How to Teach a Child to Donate

Teach your children compassion and activism by having them donate to a charitable organization. Help them get the most out of the experience by following these simple suggestions.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Together with your child, make a list of local charities and organizations. Be sure to discuss how these organizations help your community. Let your child choose one charity to donate to.

2. Visit the charity so your child can get a sense of what it really does. By walking through the doors, your child will not only see the hard work that happens behind the scenes, but they will also come face to face with the people, animals, or locations the charity helps.

3. Make a list of the types of donations the charity will need. Remind your child that it isn't just about donating money. Charities are also happy to receive donations of time and supplies.

4. At the beginning of each month, have your child decide whether they will donate time, money, supplies, or a combination. Set aside a special place for any money your child donates. Encourage your child to donate a small percentage of their allowance. Make sure they see you contribute to the donation jar as well.

5. At the end of the month, make a family trip to deliver your child's donation. This trip reinforces the idea that what your child is doing matters. It also gives your child the ability to watch the charity grow from month to month.

6. Praise your child for a job well done and encourage them to continue the next month.

Tips & Warnings

• Animal shelters are a great place to start the donation process. Most children love fuzzy animals and want to help as soon as they walk through the door.
• Don't forget about charities and organizations that clean up the roadways, parks, lakes and beaches. These charities will need more physical labor than money donations, but the feeling of accomplishment will really stay with your child.
• For older children, you can begin looking at charities that are further away. Older children are better able to visualize what a charity is accomplishing without actually seeing it.
• Make sure that the charities you choose are age appropriate for your children. Many charities deal with topics that are too scary for young children.
• Never allow your child to go door-to-door requesting donations for the charity, it just isn't safe.