A KIND-HEARTED childminder has been teaching the children she looks after that there is more to Christmas than receiving presents.

Lucy Pye, who owns Halstead-based Little Ducklings, has enlisted the help of a ‘Snow Angel’ who gives children a task each day.

So far the children, mainly aged under five, have donated a hamper to the RSPCA, put a gift under the giving tree at Freeport, given a box of biscuits to the fireman at Halstead fire station and taped 50ps to the parking metre in Sainsbury’s car park for anyone a bit short of change.

But the tasks can be as simple as smiling at everyone you see throughout the day, with the aim of teaching the children that Christmas is about giving and not just receiving.

Mrs Pye said: “At this age the children don’t always have a massive understanding of Christmas.

“They know that every year Father Christmas comes and gives them presents, but hopefully this teaches them that it is about giving too.

“It is a good will gesture a day really.”

The concept is similar to the hugely popular Elf on a Shelf, where an elf sits in the house and feeds back to Father Christmas how good or bad the children are.

Mrs Pye and the kids are taking part in Elf on a Shelf, but she came up with the concept of the Snow Angel to encourage the children to partake in good deeds.

Similar to Elf of a Shelf, the Snow Angel will feed back to Father Christmas how the children have done completing the tasks.

Mrs Pye added: “It is the idea of paying it forward, and that they will be rewarded for good deeds.

“The children have actually really enjoyed it.

“They have been taking it in turns to pick a task out of the Snow Angel’s bowl, and they have enjoyed going out and completing the tasks.

“It is a little bit different and shows how people can benefit from your kindness.”