Charity giving is an integral part of everyday life. Although most of us do what we can to support the causes we care about, it can be difficult to educate our children about the importance of charity and generosity.
However, the younger that they are introduced to these traits, the more likely they are to continue them through into adult life. A charitable child will make for a generous adult – helping to contribute towards a fairer, more balanced society.
Kids and Charity
Although it may not always seem like it, the majority of children are actually quite generous. Getting them to share with others may be a little bit of a challenge, but when it comes to being caring and compassionate, many youngsters naturally excel.
Educating children about the importance of charity and generosity can go a long way towards helping them learn about charity and the far-reaching benefits it can bring. Supporting others in their time of need, whether it is friends, family members, those in your local community or people further afield across the world, can be a great way to foster relationships and encourage a greater understanding of what charity can do.
Different Beliefs, Faiths and Cultures
As well as the benefits which have already been outlined above, charity can also play a significant role in educating children about diversity and the sheer variety of different beliefs, faiths and cultures which encompass our world. Although your children will know about your own family values and any beliefs you hold, how much do they know about those of their friends and neighbours?
Take the opportunity to introduce your kids to the people who they share the world with – generosity, charity, care and compassion are all admirable traits which go hand in hand and can be learned together. For instance, you could teach your children about how charity is an integral part of the Islamic faith during the month of Ramadan – see this page to learn more. Although it may be a new concept, it is the perfect way to help broaden their horizons and show them that charity is something that many people engage with.
Ways to Encourage Giving
Donating doesn’t just have to mean giving money. While financial donations can go a long way towards helping people in need across the world, charity donations can actually come in many forms. Donating food, donating unwanted items, even donating time – these are all great ways to get your little ones interested in charity and what it means to be generous. Encourage your kids to go through their toys or clothes and put aside any old or unwanted items that they can then donate to a good cause. Not only is this good for charity, but it will also help to declutter your home, too!
Aside from the traditional donation, there are plenty of other ways that you can be charitable. If you have an elderly neighbour or family member, why not go around to visit them together? A visit from an excitable youngster is sure to put a smile on their face and having someone to chat to is guaranteed to brighten their day.
For younger children, one of the best ways to learn is by example. Teach your children about the importance of charity and aim to make it a regular occurrence by helping others as much as you can. Another great idea is to create a family donation jar – encourage each member of the family to donate their loose change or if they can be convinced to part with it, a portion of their pocket money which will then be given to a charity of the family’s choice.
At the end of the day, the way in which you encourage your children to learn about generosity and the importance of charity is entirely up to you. No matter which way you choose to go about it, the benefits are clear to see, so why not take the opportunity to begin educating your kids about charity giving today?
This is a collaborative post.