Showing Her the Joy of Giving Back
We hear many parents say they love providing a better life for their kids by giving them all the things that they (the parents) never had when they were growing up. This can include everything from more toys to a new car to a chance at a college education.
Of course, many of these same parents want to make sure their kids appreciate all the gifts they’re given, too. It’s a definite balancing act: how much is too much, and how do you make sure your children, especially younger ones, “get” the value of each gift they receive? How do you make sure your kids learn to appreciate what they have and understand the importance of helping those who are less fortunate?
One way is to involve kids in volunteering efforts and charitable giving. Here are some simple ways to show your FPgirl (and your whole family) the joy of giving back along with some of our fave charities that can make the whole concept “real” for kids.
1. Remember, charity involves more than monetary donations. While donating money is certainly important for so many charities, teaching kids the importance of donating their time is important, too. It’s also something that’s easier for kids to grasp, since they can often see and experience the positive results of their “donation.” For example, local nursing homes often welcome kids, or kids’ groups like Daisy Scouts, to participate in activities with seniors. Seeing seniors laugh and smile can be a great way for kids to understand how spending time with others is a great way to give back. Need more ideas? A great resource is Volunteer Match. You input your location and interests, and it will let you know the types of volunteer opportunities that are available in your area.
2. Put it into practice, and not just during the holidays. It’s easy to bring up the concept of giving back during the holidays, but to really drive the concept home, it’s important to talk about charitable giving – and practice it – throughout the year. For example, food banks often receive plenty of donations during the holidays, yet a time of year when they really struggle is during the summer, since the media isn’t focused on the food banks’ needs and because school is out (meaning kids who normally rely on breakfast programs might not have access to enough food during July and August, driving up the demand on food banks). Making a trip to the grocery store with your girl and picking out some non-perishable food items and then delivering it to your local food bank is a great, easy way to show her how important it is to think about others all year long.
3. Follow your kids’ leads, especially when it comes to natural disasters. When a disaster like Super Storm Sandy strikes, it can leave us reeling with feelings of helplessness. The same can be true with our kids, depending on how much they see or hear about it. Even if you shield them from the gory details at home, chatter on the bus or on walks to school can have them coming home with questions. Use your judgment when it comes to what you discuss, but also consider following their lead, too. If your child feels especially out of sorts, doing some sort of charitable giving—whether it’s asking your child if she wants to give her allowance as a donation or it’s putting together care packages for disaster victims—can be empowering and can help your child (and you) feel a little less helpless.
4. Find charities that mesh with your child’s interests. For example, is your little one always talking about recycling and other green initiatives? Check out Earth Day events in April and see if she would like to participate.
5. Make sure you do a little homework before committing to a charity. A great resource to always consult is Charity Navigator, which describes itself as, “America’s largest independent charity evaluator.”
Interesting Charities for Kids
1. Heifer International. Heifer International provides “gift animals” to needy families in developing countries in an effort to support its mission of ending world hunger and providing the means for sustainable living. For example, the gift of a “goat” to a family in a remote village can be huge since the goat can provide milk and a way for the family to make money (by turning the milk into butter and cheese and selling these items). It’s a “fun” gift for little ones, since the gift catalog is all about choosing an animal to give to a family. Animal gifts range from honey bees to buffalos (and all sorts of animals in between).
2. Smile Train. Smile Train describes itself as, “An international charity that provides cleft palate surgery to those in need, as well as providing training to doctors in the region.” This can be a good choice if your child expresses interest in helping another child. Giving the gift of a smile and laughter can be one of the greatest gifts of all.
3. Charities started by kids. Over on the Style Mag, we posted an article for our FPgirls about three charities that were founded by kids (all of whom happen to be girls): Cell Phones for Soldiers, The Ladybug Foundation and Alex’s Lemonade Stand. These charities provide a great opportunity to have a conversation with your kids about how everyone, no matter how young or old, can make a difference.
So tell us, FPgirl moms and dads: have you involved your kids in any volunteer efforts or charitable giving? Do you have any favorite charities? We want to hear them! Share your ideas and experiences in the comments.
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