Teaching Kids Generosity

**forHISglory** · 12-28-2011, 10:09 AM

How do you teach your kids to be generous?

**McD** · 12-28-2011, 10:23 AM

We teach by example.

I clean out my closets and donate the excess to Goodwill, then kids and I go through their toys and closets.

I donate to various veterans organizations and during the 'Buddy Poppy' season, I have the kids donate and we explain why we are choosing to honor our veterans.

I explain to the kids about donating 'time' to others via making meals for friends, watching friends' kids, while explaining to our kids why we are doing what we are doing. (I.E. Jen just had a baby and things might be a little crazy for her. So we are going to make her dinner to help her out.)

Telling doesn't do any good unless the action is there to back it up.

**zakity** · 12-28-2011, 10:59 AM

What McD said...

**mauimagic** · 12-28-2011, 11:04 AM

Perfect response McD.

I carry teaching generosity into my classroom. We make and give gifts to others at the school - and thank the person for the skills and teachings they share with us. Christmas and birthdays are big times for my students - they give and give - and smile and smile!!

**CrazyCat** · 12-28-2011, 11:15 AM

i think it's definately live by example.

I never thought much about it...it's how we live. I've given various things to people in need. (once it was a dining room table and chairs to a family of 5)~

It was brought to my attention by my sister who had taken my boys to play minature golf while we were on vacation in Mrytle Beach.

There was a family behind them that had a girl about 6..who was crying because she lost her ball. My 9 yr old promptly handed her HIS ball.

When the group came back to the condo..the first thing she told me about was my son. My goal was to raise sons that were compassionate, caring and generous. Now my boys are 18 and 24. I think I succeeded. To me..it doesn't matter how much money you have..what's important if how you treat people.

**cab54** · 12-28-2011, 11:49 AM

Example.

Besides donations and helping gestures, our kids saw us and helped us at a soup kitchen, and helping at their school.

**AmyBoz** · 12-28-2011, 11:49 AM

What McD said.

We donate to the Salvation Army and Goodwill, etc. and donate our time in other ways.

At Christmas we purchase an extra set of "spirit clothing" at each kids school and have their teacher find a student that cannot afford them to give them to anonymously. The kids really feel good about it, and have never broken the anonymity of it.

DD, for her birthday, asks for no gifts...instead, she has her friends bring donations for the local food pantry. She came up with it on her own, and it makes me so proud.

We always tell the kids, even if you only have a little, you have enough to give. I think they've picked up on the lesson, because we see them being generous with friends often.

**nodmicks** · 12-28-2011, 01:34 PM

Mc D cover it really well. We also make our kids shop every year for a under privileged child for the holidays.

**imagine** · 12-28-2011, 03:07 PM

I thought children were generous by nature. No lessons needed.

**McD** · 12-28-2011, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

I thought children were generous by nature. No lessons needed.

I disagree. Selfishness/generosity ebbs and flows due to lifestages. A toddler is selfish by nature (not sharing, MINE MINE MINE!) but a school age child, who has been raised to be compassionate, tends to be more giving.

**imagine** · 12-28-2011, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by McD

I disagree. Selfishness/generosity ebbs and flows due to lifestages. A toddler is selfish by nature (not sharing, MINE MINE MINE!) but a school age child, who has been raised to be compassionate, tends to be more giving.

We can disagree it is okay.

Our experiences might be different.

Is still hold to the belief that children even toddlers are generous and given by default/nature.

**Kellili** · 12-28-2011, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

We can disagree it is okay.

Our experiences might be different.

Is still hold to the belief that children even toddlers are generous and given by default/nature.

I think it must depend on the kid...I only have 1, he will be 3 in a week. (WOW!) He is the most generous little guy...I don't think I've ever heard him say "mine". He will give you his last m&m or whatever "treasure" he has without a second thought. He was talking about all his toys today and I made sure to explain to him how lucky he is, and that not all little boys have toys. I'm planning to have him go through his room soon and we will make a donation to goodwill or somewhere else.

**Sophiasmama** · 12-28-2011, 07:23 PM

We have Sophie go through her toys and pick which ones she'd like to donate to GW or the Womens shelter...she also picks out clothing that is too small to donate/give...and 10% of her money goes into giving...when she is picking things to donate I too am in my closet with my own bag picking clothes/accessories to donate...we do it as a family. We talk about the charities we support and what those charities do to help others. It's the same with recycling...I take her once a month to the compound and she helps break down cardboard and put bottles in the 4H bin.