A Cheerful Giver - September Come Follow Me

Items Needed:

• A Cheerful Giver PDF (*FREE* on Teachers Pay Teachers)

Prayer:

Song: “Jesus Said Love Everyone” - Children’s Song Book page 61.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7 

The apostle, Paul, wrote this important principle in one of his letters: “Let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 

Ask your children what they think it means to be a cheerful giver. What does a cheerful giver look like? Discuss. Cheerful means happy, optimistic (positive attitude), bright, smily, etc. And a giver means someone that helps others.  

Opening Activity: Are You a Cheerful Giver?

Preparation: Print and cut out the fruit and baskets (pages 6-9).  Place the baskets together, so the basket looks brown on the front and back. Staple the sides and bottom of the baskets together, leaving the top open (this is so the fruit can slide into the basket).

Pretend you are at a farmer’s market. Have children take turns drawing a fruit. Read the scenario for each fruit. Emphasize that even though a fruit is doing something kind or “being a giver”, it makes a big difference whether they have a sour or cheerful attitude. Have your child determine whether the fruit had a sour or cheerful attitude. Place the sour fruit to the side and place the cheerful fruit in the basket to “take home”. 

          Paula Pineapple: Paula Pineapple’s mom asked her to help clean up her toys. Paula 

          cleaned them up (point out how she did a kind deed), but complained and had a scowl 

          on her face while she did it (point out her sour attitude). 

          Sara Strawberry: Sara Strawberry’s mom asked her to help clean up her toys. 

          Sara cleaned them up (point out how she did a kind deed), while she sang a song and 

          felt happy inside (point out her cheerful attitude). 

          Anna Apple: Anna Apple gave her sister one of her stuffed animals to play with. 

          Anna remembered how happy she is when people share with her, and wanted to 

          help her sister to feel happy, too.

          Cassidy Cherry: Cassidy Cherry and her friend got in line for ice cream at the      

          same time. Cassidy Cherry let her friend go first. Even though Cassidy Cherry really   

          wanted ice cream, she didn’t mind waiting. She liked her friend more than ice 

          cream, anyway. 

          Ollie Orange: Ollie orange went to a birthday party and gave his friend a present. All  

          he could think about is how he wished he could have kept the present for himself.

          Laura Lemon: Laura Lemon gave her little sister a marker to play with. She didn’t 

          want to share and felt mad inside. She only did, because her mom asked her to.

          Benny Banana: Benny Banana made breakfast for his brothers. He felt proud he 

          was big enough to help his mom and brothers. 

          Wally Watermelon: Wally Watermelon wrote a letter to his grandparents. He 

          remembered fun memories as he wrote the letter. He felt good inside.

Activity Options:

1. Cheerful Giver Coloring Page (page 10).

2. A Cheerful Giver Checklist (page 11). Discuss ways your family can show kindness to others. Ask your children their favorite ways to help others. It can be as simple as saying “I love you” or something bigger, like making your neighbor cookies. Write your ideas in the blank puzzle pieces. Here are some examples:

Give a compliment, share a toy, or help a sibling/friend with something.

Smile at someone. 

Say “please” and “thank you”. 

Tell someone they did a good job. 

Give a friend or family member a hug.

Invite a sibling to play with you. 

Say “I Love You."

Do a chore for a family member.

Help mom carry in the groceries.

Make breakfast for your family.

Write a thank you letter to the post man, firemen, teacher, family member or policemen.

Write and decorate an “I Love You” letter to a grandparent. 

Heart attack a family member or friend.

Make cookies and drop them off at a friend’s doorstep.

Leave a note in a library book.

Donate toys or books.

Give your teacher flowers.

As you accomplish each item, color in the coordinating puzzle piece. Continue doing acts of kindness until the entire basket is filled in. You could do one basket to complete as a family or a basket per child.

Testimony: Share an example of when you were kind to someone or when someone was kind to you and how it made you feel. It makes Heavenly Father and Jesus happy when we are kind to others and do it cheerfully.