“My children have more things than I ever did growing up, but they don’t seem any happier.”

“How do I help my children to enjoy giving as much as receiving?”

We hear this a lot from parents throughout the year but especially during the holidays. They want to raise children who feel good about giving to others, but this generosity of spirit does not always come naturally to children.

It is up to us as parents to instill kindness and sensitivity toward others and to teach our children skills that reflect generosity.

Here are some easy ways to cultivate generosity in our children:

Talk about what sharing and giving looks like.
Model generosity. Let them see you write a cheque, volunteer, and do acts of kindness.
Share how giving makes you feel. Do you feel proud, helpful, kind, or generous? Does it make you feel good that you can make a difference in other people’s lives?
Do it together. Let them experience giving and sharing first-hand.
Introduce ideas and opportunities for your children to give time, contribute money, or donate stuff. Children usually want to help; they just don’t know how they can make a difference. Talk with them about ways they would want to give back: find activities that are aligned with their interests and their capabilities.
Praise the giving impulse. When you see your children being generous, point it out and praise them. Help them put into words the positive feelings they may have as they help others.

Speaking of raising generous children, Tuesday, November 30 is GivingTuesday. GivingTuesday is a global movement for giving and volunteering. It's a time when we join together and rally for favourite causes. It is a day to encourage and amplify small acts of kindness. Across Canada and around the world, What better time to start cultivating generosity at home!

Written by Nadine Reeves, Program & Development Manager + Mother of 2 Volunteers ❤️

Giving: The Best Gift of All