Moon Jar Activity

(read time: 1.5 min)

YOUR BOOST

Help your kids decorate and label three jars/containers/piggy banks: one for saving, one for spending, and one for sharing.

During the crafting part of this challenge, talk about what you are saving for, spending and why, and sharing to help others. Ask them to think the same and talk about not just spending and saving, but specifically where they would like to donate their sharing money.

Make a plan to donate the money in the sharing piggy bank twice a year: once on their birthday, and once on their half birthday. For kids, its best to do it in person if you can. Georgia (my 6 yr old) donates to the Dumb Friends League, and loves going in person to see the animals that she is helping. This reinforces the reward aspect and helps develop the habit for life.

THE SCIENCE

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “There is evidence that, during gift-giving behaviors, humans secrete “feel good” chemicals in our brains, such as serotonin (a mood-mediating chemical), dopamine (a feel-good chemical) and oxytocin (a compassion and bonding chemical).

When you look at the functional MRIs of subjects who gave to various charities, scientists have found that giving stimulates the mesolimbic pathway, which is the reward center in the brain — releasing endorphins and creating what is known as the “helper’s high.”

TAKE HOME

Moon Jar make for a connection to family values, overflowing gratitude, and feeling joy. (Not to mention, a craft project to pass the time!)

No shame, no guilt, just more good days.

-Nicole