Getting the children involved in activities that allow them to pay back to the community. Giving back is not just for the community, it is also good for the personality building. The activities that allow the children to give back to the community and in return develop a sense of responsibility, creative thinking, and compassion and leadership qualities. It is a great way of developing healthy and compassionate minds.
Here are some useful tips for teaching the kids the importance and value of giving back to the community.
Understanding the concept:
When you are involving the children in charity activities you should make sure that you are able to get the idea of helping. They should understand that giving back does not mean that you give away things that you do not need anymore. They should also understand that helping is not just limited to donating money. Young kids mostly do what they are told to do by their parents but if you really want to instill the idea of helping the community then you need to make sure that they understand the importance. You can explain the ways in which the giving back is helping other people and the effect it has on numerous lives. Once they know the effect of their actions their interest will increase.
Do not wait for children to grow up:
Empathy and compassion are concepts that the kids are able to understand and learn from a very young age. You can encourage them to nurture these feelings just by sharing their things with other kids. No age is too young for learning to share. It will encourage them to participate in charity work and volunteer. They will not consider it as something they need to do but as something that they should do. Introducing them to charity work such as painting posters or baking sales will help in increasing their interest.
Making it a part of the routine:
You should not wait to give back. With your actions, you need to show the kids that you do not need to wait for large sums of extra money so you can pay back because it is not the only way of helping. You can inspire your kids by making the charity a part of everyday activities. You can do little acts of kindness like buying an extra bag of food while grocery shopping and giving to someone who needs it. It will set the example for the children that you can help other people with small acts of kindness on daily basis.
You should teach the kids that you do not need to be a part of a large organization in order to give back to the community. The important thing is to have the desire to help others and it will help in paving a path to giving back to the community. Random acts of kindness even like helping someone cross the street is an excellent way of instilling goodwill in people.
Consider the aptitude of the children:
If you want to make sure that the children are interested in doing the charity work then you need to make sure that you take into consideration their interests. Everyone has an aptitude for certain activities so try to introduce young children to activities that they have an interest in. If the kids are interested in creative work then you should let them paint the posters. If they are interested in food then you can get them involved in bake sales. You can show them that they can help people and nurture their own interests as well.
Get the family involved:
You should try to indulge in charity activities that you can do as a family. It will not just allow you to give back to the community but will also be good for bringing the family closer. It will help in building a stronger bond between the parents and children. You can also discuss the results of a charity event and share what you have achieved as a result. It will give a sense of accomplishment to the kids and they will be encouraged to contribute more.