According to Mike Dickson’s new book, The More You Give, The More You Get giving to others, whether of your time or with your money—helps foster new friendships, community, and purpose in your life—which leaves people feeling more energized. This has a ripple effect with your children.
If you are seriously lacking with time—perhaps you are taking care of elderly parents and working full time. Ask your child/ren to research charities to find one they are excited about and sign up to give a small amount each month. Perhaps your child is an animal enthusiast? Your family can then sign up to donate $2.50 a month to an animal society—letting your child donate 50¢ from his allowance. Symonds says a good way to find a charity worth backing is through Changing the Present, which lists thousands of nonprofits and lets you search via topic or cause and even suggests gift ideas based on dollar amounts.
And finally, sometimes everyday acts of charity can teach a world of kindness.
“I believe that you can teach children empathy every day through small acts of kindness. Just helping someone with a door when their hands are full of kids or groceries, or giving someone in need a dollar, or helping someone who is lost, or preventing a child from falling off the slide, or occasionally taking care of a friend’s child whose parent works—these are all ways to show empathy,” Coppinger explains.
In the end, teaching empathy is critical—it’s as important as teaching a child to read. And, just as important, is instilling the confidence and enthusiasm that comes from knowing that one person can actually make a difference in this world.
