There are some fun ways to make sure your kids understand the concept and joy of giving money or charity as well as supporting those who need it most in our communities.
Teaching your children to give money is not as straightforward as teaching them to save or spend their money in the Save, Share, Spend, and Show process. This task involves teaching your kid to understand why charity is important and establishing a general sense of empathy and a joy of giving to the world around them. There are some fun ways to make sure your kids understand the concept and joy of giving money or charity as well as supporting those who need it most in our communities. If you need help, you can always reach out to your Mary Rigg Financial Coach for strategies on how to do that.
Teach the Joy of Giving
As you raise your kids, there are traits you teach your kids like kindness or a strong work ethic. Teaching your kids to give generously is just as important. This can look like teaching them how to share their toys or to share quality time, depending on their age range. Explaining why it is important to share these things at an early age will make it easier to explain why it is important to share funds in the future.
If your kids are older, you can teach them the joy of giving through activities like a gratitude journal. Encourage your kid to write down all the things they are grateful for each day or week. There are studies that show that teaching your kids to track what they are grateful for helps them to be more generous adults.
Make it an Activity
Some kids are hands on learners, making fun activities ideal for teaching your kids to share for charity. If your kids get an allowance or are paid from things like babysitting, you can teach them to set a little of that money aside to give to a cause. Help them put together a “donation jar” where they can put that money and once it fills up, help them decide where to give. You can make it fun by turning it into a craft and helping them decorate the jar.
Explore ways to give without Money
There are ways to teach the joy of giving whether or not you have money to spare. Many non-profit organizations, including Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center, offer ways for kids and teens to be involved in volunteering. Work together to find a cause to volunteer for and do it together.
Other ways to show giving is through small acts of kindness to those in your life. For example, you can include them when showing up for those in your life are going through a hard time. If you are making food for a family friend who is struggling, include your kids in the process of making the food and taking it to your loved one (if appropriate) and explain why you are bringing them food. This is a great way to set an example of generosity that doesn’t involve money.
Empower your Kids
Empower your kids to make a difference in their world. Encouraging your kids and making sure they know that they too can make a difference no matter their age, will help them be active givers as they grow. Every little bit counts and their contributions to helping the world might be exactly what someone else needs. Encourage your kids to think of ways to help those around them on their own and this will stay with them as adults.
Teaching your kids about the joy of giving can make a difference in their lives and the world around them. If you need help budgeting to set aside money to give, you can contact a Mary Rigg Financial Coach for help.
Resources:
https://meetfabric.com/blog/teaching-empathy-to-kids-charity
https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-teach-kids-about-charity-2085333
https://www.all4kids.org/news/blog/national-philanthropy-month-how-to-teach-kids-about-charity/
The impact of gratitude on adolescent materialism and generosity. – PsycNET (apa.org)
