My daughter likes to play an online game from Disney called Club Penguin. It's a tightly controlled online game environment for kids. They play games to earn virtual coins which they can use to buy clothes, toys and other things for their penguins.

Holly had about 800 coins in her bank. Today, she donated all of her virtual coins to the site's Coins for Change charity drive .... all by herself with no prompting from mom. During December, the site is taking votes (in the form of virtual coin cauldrons to various booths representing the various charities) on how the kids think they should split up this year's donations of $1,000,000 in REAL money.


from the site's parent guide:

Last year, the Coins for Change campaign empowered the children who play Club Penguin to effect real change in the world.

More than 2.5 million children donated in excess of 2 billion virtual coins they earned playing games on Club Penguin to support the environment (World Wildlife Fund), children's health (treating AIDS in Africa) or children in developing countries (Adopt a Village). Through their virtual donations, the kids directed how much of a $1 million cash donation went to three charitable organizations chosen to represent those areas.

This year they can choose "kids without parents or who are hurt by war", "kids who are poor and can't go to school", and "kids who are sick". My girl choose to give some to all three. I am really proud of her charitable spirit. Although I am still of mixed feelings about Disney in general, I have to admit I am pleased to see them making global citizenship understandable and appealing to kids. I've always tried to set the example that everyone and everything is connected for her and I guess it's sinking in. If our children learn to care about people they don't know and learn to see the similarities in people everywhere, it can only help the world.

By the way, did I mention that I expect to be triumphantly presented by this same child with a report card bearing straight A's this Friday ? Yes, parents everywhere take note. BRIBERY WORKS. Now I have to make good on my promise of two Nintendo DS games. But I think STRAIGHT A's deserve that, don't you?

Okay, mom is done gushing now. Back to regularly scheduled craft talking :)