Being a kid today can be overwhelming. Just think of the torrent of information, images, and communication that is inundating our children at every waking hour. TikTok one moment, Instagram the next, and texting with friends in between. With little time to put it all in perspective, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless.
To combat these feelings, researchers advise parents to teach their kids about the power they have to make a positive impact on the world around them. It starts with giving back.
Here’s how you can engage your children in philanthropy and instill the value of contributing to your community.
Frame volunteering as enjoyable and empowering.
When you discuss philanthropy with your children, regardless of their age, frame it not only as a chance to give back to others, but as an opportunity to pursue their interests and contribute to positive change.
When figuring out which charitable activities to pursue, let your kids choose their own causes. This could be working with animals, supporting children’s organizations, or participating in nature cleanups.
When we give children agency over how they give back, it can boost their confidence and foster a sense of belonging and responsibility to their community.
Make it a family affair.
It’s no secret that children watch our every move. Whether it’s keeping calm in stressful situations, brushing your teeth twice a day, or being kind to strangers, kids are always learning from what they see and hear.
This also extends to giving back to your local community. Volunteering with your kids shows them that offering your time is part of becoming a responsible and compassionate citizen.
In addition to engaging your children in philanthropy, consider asking other relatives to participate in these opportunities. For many families, volunteering can become a tradition that is passed down through generations. As an organization that has been around for a century, the United Way has seen many families engage in intergenerational volunteering, and it’s such a joy to share these stories internally and with the public.
And along the way, volunteering with your children and other family members also gives you the opportunity to be together and create positive memories.
Discuss the importance of empathy, generosity, and teamwork.
Children develop compassion for others who may be different from them when they consider other people’s circumstances through volunteering. Help your child develop empathy and strengthen their respect for diversity as they begin to relate to the world around them.
Many volunteer activities involve working together to achieve a common goal such as building emergency preparedness kits, cleaning up the river, or organizing food donations. This helps children develop teamwork and collaboration skills, tools that will help them as they navigate school, sports, clubs, and eventually, the workplace.
Talk about issues affecting local communities.
As children experience the world around them through volunteering, they might have questions about poverty, inequality, and challenges that they and others face. Philanthropy provides an opportunity to discuss these topics in a thoughtful way.
After engaging in a volunteer activity, take time with your child to reflect on their experience and talk about how it made them feel. If you’re able to reach out to the organizer for feedback on the project, share that with your child so they can see the impact of their contributions.
Tell your children you’re proud of them and keep a record of when and where they’ve volunteered so they know they are part of the larger community.
Use charity as an opportunity to instill financial literacy.
Involvement in charitable activities also can be a practical way to teach children about financial literacy. When my children were young and we first engaged in philanthropy, I taught them to “save a little, give a little, spend a little.” This approach teaches the importance of saving, giving, and thoughtful spending, which are building blocks of money management and working toward financial literacy and stability.
Create healthy expectations.
While we want to instill compassion, generosity, and altruism in our children at an early age, it’s also important to avoid putting too much pressure on our kids by making them feel that it’s their responsibility to save the world. When you discuss the big, systemic issues that people face, whether that’s here in our region or around the world, emphasize that they aren’t alone in this responsibility. Every small action can add up and create a ripple effect.
When you involve children in charitable giving and volunteering, it instills values that can create a lasting, positive impact on your kids and society.
If you have any questions about getting your child involved in philanthropy in the Richmond and Petersburg region, visit YourUnitedWay.org.
