(ARA) – Every day, American children are inundated with messages about must-have toys, computer games, designer-label apparel, and more. In a me-centered culture, it can be quite a challenge to educate children about the needs of the less fortunate in our neighborhoods and around the world.
Making charitable giving a priority can bring children a new awareness of the world and their place in it, and can instill a sense of gratitude and appreciation for what they have. World Vision, a humanitarian organization serving the worlds poorest children and families in 100 countries, including the United States, offers these five recommendations for raising charitable children:
1. Expect your children to give. Set the giving standard and see if they dont rise up to meet it. Children of all ages typically respond well to reasonable yet challenging expectations.
2. Show them what and where you give. Some people will find this difficult because we were taught from a young age to be very private about our giving. However, mentoring means modeling. Show your children what you give and where. Talk about why you give and how you chose the organizations. By introducing children to good charities and by sharing examples of giving, you will encourage trust and a sense of team spirit.
3. Match their giving. When you match your childrens giving, you begin to understand what touches their hearts and they discover that you value these things. But training children to give away your money effectively is not the same as encouraging them to be givers themselves; however, they will ultimately make personal giving decisions for themselves.
4. Take them with you on visits to charities. You may be surprised how much children learn just from being with you in any visits you make to charities. Being exposed to the work can open up a variety of ideas and conversations, and give children experiences to think about for weeks to come. In time, they will want to go on their own, and they will know what to watch and ask for.
5. Celebrate their giving. Find ways to catch children in the act of giving. Let them know you notice and approve of their giving. Keep a light attitude and an accepting countenance. Remind them that cheerful giving is one of lifes great pleasures.
Its important to talk with children about making giving a habit rather than an isolated holiday activity. By making it an ongoing habit, even if only in small ways, you are moving from a model of giving in order to receive to a compassionate way of life that they will carry with them, says Dan Rice, national director of gift planning for World Vision.
For more information on family philanthropy and options for giving through World Vision, please visit www.worldvisiongifts.org or www.worldvision.org/giftplanning.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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