Teaching your kids gratitude while also showering them with presents is one of the biggest conundrums of the holiday season. How do we inspire them to appreciate what they have when we are encouraging them to make lists for Santa at the same time?! It’s confusing! John Legend and Chrissy Teigen have a special method that can help. The EGOT winner shared their toy rule for their four kids, and we are making notes!
In an interview with Parents, the “All of Me” singer shared their family’s giving back tradition with their kids Luna, 8, Miles, 6, Esti, 22 months, and Wren, 16 months. “We, in fact, require [our kids] to give away some toys whenever we get them new toys,” Legend told the outlet. “We try to put that in practice with them, so that they understand how blessed they are, but also that they have the opportunity to help other people, and they should use that opportunity.”
I love this idea! Not only does it help clear out space in the toy room (and under the beds and in closets), but also it encourages your kids to think about the season of giving in a new way that isn’t all about them. It’s a brilliant idea all around!
Legend and Teigen also volunteer their time at the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), which offers more than 1,000 programs around the world that provides essential services to millions of families of 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren who need health care. and Legend recently performed at RMHC’s 50th Anniversary Gala in Chicago this month.
“Some of these kids are dealing with some of the most difficult treatments, like chemotherapy. Asking a kid to be brave in the face of some of these real challenges is really something,” Legend told the outlet about his work with RMHC. “Then seeing the resilience, but also just the heartbreak that parents have to go through seeing their kids struggle and face these challenges, is stunning. Honestly, it’s humbling, and it just strengthens my resolve to do whatever I can to help out.”
“This is a gift giving season; it’s also a season of gratitude,” he added. “It’s important to be grateful for what we have, and then also pay it forward by giving back, helping people that may not have all the resources that we have.”
Last November, the “L-O-V-E” crooner and Cravings author brought their eldest kids to volunteer at a local RMHC for the first time. The kids posed with their parents in matching aprons and helped make panckes, play basketball, and more with the other kids and families there.
In an interview with PEOPLE at the time, The Voice coach opened up about teaching his kids about helping others, especially at this time of year. “We try to teach them that it’s important to give back and to help other people,” he said. “They’ve gone with us to help feed people who are hungry, they’ve gone to homeless shelters with us. We try to teach them to be appreciative of what they have and also know that there are a lot of people that don’t have the privileges that they do, so we should do what we can to help them.”
