This month at the Academy of Martial Arts, our theme is “Give Strong.” In today’s interconnected world, suffering and need at home and abroad feel closer than ever. There is no greater time to lend a helping hand and to teach your children about the importance of charity. If you are searching for ways to teach and involve your children in the spirit of giving, here are five creative ways for you to do so.
Donate Clothes & Toys
What better way to get your children involved and teach them about the spirit of charity than by allowing them to sort through clothing they have outgrown and toys they no longer play with. Visit Salvation Army or Goodwill together and donate to a worthy cause. It’s a good opportunity to draw awareness to how fortunate we are, and to give a little bit back to those less fortunate in our community.
Birthday Charity Donation
On your children’s birthday, why not introduce the idea that instead of getting an abundance of gifts, rather, half that amount (or substitute it altogether, if you’re brave enough to suggest it), they instead donate money to a charitable cause that is close to their heart. Find a few charities where they can support a child of similar age, so they can better visualize where that “birthday” money will be going. It can be such a rewarding feeling to pay it forward.
Charitable Actions
Charity is not just about donating money – though that’s always welcome. Charity is about donating time, effort, and resources to those in need. Talk with your child about creative ways to be charitable. What about making soup for a sick neighbour, or helping Grandma with yard work? When your kids are teenagers, they can help make the world a better place by offering their skills, like volunteering to help elderly people learn to use technology, or teaching guitar to young kids for free.
Set Up a Donation Jar
One simple, effective step is simply creating a jar where each child can place some money from their allowance or change from their lunch, into it. As your children watch the jar fill up you can collectively decide where the money should be donated.
Create Food Baskets During the Holidays
Finally, during each Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter, whatever the holiday of choice may be, take the kids to a centre where they can participate and help in creating food baskets for those underprivileged. Having your children actively involved in charitable work allows them to see the benefits of their actions and feel the wonderful effects of giving.
The act of charity can be a powerful and life-changing feeling. If you’re looking for ways your children can participate in the spirit of giving, try these five creative tips to help get them involved.
