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. [Read more…]