Have You Ever Wondered...
- Is it really better to give than to receive?
- Does giving have health benefits?
- What gift can you give someone this holiday season?
As the holidays approach, most kids' thoughts turn to gifts. Visions of beautifully-wrapped packages stacked high fill the dreams of many children. What will be in those packages? Will you get everything you put on your wish list?
Receiving gifts is something everyone enjoys. But did you know that many people enjoy giving gifts even more than receiving them? It's true. You may have heard people say from time to time, “It's better to give than to receive."
Could this be true? Unwrapping the gift you've been wanting for months and months is so exciting. How could anything get better than that?
Maybe you already know what we're talking about. Have you ever worked really hard on a priceless work of art for a loved one? When you were finished with it, you were probably very excited to give it to them.
Waiting until their birthday or a special occasion can sometimes seem like torture when you just can't wait to give someone a special homemade gift right from your heart. Do you remember that feeling of anticipation you get as they're opening their present?
If you've ever felt like that, then you know it's true: it really is better to give than to receive. There's just a simple joy from giving freely of your time and talents to loved ones.
This old saying has ancient roots in many religions. The Bible, the Torah, and the Quran all encourage helping others. Today, scientists are also looking for biological evidence for why it's better to give than receive. For example, some scientists believe that giving to or helping others helps to relieve stress in the body and is therefore beneficial to your health.
From your own personal experience, you probably know how good it feels to do a good deed for someone. Helping others allows you to capture that great feeling by putting others first. You might capture that feeling by volunteering your services for a worthy cause. Another popular way to give is to randomly help others by paying it forward.
Wonder What's Next?
Tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day will be a big hit with fans of the ballet!
Try It Out
Keep on WONDERing by asking a friend or family member to help you check out the following activities:
- Have you put together your wish list for this holiday season yet? The thought of upcoming holidays can motivate many kids to put together a list of things they would most like to receive. But what about giving to others? What talents do you have that could benefit others? Make another wish list today. Instead of things you'd like to receive, though, make a list of the gifts you'd most like to give others.
- The holiday season is the perfect time to think of others. One of the gifts you can give to others at this time of year is your time. Ask an adult friend or family member to help you find a local organization that could use some extra help during the holidays. Volunteer your time and see what an impact the gift of your time can have on others!
- Are you a cheerful giver? Most kids love to make homemade presents for their friends and family members in art class at school. Take some time today to think of someone who could use a special little gift. Think about what simple gift you could give them to make them smile. It doesn't have to be something you buy. You could make something for them. You could write them a letter or a card. Simply spending time with them might be the best gift of all. Now make it happen! When you freely give of yourself, you'll find that it's true. It truly is better to give than to receive!
Did you get it?
Test your knowledge
Wonder Words
- receive
- approach
- torture
- anticipation
- individual
- experience
- biological
- evidence
- gift
- wish
- dream
- stress
- package
- exciting
- beautifully
- unwrapping
- occasion
- religion
Take the Wonder Word Challenge