How To Talk To Kids About Charity
At WKC we’ve recently started collecting non-perishable food items and toiletries in our stage area as part of our Community Outreach Program. All donations go toward Rosies - Friends On The Street to support those most in need, those people who are abandoned, marginalised or socially isolated within our communities. There is a list of goods that they have specified that they value most as donations on the wall near the collection spot. We’d like to thank all of those families that have already donated to the cause!
The collection of goods has created quite the buzz amongst educators and children, acting as a catalyst for discussion about why we collect for charity, and how we can help people who are less fortunate than ourselves.
These kinds of projects are as much about helping the wider community as they are about role modelling acts of compassion to the children in our care. You can also role model acts of compassion that help those less fortunate by donating clothes, donating blood or volunteering your time to charity organisations.
Children gain an understanding of what they value very early on, and asking questions about this can be a great way for children to unpack it for themselves. Do they have a particular passion for helping animals? Do they show care for the environment, the elderly or people in poverty?
We also understand that in our fast-paced lifestyles the time to participate in charity may be hard to obtain, however there are small ways that you can teach your children about charity and compassion every day. Discussions about equitable distribution of resources can arise from simple discussions about sharing toys, taking turns or sharing screen time. These kinds of discussions instil in them an understanding of how their use of resources may affect others.
Random acts of kindness can also be an easy way to initiate your child’s interest in philanthropy. This can spark an interest in the positive feeling that a child may feel in giving something without expectation of anything in return. You could ask:
What can you do at school to be more kind?
How does it feel when you do something kind?
How can you make your teacher feel more appreciated? A thank you card perhaps?
How can you make your family members feel appreciated?
If you were given $500 to spend on yourself, and another $500 to give to charity, how would you choose to spend each of these amounts?
By enquiring with our kids about how and why we contribute to charity, show kindness to others, and care for those who are less fortunate, we set them up to be compassionate and philanthropic adults.
To learn more about Rosies – Friends On The Street you can click here!