As a parent, you want your children to be happy, healthy, and successful. You probably also want your children to be kind and compassionate and to help those less fortunate. The holiday season is a great time to teach your children about need and ways they can help others. Below are some tips for helping your children understand and experience the joy of giving.
Why Give
Giving to others makes you feel good. In fact, research has shown that giving makes you happier than receiving. Humans are social beings who are wired to connect with others. Giving helps foster feelings of connection and empathy. Helping others releases oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. These feel good hormones help boost your mood and create feelings of happiness. They also help counteract the effects of the stress hormone, cortisol. Giving freely and by choice stimulates the reward center, the mesolimbic area, of the brain. The more you give, the more you want to give. When you give to someone else, it helps improve your own emotional well-being. Since giving can be so beneficial, teaching your children about giving to others makes a lot of sense.
1. Talk About Need
Talk to your children about differences in financial situations, physical ability and emotions. It can be hard for younger children to understand the concept of money. Explaining that some people don’t make enough money to buy food or live in a home, can help them begin to grasp this concept. Discuss times when your child was sick and not able to do as much to help them understand how physical limitations could impact others. Emotional differences can be explained by discussing a time when your child was very sad or nervous and how these feelings can linger for some. When explaining these differences to your child, keep in mind their age and maturity level so you can explain it in a way they can understand.
2. Be A Good Role Model
When you practice kindness and generosity yourself, your child is more likely to practice this as well. Kids learn more by watching what you do, than by what you say. Let them witness the way that you give to others. Explain to your children who you are helping and why. If you are volunteering and it is appropriate, bring your child with you. When your children see you helping out a neighbor, or donating to your local food pantry, they begin to learn the importance and the value of giving.
3. Talk About Giving
While it is vital to practice what you preach, talking about giving is also important. If giving is a family value, you can discuss with your children why it is a value, what it means to your family, and how you give. Talk to your children about the ways you give of your time, money, and energy. Encourage your children to come up with organizations and people they would like to help. Discuss as a family the best way you can help. When your children have a greater understanding about giving and how they can be involved, it will be easier for them to practice generosity.
4. Involve Your Children
Although your children may not always be able to accompany you when you volunteer, there are a number of ways that you can involve them in the giving process. If you are making dinner for a sick neighbor, they can help you cook, or help you deliver the food. They can donate part of their allowance to a charity of their choice. When it is possible and appropriate for them to go with you when you volunteer, bring them along. If your church or school has a giving tree during the holidays, you can let your child choose a name and help you shop. Involving your child when you can, helps them experience the benefits of giving as well.
5. Volunteer As A Family
Look for opportunities to volunteer as a family. This way, even your very young children can participate. There may be volunteer opportunities at animal shelters where the younger children can help socialize the animals and you and your older children can help walk or groom them. You can make care packages for soldiers stationed overseas. Your younger children can write them letters or draw them pictures and your older children can pick out useful items to include. Volunteering together creates an opportunity to bond as a family while helping others.
6. Donate
Donate items that are no longer useful to you, but may be to others. When the seasons change, you and your children can go through your clothing and donate the clothes that are in good shape but no longer fit. Explain to your children why you are donating these items and how it might help others. Have your children go through their toys and donate the ones they no longer play with. When a child receives new clothes or toys, have them also choose some to give to others. This way they experience the joy of giving as well as receiving.
7. Spend Time With Others
Giving isn’t only about donating money. Spending time with others can be just as meaningful. Your child can visit with an elderly family member and help them complete some of their household chores. They can visit with neighbors who may be feeling lonely. If your child’s sibling is sick and not contagious, they can watch a movie with them or read them a book. Spending time with others helps children practice generosity while strengthening their connections.
8. Perform Acts Of Kindness
Performing acts of kindness is another way to practice giving. Children can perform acts of kindness in a number of ways. They can surprise a family member or friend with a sweet note or drawing. Instead of rushing through the door, they can hold it open for others. They can do one of their sibling’s chores. Something as simple as a heartfelt compliment can make someone’s day and create positive feelings for both the giver and the receiver. Acts of kindness can be performed by even very young children and is a great way to practice giving.
Teaching your children about giving will have long lasting benefits. By talking to your children, involving them in the process, and modeling generosity, your children will be able to better understand the importance of giving. When they understand the benefits of giving they will be more likely to give generously and compassionately.
