If there’s one life lesson that I want to be sure to teach my boys, it’s that little actions can end up having a big impact on our communities and on the world. Last year, P&G and Walmart partnered to demonstrate that fact with the Clean Water campaign. For each participating P&G product purchased at Walmart, P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water provided one day of clean drinking water to those in impoverished countries. This year the campaign is once again in full swing with a goal to provide 25 million days of clean drinking water to those in need.
Obviously buying my favourite P&G products at Walmart is one of the easiest ways I can make a big difference in a small way, but there are plenty of other occasions when small actions can impact the community and the world. These are three methods I’ve found effective for helping my boys understand that fact.
Community Programs
Both of my boys are participating in the Scouts Canada program for the first time this year, and it has been a great way to get them involved in community initiatives in a fun way. When learning about needs vs. wants to earn a badge, the children decided to choose a charity to support and find a way to contribute. The Regina Food Bank was the charity of choice and to make the boys’ contribution especially meaningful, each was encouraged to bring their favourite non-perishable food to donate. I loved the idea of donating a favourite food because it’s also a way of teaching kids how lucky they are to have favourite foods at home when others don’t even have enough to eat.
Everyday Actions
There are all kinds of little ways to help out our community every day and one of the easiest ones I’ve found is to take a small garbage bag along on walks. The kids from the high school tend to throw their garbage everywhere and so my boys and I will pick up the trash as we walk downtown to get the mail or as I walk them home from school. A pair of gardening gloves and a small grocery bag are all that’s needed to keep our town looking great. It takes just seconds and it helps teach my boys that there is value in keeping their town beautiful even if they weren’t the ones that made the mess.
Choosing a Cause
Kids can have a hard time when it comes to actually giving away their own money, and my boys are no exception. Letting them be involved in choosing which cause they want to support makes a big difference in their willingness to contribute. Donating a portion of their allowance is expected, but they are allowed to choose where it goes. My animal-loving youngest son loves knowing that the money he gives to the WWF Canada helps animals. And my active oldest son likes the idea of helping kids play sports by supporting Canadian Tire Jumpstart. Sometimes when the chance arises, I’ll even take a few dollars of the boys’ donation money and let them enjoy a Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie while knowing they’re supporting a great cause at the same time!
There are so many amazing and fun ways to give back and the Clean Water campaign by P&G and Walmart Canada is certainly one of my favourites. To celebrate this fabulous initiative, P&G Canada has a great giveaway just for you! One lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader is going to win a P&G Clean Water Prize Pack containing a Swiffer Sweep & Trap Starter Kit, Mr. Clean Antibacterial Multi-Surfaces Liquid Cleaner, Tide Pods Spring Meadow, Dawn Ultra Original Scent with Active Suds Dishwashing Liquid, Febreze Extra Strength, Febreze Air Effects Unstopables Fresh, Febreze Air Effects Unstopables Lush, Febreze Air Effects Unstopables Shimmer, Febreze Candle Unstopables Fresh, Febreze Candle Unstopables Lush, Febreze Fabric Refresher Unstopables Lush, Febreze Fabric Refresher Unstopables Shimmer, Febreze Noticeables Unstopables Fresh, Febreze Noticeables Unstopables Fresh – Refill and Febreze Noticeables Unstopables Shimmer, a $120 total value! To enter to win, just leave a blog comment about how you teach your kids to give back!
The P&G Clean Water campaign runs until March 19, 2015, so make sure to stock up on all your favourite P&G products at Walmart stores or online at Walmart.ca before then. Just by purchasing the top products your family already uses, you’ll be helping to ensure that children around the world have clean, safe water to drink. It’s one of the easiest ways to make a big difference in the world!
Florence C says
My children are adults and I am proud that that they do give back. I did something right.
Susan Spidle says
by volunteering my time to the Riverport Fire Dept. breakfast.
joy says
we talk about stories we see on the news; we participate locally in our community (ie cleaning up the neighborhood, making donations)
MaryG. says
As a family we spend time at the women’s senior center, either cooking or baking foods for the elders in our community.
tanyab79 says
By donating and helping others.
Angela Mitchell says
We participate in fundraisers several times a year. We donate items quite often and my kids are encouraged to share their items.
Clair P says
we clean up garbage, help keep the earth clean and donating stuff to others, also at this moment have my oldest shoveling the snow for the older people around here
Stephanie Dawe says
By donating our time to help the community!
Glogirl says
I don’t have kids but I would teach them by leading by example. For example, donating clothing, food, volunteering.
Suzie M says
We like to donate food & toys at pet shelters, the kids are so empathetic
LILLIAN BROWN says
Our whole family give back so they learn by example
SweetPanda says
I told them that we are very lucky and we should help others as well. We donate toys and my daughter donate each week at her Sunday school. I have been telling them that the amount of your donation does not matter, just give what we can to help out
ivy pluchinsky says
by volunteering and donating toys and coats
Lynda Cook says
I taught my children to donate and to help out whenever it is possible and not to throw out anything that is still in awesome shape, to donate it instead!!
Louise Gilbert says
BY volunteering my time at their school during hot lunches, coach the volleyball team, and also by volunteering at the local fire hall
Andrew P says
By volunteering there time to to the community
Christina DaSilva says
Right now they are young but my in November she coloured some pictures for some kids in church and we donated clothes (which he helped chose) and we collected canned foods for a shelter our church works for.
Susan Patterson says
Our children give back by donating time and financially – thanks!
MGibb says
Volunteering and visiting elderly
lynn clayton says
MY SON SAVES PART OF HIS ALLOWANCE FOR CHARIY ONCE A MONTH HE DONATES TO A CHARITY HE LIKES THIS MONTH ITS WWF
ginette4 says
My girls give back through numerous agencies in our city..whether it’s the food drive, the coat drive or time needed they are always helping out
andrea amy says
We donate to the food bank and the church whenever they do their drives, and we donate their used clothing and toys that still have lots of life in them to value village or the salvation army.
Jonnie says
I teach my kids about giving back by talking to them about struggles they may not face, but others do. One of the things we do regularly is pick up some items for the food bank each week at the grocery store. The kids also participate in food, clothing and toy drives through their schools.
Gillian says
By donating toy that she no longer plays with.
kristen visser says
my daughters are still really young but I have been trying to teach my older daughter to donate her clothes and toys
Heather Howard says
I teach my kids to give back buy handing down their toys and clothes to some local children who do not have much. They also will make little cards for people at the senior’s home.
Amy C says
I teach my kids to give back by donating used clothes and toys.
Vesper Meikle says
encourage nephews and nieces to give their unwanted toys and clothes to others
Vivian D. says
We always give to the food bank and salvation army
409cope says
My boys would always put a portion of their allowance into a charity box.
Dayna Wilson says
There was recently a big fire in our neighbourhood and a lot of families lost their homes. We took some donations down and I explained to my 2 year old about helping out others in times of need. He seemed to get the concept pretty well.
Jeannie says
WE always bring our kids with us when we make food or clothing donations. I also take the kids to our local seniors centres with cookies we’ve made to share .
charityk says
we donate to goodwill
Jolie says
I involve them as much as I can in charity activities, encourage them to donate their toys and clothes & help out at the Food Bank.
D Gibb says
Volunteer
Athena says
We donate at different times of year.
maria says
We donate a lot of stuff they no longer use or need.
J says
We donate regularly to food banks and local charities.
Jennifer P. says
Right now they are still quite young, so we are starting small. We often go through their toys and cull what isn’t age appropriate any more, or what they don’t play with anymore. Then we take them with us when we go to donate them. Also, at Christmas time we buy toys and food for the food bank and take them with us when we donate them. They get really excited about doing that.
Tanis says
My son is too young to know right now, but we would start with his toys as we have been given a lot, so he will pass those on.
Sunshine G says
We read stories about giving.
Victoria Ess says
We donate to shelters once a year.
Rebby says
Teaching your ids by leading by example is the best way!
Amie says
We have volunteered together , we shovel for our elderly neighbours and we try to get involved in a variety of charities that way the see there is lots of ways to make a change !
SueSueper says
I teach my kids to give back by having them do volunteer work, and/or come with me.
Lisa H says
We volunteer for community drives such as Christmas hamper set-up so our child sees and understands how important it is to give back.
nicolthepickle says
I encourage them to share with others.
Soozle says
I dont have children of my own; but I have volunteered at various fundraising events with my bff’s little ones
Carol Denny says
My grandchildren help clean up the garbage along the bike path every spring
lori b says
by collecting our recyclable cans and bottles and when taking them to depot picking a charity to donate them to