A Tigertastic Activity
Parents know how important it is to save for their children’s future, and it’s wonderful if their children know how important it is as well. As you begin to save, this is an excellent time to help your child learn about the concepts of giving and receiving.
For example, sometimes a child grows tired of a toy, and it gets lost in the back of a closet or drawer. But maybe that toy still has life; maybe another child would enjoy it.
Perhaps you and your family have just baked a fresh batch of cookies, or have a few leftover seeds from your garden, or have a nice shirt your child has outgrown. These items — and others like that forgotten toy — are ideal for “Our Neighbor Box,” a sharing activity led by Daniel Tiger.
529 College Savings Plans are proud to be working with Fred Rogers Productions to underwrite PBS KIDS’ “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.” And through that relationship, we are excited to offer an activity kit full of fun projects your family can enjoy.
Download “Introducing Children to Saving” as a PDF | En Español
Download “Our Neighborhood & Our Family Box” as PDF | En Español
Download “Coloring Sheets” as PDF
Feel free to print these materials and use them at home. In this collection you will find:
- Instructions and labels for a Tigertastic activity building “Our Neighborhood Box.” You can use a cardboard box, storage bin, etc. and save items to pass along to neighbors and friends. Work together to decorate the box and use the design labels from “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” that are provided. Then start adding items, such as those mentioned above, or perhaps spare change that can be given to a charity or community organization as a way to teach children that the more you save, the more things add up – and the more you can share. This is an excellent way to teach children about the importance of giving.
- You’ll also find instructions for another Tigertastic build project – this one for “Our Family Box,” a place where you can save personal items. It’s a great way to introduce saving and receiving with a family project. Save things like keepsakes, papers from school or special notes to family members that say “thank you” or “I love you.” It’s nice to save items like these that allow you to look back and recall their special meanings. Decorate your boxes with the Daniel Tiger printouts that are provided by coloring and attaching them to your boxes for a personal touch.
- Included in this collection of Daniel Tiger printouts are more helpful hints on how to introduce your children to saving, giving and receiving. As you begin to save for the future, this is a great way to encourage your child or grandchild to learn about the importance of giving and receiving. And it starts by sharing some common examples of how families give and receive.
- Finally, you can continue the creativity with several coloring pages featuring characters from “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” including Jodi Platypus, O the Owl and Daniel himself.
Helping your children learn to be gracious in giving and receiving is a valuable life lesson. With a parent’s patient understanding, support and encouragement, children can grow up to be people who are generous themselves.
“All of us at some time or other need help,” Fred Rogers once said. “Whether we’re giving or receiving … each one of us has something valuable to bring to the world. “That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors in our own way, everyone is a giver and a receiver.”
