Sharing is caring. In addition to the positive psychological and physical benefits of charity and giving, teaching children to be philanthropic can promote social responsibility and encourage compassion and empathy.
- Increasing the awareness around the struggles and challenges faced by others can promote a sense of understanding, compassion, and empathy.
- The ability to leave the world a better place can be empowering and encourages social responsibility.
- Giving stimulates the brain’s reward center boosting self-esteem and elevates happiness leading to a “helper’s high”.
- Engaging in philanthropic activity can also help to develop lifelong skills like leadership, problem-solving and teamwork.
Take steps to create a culture of giving and instilling generosity:
- Do not shy away from talking about real life issues and hardships that others are facing. Talk about how the people affected might be feeling and suggest how they might be helped.
- Talk directly about your personal views on giving and the positive impacts of helping others. Discuss how it makes you feel and why it is important.
- Make a big deal when your children display charitable behavior by celebrating and acknowledging their acts of kindness.
- Find volunteer opportunities and make it part of your family’s giving routine.
- Set a time on a regular basis (maybe at Sunday dinner) for each family member to express gratitude, an essential component of giving.
Below are some practical ways of instilling the value of charitable giving:
- Gather items around the house for donation; include your child in the process and have them identify toys and clothes that they would like to give. Have them go with you to make the donation.
- Consider giving your children an allowance that including money for charitable donations. Tap into what your children care about and help them research a charity.
- During special occasions or a holiday, give them a small amount for charitable purpose. Set aside time to have a giving discussion to talk about their choices and why they selected those charities.
- If your children already allocate a portion of their money to charity, consider matching their gift to help maximize their contribution.
After making donations or volunteering reinforce the value by discussing the experience:
- How will your donation help somebody?
- How do you think that will make them feel?
- How do you feel after giving/sharing?
Teaching to give and share is not limited to contributing to charitable organizations. When discussing what it means to be charitable, expand the definition to include good deeds and acts of kindness, such as:
- Helping the environment by turning off the lights or recycling
- Assisting a neighbor carry their groceries or cooking them a meal
- Adopting a dog from a shelter instead of a pet shop
- Helping a sibling with a chore or by sharing a toy
- Cleaning up litter in your community
- Doing a household chore without being asked
This allows them to see the impact of charity and ways to practice giving in everyday life.
Another way to encourage charitable behavior is to create a “sharing challenge” in which the children must share or do a good deed once a day for a week. To make it more interesting, have the entire family could participate.
Throughout the week, set aside time each day to discuss what action was taken:
- What was shared or done?
- Why did they choose to share or do?
- Was that item/act special to them?
- How did the other person feel?
- How did they feel after sharing or doing the good deed?
Be sure to show enthusiasm and celebrate their actions.
Instilling the value of charity in children will help to develop compassionate and empathetic adults with a sense of social responsibility. Not only will the community benefit, but by making a difference, they will find greater fulfillment and sense of purpose.