David Henrie on Teaching His Kids the 'Responsibility' of Giving Back During the Holiday Season (Exclusive)

The 'Wizards of Waverly Place' alum is dad to three kids — daughters Pia, 4, and Gemma, 17 months, and son James, 2

David Henrie has come a long way since his time on Wizards of Waverly Place — but he's making sure that he's still keeping his magic alive.

Since losing the family wizard battle to Selena Gomez in the 2021 finale of the Disney show, the actor, 34, has welcomed three of his own little wizards — Pia, 4, James, 2, and Gemma, 17 months, who he shares with wife Maria Cahill, 32.

Chatting with PEOPLE about his partnership with MGA Entertainment and their Little Tikes Story Dream Machine toy, Henrie opened up about the magic of his family's holiday season, which includes teaching his kids the joy of giving back.

"We will do this thing where, from usually just after Thanksgiving, we have nothing on the tree. So, the tree will be empty and the kids can fill up the tree by doing good acts," the actor explains.

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Related: 'Wizards of Waverly Place' Alum David Henrie and Wife Maria Cahill Expecting a Son

"Leading up until Christmas, we have the ornaments hidden in a place. If they have good behavior or they do good acts, then we'll reward them with an ornament and then they get to pick where the ornament goes on tree."

Even if his little ones step out of line, the star says he's found a way to instill gratitude in his brood.

Speaking about becoming an ambassador for the Box of Joy Initiative, Henrie explains that they "make gifts for third-world countries."

Henrie says he packed a box with his older daughter and son, hand-delivering the toys on a recent trip to the Dominican Republic.

"They got to see children who would never have been given a gift," Henrie says. "My children got to witness their present going to this person. It provoked all sorts of wonderful conversations about giving, about helping those in need about what poverty is. That we have a responsibility and what our responsibility is to help those in need."

"My daughter all the time asks now, she's only 4, so she asked about the girl with no presents. 'How is the girl with no presents? Where is she? Where is her mama? Is she okay?' It just was a really healthy conversation to have with our kids."

As for toys for his own kids, Henrie tells PEOPLE that his kids have been obsessed with MGA Entertainment's Little Tikes Story Dream Machine. "Story time was always extemporaneous before, I would either make it up or I'd have a book, but this Story Dream Machine in particular is a way to give them something very entertaining," the proud father says.

"Also, I get a little break too because you just hit play on it, but it doesn't have the drawbacks of an iPad or a screen, a laptop. They're not getting hit with blue light which throws off their circadian rhythm. It really is a win-win."

Explaining that their family tends to lean towards being a screen-free household, Henrie says that he loves this toy in particular because it helps kids develop their ability to identify words.

"It's fun. We turn the lights off, it's exciting. We get under the covers, we put the projector either on the roof or on a wall or on a little blanket. It really is a blast. I get to read stories that I grew up with, like The Berenstain Bears. And I get to breathe and I get to relax, because it's always a long day with little ones."

Since he's often off wrangling three little ones, the actor and his wife have developed a few parenting hacks that they swear by.

"Just being present with them," Henrie says, describing how he and his wife have chosen to be off their phones around their kids.

"Then the other thing is date nights with the kids. Especially if you have more than one kid, setting aside a specific day of the week where you just go for 30 minutes and do something with them," he explains. "Whether it's get ice cream or take them to dinner or take them to breakfast, or something like that, helps develop an individual relationship with that child. That bond is something very, very valuable."

Henrie's kids each have a special activity they love doing with their dad. "My daughter likes ice cream, so she is always wanting ice cream," he says. "She puts on a pretty dress and she goes, 'Papa, you put on your suit jacket.'"

"My son just wants to go hunt dragons," Henrie continues. "I"ll take him and then we'll draw a dragon on a cardboard box and I'll go hide it somewhere and then he and I just go hunting for the dragon. My 1-year-old, she's too little for date nights, but when she gets a little older, I'll do something with her."

For Henrie's family, Christmas comes with multiple celebrations. His son James was born on Christmas Day, so the actor and his wife work hard to make sure the day is extra special for their little one.

"We call the big prime rib roast James's Prime Rib, and that's our family tradition on Christmas," the dad of three explains. "We just stuck the prime rib in the oven and then my wife was like, 'We got to go. I'm giving birth.' I was like, 'What? No way.'"

"I grabbed Christmas lights and I ran her to the hospital, I decorated the hospital room. Then my dad and brother very kindly came to my house where the prime rib was and they ate it. They brought me a cold bone at the hospital after my wife gave birth. So, that's how James's Prime Rib began."

As for this Christmas, Henrie is hoping for a calm staycation with his kids. "I want to do nothing," he jokes.

"I just want to stay in the house and be with my family. [And] eat a lot of food."

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