Giving to others is a virtue that can arise spontaneously in children. You may have witnessed your child sharing a favorite treat or toy with a sibling or friend. Charitable giving can also be instilled and developed through intentional encouragement. Even very young children understand the purpose and the importance of giving back to others. Check out our ideas for instilling the habit of charitable giving in your child!
Match Donations
An easy way to encourage your child to start giving back is to match their donations. By matching your child’s donations, you are not only increasing the impact of their gift, but you’re also modeling the importance of sharing with others. Be creative in how you match their contributions. For every toy they donate to a good cause, can you also search for clothing, furniture, linens, or kitchen supplies that could be used by others? This approach helps establish giving to others as a shared family value.
Small Business Start-Up
Another fun way to get your child involved in giving back is to encourage their entrepreneurial spirit. There’s a reason lemonade stands and bake sales haven’t gone out of style. Not only are you fostering independence, but you’re also showing the importance of social impact! So many businesses now share a portion of their profits with charitable causes. Why shouldn’t your child’s first fundraising experience have a similar goal? Tools like GoFundMe or Kickstarter can increase the community impact of your child’s efforts.
Craft for a Cause
Children always feel proud when they learn a new skill or contribute to a project. Your child may be able to use their creativity to give back to others. Your child’s art or hand-drawn cards can cheer up a child in the hospital or an older person at a nursing home. Handmade baked goods can build neighborly love or even raise money for a good cause. If they’re learning to play an instrument, an impromptu concert could be given in honor of a foundation or a local nonprofit. Kids will see that individuals can utilize their skills, interests, and talents to support those in need.
The Gardner School Builds Strong Community Ties
Children imitate all that they see, and The Gardner School makes sure they see examples of generosity and community involvement from a very young age. We give back to our wonderful communities by pulling together to help others out. To learn more about how we give back to our communities and help little ones grow in generosity, schedule a tour to visit The Gardner School preschool location nearest you.