Small Steps to Raising a Generous Kid

The age old saying, “tis better to give than receive” is true at any age, but the younger one develops a habit of giving, the more grateful — and more happy — they are likely to be. So how can a parent instill generosity at a young age? Here are a few tips:

Demonstrate generosity

As with all of parenting, children learn more from our actions than our words. As such, the most valuable first step in installing generosity in your child is demonstrating it with actions. Your examples need not be huge. Identify little moments to incorporate into your daily routine. When retrieving a kid’s meal from the drive-thru, give a generous tip to the fast food worker. And that aspiring musician on the street corner? Hand your child a dollar or two to toss into their case.

Delegating Your Giving

Whenever possible, include your kids in gestures of generosity. Have them go through their belongings for items to give away to other children. Set aside a specific amount of money you wish to donate, and delegate some of the giving to your children. Allow them to choose the recipients or organizations. As for the amount? It’s less important than the invaluable opportunity to spark the spirit of giving in your child.

The Spend/Save/Share Guideline

The “spend, save, share” breakdown of childhood income may be a classic, but it hasn’t lost an ounce of effectiveness. If you control the source of income (e.g. allowance), it’s perfectly reasonable to require such a system. For funds received outside of your wallet (like birthday money, lemonade stand profits, etc.), a gentle reminder of the impact a percentage of their cash could make in the life of someone less fortunate may be all the nudge that’s needed.

Talk About Receiving

It may be better to give than receive, but being on the receiving end of giving sure can warm the heart. When your family bears witness to generosity, talk about it with your kids. Perhaps a friend filled your fridge with groceries, or a relative gave you an especially thoughtful gift. Honor the giver with your words or a thank you card, while explaining what the gift meant for your family. The conversation will provide a peek into what receiving looks and feels like. Nothing encourages giving like empathy.

Source: bizkids.com blog