My husband and I feel it is right to help others whenever we can
and to give of our time, talent and treasure. We believe our
lives are richer when we share. We also believe teaching our
children these values will help them learn how to appreciate
what they have, focus less on selfishness and find greater
fulfillment and purpose in all they do. When we teach our kids
about giving, I think it is important to break down the ways in
which we can contribute in society.

Giving treasure means just that, giving a portion of our income
or giving some of our belongings away. Giving of our talent
means teaching others our skills in order to help support and
build self-esteem and self-reliance. Giving time seems to mean
simply volunteering; but it is so much more. It means stopping
to help someone, listening when someone needs to talk or calling
around to help find a solution for someone else's problem.

Several years ago, when our oldest children were six and
seven, we adopted a family-meeting style of selecting charities.
Once or twice a year, when we decide to make donations, we
explain to the kids how much money was earned and
how much was set aside to be distributed to help others. Our
kids understand better now that they practice the three-envelope
method of money management: Some to save, some to charities
and some to spend and enjoy. When our kids go to church they
are expected to bring their own money as an offering.

Our children understand our values: We focus on organizations
that provide for basic needs of children and families. The first
few meetings the boys just listened, but recently they have become
more proactive during selection and even make ther own suggestions
for causes to which we could donate.

I believe that teaching children to think of others gives them a
sense of empowerment that they can make a difference in the
world. Our local newspaper sometimes does a story on a local
teenager who is working to help others in some special way and
we discuss these or read the article to them at dinner.

When we go through the toys and clothes to donate we are careful
to select items we know will be of value to someone else.
Broken toys are thrown away. The kids are expected to donate
toys that still have plenty of use left in them. My boys seems
to have an easier time letting go of things if they know they
will go to good use.

We also have been creative in the way we encourage giving. When
the boys have a birthday and get too many gifts, they select
only a portion of the ones they really would like to keep. The
rest are given to a nearby child crisis center, where kids go
after they have been removed from an abusive home before they
are placed in foster care. The boys feel great about it. We
even talked about throwing a birthday party for kids in the
shelter!

Another favorite charitable program we have done for three years
is the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoebox
Gifts Program. This is perfect for even a preschooler to become
involved in. In our family, each child got one shoebox and got
to decide which age group to pack for and they helped me shop
for the items and pack the boxes. They cut out the tag and
enclosed a short note and picture. The boxes contained a few
small toys and candies, but also socks and underwear, school
supplies and toiletries. They learned that these boxes might be
the only present these kids get all year so they want them to be
loaded!

Also at Christmas my kids get to pick a tag off the Christmas
Angel tree and we shop for someone else as well as for our
family. We also sponsor a child in South America through
church. Once or twice a year we get a progress letter and read
it to the kids.

There are lots of ways kids can make a difference to others, no
matter how young. This year my sons will be joining my husband
on a church building project. If your kids study dance, music
or gymnastics you could organize a performance for a local
senior citizen’s group home. The younger the kids the better
Little ones could ride along on a walk-athon in their stroller
or use their skooter or skateboard to participate with you.

If you have a heart to do for others, don’t leave your children out
of the loop. There is so much they can do with your guidance
and maybe someday your local newspaper will do a story on them!

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