Getting Kids Involved in Charitable Giving

By Nicole Cerezo

December 12, 2013

The holiday season is the perfect time to show children the true meaning of giving. Parents and caregivers can demonstrate how to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Children learn by example and can be taught both compassion and empathy. Here are five ways to get kids involved in charitable activities:

1. Adopt a child or family. Local churches and charities will have Angel or Giving Trees at this time of year, or lists of families that need some help. Toys, clothing, food or other household items can be donated. The sponsoring families are often times encouraged to deliver these items themselves, so children can experience firsthand the impact of helping others.
2. Volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Volunteering is a way for children to interact with individuals whose circumstances are quite different than their own. Adults and children can work together to help prepare and serve meals to those needing food. Kids can also bring their toys or outgrown clothes to donate to shelters where children may be living.
3. Donate money. Children can learn about budgeting by dividing their allowance into save, spend and donate categories. It’s a good idea to let children help choose the charity that they would like to donate to. Kids will feel a strong sense of pride and happiness knowing that they helped others in need.
4. Help out a neighbor. Children can make time to help with household chores or yard work that elderly or homebound persons cannot do on their own. Washing dishes, folding clothes, vacuuming, shoveling snow and carrying grocery bags are some good ways to lend a helping hand. These activities can continue throughout the entire year.
5. Collect items for a local food bank. Communities and churches ask for donations of non-perishable food items, and some food pantries may also ask for fresh produce. Children can look in their own cupboards at home, and also ask neighbors to help out with these donations. A great hands-on activity is to take kids to the grocery store to shop for the requested items.

Kids may not always understand the meaning behind acts of giving. But as they get older and observe adults participating in charitable activities, they will continue to catch on and grasp the idea of doing good deeds and helping others. When children learn about acts of kindness at an early age, it will develop into a lifetime of making a difference!