic ear,
A little more time for laughter,
Or tenderly dry a tear.

I shall take time to teach them
The joy of doing some task.
I’ll try to find time to answer
More of the questions they ask.

Time to read books together
And take long walks in the sun,
Time for a bedtime story
After the day is done.

I shall give these to my children,
Weaving a closer tie,
Knitting our lives together
With gifts that money can’t buy!
                                    Author Unknown
 

A PARENT’S GIFT

Gold and silver have I none.
What gift then can I give my son?

I can endow him with a sense of worth.
            I can deepen his inner security by developing self-esteem.
            I can encourage natural talents and special qualities.
            I can show an understanding of other cultures and other peoples.

I can stimulate his sense of adventure.
            I can present to him a wide variety of experiences.
            I can feed his natural curiosity.
            I can help him to develop an awareness of all life around him.

I can enrich his vocabulary.
            I can talk with him of many things, as opposed to talking “at” him.
            I can read to him from fact and fancy, poetry and prose.
            I can sing with him old songs and new.

I can ignite the spark of his creativity.
            I can kindle his imagination.
            I can accept his new ideas.
            I can appreciate his efforts.
            I can provide him the raw materials with which to work.
I can give him time to dream.

I can mold his character.
            I can set a worthy example for him to follow.
            I can motivate him toward achieving honest goals.
            I can be reverent and hold certain values sacred.
            I can laugh with him when life tests us both.
            I can offer him love.

By Pauline Crabb
Taken from the March 1970 issue of Young Children
Journal of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.