Whatever way a family may choose to observe Christmas, be it mainly religious or secular, parents of small children know that Santa Claus is bound to have a significant position in their childrens' understanding of the holiday. Many parents worry, at times, that this focus on what their kids will receive at Christmas can be a selfish way of awaiting the holiday.



But many parents forget that, at its root, the Santa Claus legend is also about rewarding goodness and good behavior. If he "knows when you've been bad or good", as the song says, then it benefits a child to "be good, for goodness' sake". That goodness will bring reward, in the form of a wonderful and fulfilling Christmas morning.

What many adults forget is that being nice and good-as well as compassionate and empathetic-are traits that come naturally to most children. From the time they're born, children seek comfort and safety, and once they've reached the age when they accept the safety of their own environment, most children have a strong desire to share or spread that feeling to others. Watch a small child care for a baby doll, or even a new pet, and you can see how important is it to the child, to share the feeling of comfort.

By recognizing and praising such empathetic behavior, moms and dads can begin the process of teaching compassionate action toward others. A child who simply wants to help Dad, as he tinkers in the garage, is displaying the type of behavior that can blossom into the habit of helping and working with others, in later years.

The holiday season is the perfect time to foster these feelings and activities in a child. By using the Christmas message of love and fellowship, of compassion and caring, parents can show their child that the comfort they bring to others can extend beyond the boundaries of the family home.

Something as simple as a family outing, picking up neighborhood litter, is a great way to start. Maybe an elderly neighbor needs leaves raked, or food delivered. Or maybe you know an invalid who would appreciate some Christmas carols sung. These are all activities that are easy, unintimidating, and are guaranteed to be appreciated. Then, as your child grows, volunteering can expand and become more organized, possibly with a church or civic group.

Christmas is about caring, compassion, and love. It's a wonderful time for a child to learn the value of volunteerism. It's a wonderful time to develop habits of compassion which will last a lifetime.