Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in honolulu, HI

I think I've mentioned it before, but I think it's worth mentioning again.  I want to raise GOOD people.  Yes, I think teaching them how to be green and to love books and all that is important.  But more than anything I want them to be Good, Compassionate people who make life better for people around them, not worse.  Being green and loving to find out about other people's lives will just come naturally if they are Good people.

Part of my Good people training includes teaching them about giving to those less fortunate.  There is always someone less fortunate.  There is always something to give.  Of course, it's a concept that's difficult for a three year old to fully understand, but I'm hoping that I'm laying the foundation so that someday Noah will spend some of his free time he has giving his time and efforts to help out.  That's when I know I've been a successful parent.

This past Thanksgiving, we participated in a Food Drive at his school for the Hawaii Food Bank where the amount of food they have is dangerously low.  Instead of just cleaning out our pantry, I gave Noah some money and we went shopping for things he wanted to give.  We talked about some kids not having anything to eat, and needing to help them.  Needless to say, I got a lot of "why?"s.  He couldn't even imagine being hungry, I think.  He's been so lucky.

For Christmas, I plan to sort of do the same thing with the Toys for Tots program this year.  Give him some money and have him pick out something for another child at the store.  And again, I expect to get asked "why, why, why" because he's never been without toy gift on any special occasions.  But he will do it, and I tell myself that someday when he does "get it", he'll know that he's already done something and where to go to do more.

Toys for Tots collection boxes can be found all over Honolulu and they include:  Honolulu Hale courtyard (you can take a toy when you visit to see the City Lights), any Mobi PCS location, all 8 Hawaiian Telcom locations and at the Aiea Dixie Grill restaurant.