International Day of Charity

Use everyday examples of giving and donating your kids can relate to. For instance, that time they helped your elderly neighbor bring in the shopping. Point out that small acts of kindness are examples of donating their time to help others . You can then use a methodology and explain other ways they can give to a charity.

  Kids are more likely to respond well to donating to charity if they understand the impact their giving has. Pick out some community projects and take your child along to show them what can happen when people donate their time, money and resources. For example, do you regularly donate to a local animal shelter? If so, take your child along and ask the staff at the shelter to show you exactly what they do with their donations. That way your children will see first-hand the effect of charitable giving .

Ask your kids to pick a charity your family can donate to. It can be by volunteering your time or giving money or items . Suggest a few charities to your child, explaining what they do, and let them pick one that matters to them. They’re far more likely to want to give up their time if it's for a cause they've chosen and know about.

It’s not always easy to get your children to understand the importance of giving and the work charities do . What can help is to point out local and global charities that benefit everyone and use films and books to inspire them. Here are some examples: Charities working on land conservation, preserving wetlands and wooded areas they enjoy playing in. Charities working to stop species like rhinos, gorillas and tigers from becoming extinct. Charities working to feed and help some of the children they go to school with. Charities that raise money to help find a cure for serious illnesses like cancer.Picture books like Just Help! How to Build a Better World , which asks the question, ‘Who will you help today?’ The Lorax movie (Netflix) helps educate children about the environment and explores how we can't just take and give nothing in return. Up (Disney) teaches empathy for people different from ourselves. No one is ever too young (or too old) to help someone else. Pay It Forwards (...