Teaching your child about giving not only provides tons of developmental benefit for your child but also can be a very fun process. From an early age, giving can help a child develop empathy and a sense of compassion for those in need. There are countless ways to demonstrate how giving back to the community can lead to a more enriching life, and teaching your child about giving can help your child grow up to be healthy and successful. Ultimately, giving helps children grow into productive, contributing members of our world. Here are 3 easy ways to encourage your child to give back.

1. Use Your Mobile Device to Give

Nowadays, children are growing up in an increasingly tech-driven world. In a recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 97% of children involved were already using mobile devices by age 4. If you find your child frequently on a smartphone or other device, why not take advantage of this? Giving has become more accessible than ever before as 13% of donations are made from mobile devices. Plus, with popular crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe, there are more opportunities for finding creative new ways to encourage your child to give. Several young philanthropists have been taking advantage of this approach. From saving a horse farm to raising funds for cystic fibrosis research, children are using technology to give back in imaginative ways. If your child doesn’t have a bank account or debit card yet, allow them to watch you making an online gift from your phone and explain how your family’s donation will help someone in need.

2. Verbally Encourage Your Child to Give

Talking to your child is still one of the best ways to encourage and teach good giving behaviors. According to a study from Indiana University, children whose parents talk to them about giving are 20% more likely to give to charity than children whose parents don’t discuss this with them. Have you noticed some of your child’s toys collecting dust? You can strike up a conversation about giving and describe how donating unused toys can brighten up someone else’s life. If your child enjoys arts and crafts, mention how those skills could be used to decorate a food basket or lunch box for a local charity. Your child may not realize that his or her interests can be used to help others by doing something they already enjoy.

3. Allow Your Child to Give When They Offer

Children are born with an innate sense of wanting to help others. However, sometimes a parent turns a child away when they offer to help. This can have a negative impact on a child’s opinion of giving. Instead, if your child offers to help you clean the house, let them (even if it might take a few extra minutes)! This will allow your child to see firsthand how helping someone else makes a difference. Also, not allowing your child to help pay for something can be confusing if they’re constantly hearing messages of helping others. If you give your child an allowance, let them use it for charitable deeds when they offer. For example, if your family is going out for dinner and your child offers to help pay, letting them do so reinforces the concept of giving.

Giving back to your community is one of the best feelings there is. What type of giver you are? Take this quiz and find out now!

Teach Your Child About Giving & Find Out What Type of Giver You Are!

Take our short, fun quiz to find out which celebrity do-gooder you are most like.

TAKE QUIZ