A Selfless Generation: Learning To Teach Children About Charitable Giving

In today’s culture of “Greed is Good” and “Dog Eat Dog” life, it can be pretty hard to teach children about charitable giving. To be nice these days is seen by kids as being “lame” or “un-cool”, and too often, can be misunderstood by other people as being a doormat or worse. I saw this as a challenge, when I saw my kids fight over the last cookie. They were so adamant about what was theirs that they couldn’t even get to an amicable solution. If they were so steadfastabout items that were “theirs”, I found it a good idea to get rid of the “MINE!” culture around our household.

It was a struggle at first, teaching my children how to be more giving, as kids their age (3 and 6) were used to fighting over everything. But little by little, I got them to share with each other. Even better, they were sharing with others less fortunate than them. Here is what worked in our household:

Teach by example.

My children see me rooting through my clothes each season to give to the Salvation Army, and I was delighted to see that after a few times of seeing me give my old clothes away, they wanted to do the same. Children are often fascinated with what their parents are doing, and are keen to imitate them. Show them the charitable things you do as a parent, and they will be most likely, interested in doing them as well. It could be as simple as giving away a few dollars on the church collection plate, to giving boxes out to Goodwill.

Explain what you’re doing and why.

Children are always curious about the why, what, where and how’s of the world, so always be vigilant in explaining your actions to your kids. Tell them why you responded to that neighbor that knocked on the door asking for help after their house caught on fire. Speak to them about the struggles of Aunt Linda during the recession, and why you’re giving them a helping hand in chores or babysitting their cousins when she is off finding work. You don’t have to give them each detail, or tell them everything, just explain to them, the most you
can, about why you want or need to do these things.

Show them how it works.

Step by step (with as much detail as possible and without scaring, or getting them too exposed to the world outside) show them how it works to give. Take them with you when you donate to the Salvation Army. Bring them the next time you volunteer at the soup kitchen to observe how things are going. When you throw a Christmas party for the underprivileged children of your parish or neighborhood, let them help in the details. Show them how much happiness a charitable gift can give people, and let them experience it firsthand. This year, for instance, I intend to involve Brandon and Sam in our neighborhood charity event by asking them if there are any of their old toys that they want to share with other kids.

Here are a few charitable activities you can do as a family:

• Spring cleaning giving to the Salvation Army – Clean out your closets while giving your unneeded clothes to the less fortunate will be a good bonding activity for the whole family. A clean house and a warm feeling in each heart are the best effects of this activity.
• Help your elders – It can be their grandparents, or other people’s grandparents, but volunteering at an old folks home can be a truly gratifying activity for the whole family. Encourage them to get to know the older generation, and give the grandpas and grandmas of others a smile on their face, with your kids providing the laughter.
• Gather in times of crisis – The global community is experiencing natural disaster over natural disaster, and seeing these unfold on our television screens can be unnerving for anyone. Get your children to be charitable to people across the world by sharing their allowances, or participating in fundraising activities like bake sales or car washes in the community, to show them how people help each other, even from thousands of miles
  away.

Charitable giving is a rewarding activity that will show your children that they are not alone in this world, and that even though they are going through difficulty and hardship, there is always someone who has it worse and deserves a helping hand going through it. As early as today, teach your kids to love others and give back to see them grow into generous, heartwarming adults.

Isabella York is a working mother who dedicated to teaching her children the importance of being self-less. She works for Balsam Hill, a purveyor of Artificial Christmas Trees in traditional and modern styles, and assorted other Christmas Trees.

Molly’s Babies

Started by a grandmother in honor of her granddaughter who died of SIDS at the age of six weeks, Molly’s Babies is looking for donations of new or gently used dolls for little girls who cannot afford one.    For additional details and information on how you can help visit http://mollysbabies.org/index.php.

A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan

Inspired? Learn more about how you can join our team and support the Kiva organization.

A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan from Kieran Ball on Vimeo.

Families Helping Families

We have added a lot of new products over the past year, but we are proudest of the latest product, our grocery tote bags.  And the reason we are so proud is that we will be donating 100% of the profits from each sale of the grocery tote bags to Kiva.org.  Kiva.org is an online micro lending organization that connects people around the world in an effort to alleviate poverty.  Everytime you purchase a grocery tote bag from us we will donate all of the profits to Kiva.  We do not take any of the profits nor do we charge any type of administrative cost.  It’s just that simple.  We will make periodic updates to our blog about our progress or you can visit our community lending page to see our progress.

American Diabetes Association’s Step Out To Fight Diabetes

Here is a great opportunity for your family to get involved in your community and support a great cause.

This year, more than 3,500 area residents will come together on Saturday, October 27, 2008 at 3rd Street and Pennsylvania Ave, NW to raise funds for Step Out to Fight Diabetes.  Formerly known as America’s Walk for Diabetes, Step Out to Fight Diabetes is a whirlwind day packed with energy, fun, support for others and a perfect amount of selfless dedication.  Step Out is the fund-raising walk of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and all funds raised from Step Out to Fight Diabetes are used in support of the Association’s mission: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Be a part of the cure-Step Out to Fight Diabetes-and start raising money today!  To register, volunteer or find out more information, please visit diabetes.org/stepout or call 1-888-DIABETES.

RandomKid

RandomKid’s mission is to take the goodness of the child and turn it into goodness for the world by helping kids help others. Right now we could really use help from family’s all across the USA to do something rather simple BEFORE JUNE FIRST!

Please go to www.randomkid.org/gulf.html and have your child or a group of children enter the “decorate your governor” contest to bring awareness to the continuing need in the gulf post-Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. You don’t have to buy anything. Simply make a design (instructions are on the site) and fill out the form. If you win, RandomKid will send you the basic materials you’ll need for your design, and then the child (or group of children) just needs to “get ready for his/her closeup”– to hopefully have a “photo-op” with your state’s governor and possibly the media on the 2nd anniversary of Katrina, August 29, 2007.

Poway Family Focus Night – A Community Non-Event for Families

After a year of meeting, discussing, and planning, the City of Poway California has successfully initiated their first Family Focus Night.  A night scheduled for May 22nd, where families are free of any organized sports, church, or school activities.  A night where families are just free to spend together and just be.

Faced with demanding and busy schedules, some Poway leaders were becoming increasingly concerned with the fast pace of their family lives and their inability for quality family time.  So they decided to do something about it by organizing their first ever Family Focus Night.  Working with schools, churches, businesses, and sports organizations, leaders of this city worked tirelessly to gain their support and agreement that on Monday, May 22nd from 5 – 9pm there would be nothing scheduled for parents or kids of Poway.  Families are free to eat dinner together, plan family activities, and spend the evening doing things together as a family.

A simple idea, that probably 10 years ago didn’t require an organized effort to make happen…..

Remember, your kids will thank you for those little things later.

You Have Got to Be Joking, A Day Spa’s for 8 Year Olds?

I ran across this article at the Boston Globe and had to share. The article is in the Boston Globe business section and talks about the upcoming trend in “Girl-geared Spas”, spas that cater to girls ages 4 – 12. It seems that “girl-geared spas” are the latest trend in the $11 billion spa industry. I mean really a pedicure for a 4 year old? They have been only walking for 3 years, how much work really needs done?

What kind of message does a parent send when they lay out a $100 for their 8 year old’s spa visit? It just doesn’t seem right that we have come to live in a society where 8 year old girls are being treated to spa visits while other 8 year old girls are going without a warm meal and warm clothing. That same $100 would have bought at least 5 warm outfits for a homeless child, but instead we spend it on a pedicure and manicure for a child that really doesn’t understand what it means to go hungry or be cold. They’re joking right?

Families with Purpose

Free Amber Alerts on Your Cell

Saving a Life is a Text Message Away – Help protect our children:

RadioShack and Cingular Wireless are aiding in the fight to stop child abduction. Sign up now to receive FREE AMBER Alerts on your cell phone! Do your part today to keep our children safe!
http://www.hypemakers.net/ccg4/go.php?v=t22&adv=5124

Family Activities

The Fort Street Open Door Program Needs Help

The Fort Street Open Door program in Detroit is in desperate need of coats and warm clothing for adults. The Open Door program is an outreach ministry of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church in Detroit, Michigan that provides food and clothing to the poor and disadvantaged of Detroit. You can easily donate a coat or clothing to the organization by shopping on-line at Target or Wal-Mart and have the items shipped directly to the organization. Their mailing address is Fort Street Presbyterian Church, 631 West Fort Street, Detroit MI 48226. Or you can call them at 313-961-4533 and ask for John Heiss.

Community Service Ideas for Kids and Families

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