Parent/Guardian Letter

Dear Family,

Today, we talked about "winning" and "losing" in our classroom and we decided that no one really feels good about losing (unless, of course, they are on a diet). We all decided that winning is more fun. We also talked about how there typically are winners and losers in the games that we play, but today we discovered a new game. One in which everyone is a winner!!! The name of this game is the Giving Game and this is how it is played (see www.givinggame.org).

First—Perform a kind act for someone else, such as paying for a cup of coffee or soda for the person behind you in line. The act of kindness can be done secretly or be known to the person.

Second—Leave a Game Card with your kind act. Each Game Card has a unique ID number. Cards have instructions on the back so the person receiving the kind act knows how to play the Giving Game.

Third—The Web site can track the Card(s). Since each Game Card has a unique ID number, you can register your Card(s) at the site, allowing you to record your kind act
stories and read the stories of others. As your Card travels from one kind person to
another, you can see what's happening, who's involved and which cities and countries
it reaches!

Our hope is that everyone in our class will be able to play in this game, at least once.

As a family member, your role will be to:

1) encourage your child to participate.

2) record the GGID # on the back of the Giving Game Card for later "tracking."

3) help your child decide on a kind act that s/he can do .

4) help your child understand and give the Giving Game Card away to the person who receives their kind act.

5) if you have access to a computer and Internet, help you child log onto the www.givinggame.org Web site and record his/her kind act, OR,

6) help your child write about or illustrate their kind act and send this to his/her teacher for recording on the Web site.

7) decide if you or your child would like to continue to play the game by obtaining additional vinyl or printed Giving Game Cards from www.givinggame.org.

8) continue to support/encourage your child in doing kind acts.

We hope that you will enjoy helping your child play this Game in which everyone is a winner!

Respectfully,