How to Encourage Children to Give Money to Charity

Teach children about the joy of giving early in life.

Giving to charity to can be an immensely rewarding experience. Even very young children can learn to appreciate the value of charitable giving if they are introduced to the concept early. One of the best ways to do this is to talk to children about giving, afford them opportunities to see the joy gifts of charity bring to both donors and recipients and help them identify ways they can make meaningful contributions to charity.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Read books about empathy with your child. Reading and discussing books about empathy, sharing, giving and caring with your children can help them to understand the importance of helping others in need.

2. Talk about sharing. Tell your child why it's important to share with others. Ask your child to help find examples of people sharing and to describe how sharing benefits people.

3. Establish giving to charity as a value. Make it clear to your child that giving to charity is important. Tell them it's the right thing to do.

4. Set an example of being of service to others. Make a practice of being helpful to others. This could be anything from holding doors open for people who need a hand to giving up a seat on public transportation to someone who needs it more to helping someone pick up packages that have spilled. Donate what you can afford to charities that are close to your heart. Discuss your actions with your children.

5. Inform children about charities that could use their help. Find charities kids can relate to, such as children's hospitals, Toys for Tots and Lekotek. Request brochures from charities that interest your kids. Read about their mission, work and goals. Tell your children how important funds are to the operation of charities.

6. Help children brainstorm ways they can raise money to give to charity. There are tons of ways for kids to raise money, from collecting pennies to washing cars. Assist your children in developing safe, age-appropriate fundraising strategies. Facilitate your child's donation by escorting her to a facility where she can make an in-person donation or helping her to purchase a money order and mail a donation.

7. Praise children's charitable contributions. Celebrate your child's charitable donations with a hug, a handshake, a high-five or any other gesture you'd like. It's very important to make a big deal of how proud you are of your child for doing good works for others.