Raising kind and generous children is the goal of most parents, but teaching them about charity and philanthropy can be a tricky task. Starting a dialogue with your child about money at an early age will help to normalize financial matters and create a foundation for charitable giving. However, teaching children the importance of charity and generosity without overwhelming them with the realities of the world can be complicated. To make this easier, here are a few strategies for teaching kids about philanthropy and how to get them involved in the conversation about giving back to those in need.
Explain Charity
Charity starts with small acts of kindness. Teaching kids about charity begins with a simple explanation – it’s about helping out those in need. Give them everyday examples they can understand, such as a friend who might be feeling down or an elderly neighbor that needs help. Show them how generous and considerate these actions are and praise them for their thoughtfulness. Letting them know that their acts of kindness are considered charity will make them more aware of the importance of helping others.
Nurture a Sense of Gratitude
When it comes to developing kind, compassionate children, gratitude is an important behavior to emphasize. Explain to your child that, although some may have more than them, many still have less. Emphasize how fortunate they are to have basic necessities such as shelter and food. Lead by example and show appreciation for the little things to illustrate the importance of being grateful. Ask your child what they may be thankful for, or have them list some positive things that happened during their day. Doing this will help foster a sense of gratitude and lead to a desire to give back.
Show Your Child the Good, in the Bad
Your child will probably hear about some major tragedy that happened in the world; use this as an opportunity to show them the generosity people can show. Share with them the stories in the news about the people who are actively helping those affected by this tragedy. Inspire them to donate canned food to their school drive, or suggest other ways they could help, like writing letters of encouragement. Let your child know that there is good in the world, despite any bad events that take place.
Get Them Involved
You can get your child involved in giving back to the community without any specific event prompting them to donate. On cold days, why not give out something hot like coffee or cocoa for the neighborhood workers, mailmen, or police officers? On hot days, distribute something cool like lemonade or water. Have your child pick up litter in your local community. Alternatively, requesting donations to charity instead of birthday gifts is a great way to start teaching kids about philanthropy. You can even call up your local pet shelter to see if you can spend some time with and care for the animals there. There are always opportunities to help out around the neighborhood, whether it’s cleaning up after a storm, shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor, or raking their leaves.
Donate Money
To incorporate philanthropy into their daily routines, consider using the 3-Piggy-Bank System: Save, Spend, Share. After your child gets money through allowance or gifts, ask them to split the money between three piggy banks. Let them decide what they want to do with their “share” jar, whether it be buying food for the local animal shelter or donating to a charity they care about. This will help them understand the power money can have in making a positive difference in the world and teach them the importance of philanthropy.