As adults we tend to understand the importance of giving back to the community and the different ways we can go about it.
For kids, however, it can be a hard concept to grasp. If you’re looking to teach your children about the importance of giving back, but you’re not sure how to broach the subject in a way that makes it clear for them, then you’ll appreciate these tips.
Create a Family Donation Jar
You can get the ball rolling by involving the whole family in giving back, not just the kids.
This shows that contributing to the community is something that every member of the family should take part in, because it’s that important. If you want to be able to give a charitable donation, why not start a family donation jar?
The jar itself can be a fun project the kids can work on. Allow them to decorate it any way they want, and then make sure you leave it in a spot that is accessible to all.
Each time you give your children their allowance, or they money as a gift, it’s a good idea to encourage them to put a portion of it in the jar.
Allow them to decide what portion to give; the focus should be on the fact they are giving something and after all, every bit counts.
Volunteer as a Family
As the parent, it’s up to you to model the behaviour you want to see from your children, and what better way than to volunteer as a family?
You can volunteer at a local event, for a sports team, at a summer camp, in a retirement home or wherever you see fit. You can also involve the kids in deciding where to volunteer.
Over time, you may find yourself surprised that they start to take the initiative. They may even come up with their own ideas and start volunteering without you!
Take Part in Charity Events
Most towns and cities have a huge variety of charity events throughout the year that can end up providing a day of fun for the whole family.
Search your town’s activity boards and current events sites for activities including charity walks/runs, charity BBQs, charity bake sales and more.
It’s a wonderful way to show kids that giving back to the community is not only rewarding on the inside, but can also be a whole lot of fun.
Help Kids Find a Cause
No matter the age of your children, it’s never too early or too late to help them find a cause that they feel passionate about.
Rather than spread their efforts across a number of different charities, find out if there is one cause they strongly want to support.
If so, contributing to their passion should be encouraged, and you should help them with their research and efforts.
By showing a child the importance of giving back to the community, you’ll be doing your part to help raise an adult that will most likely be charitable the rest of his life.
Modelling the charitable behavior that you know is important for the future and making your children an active part of your own efforts (while also allowing them to investigate ways to give back on their own), will help give your little ones the knowledge and tools they need to be compassionate people in the future!
You made a lot of great points on how to teach children to give back to their community. I think it is a great idea to encourage kids to find a cause that they are passionate about. I think it would also be helpful to set an example for these kids by donating to and supporting worthy causes yourself.