Teaching your child the art of “paying it forward”

Raising children who are compassionate in a hard and often cruel world can be challenging. But, as parents, it’s important we teach our children that helping others and “paying it forward” is key to being a good and kind-hearted person.

Like most values, giving is something we need to help children to understand. Teach them that making a gift is an act of thoughtfulness, and takes time and patience. Modeling, coaching, and actively involving our kids instills the habit.

Here are a few practical tips that can help your family get started on charitable giving and thinking outside the normal comfort zone:

• Donate old toys, clothes and books to a school or crèche in your area. Take the kids along when you drop it off, so that they can get a real sense of where their ‘stuff’ is going.
• Donate time, and go and visit a retirement home, or the local animal shelter. Make sure your kids are old enough not to feel sad or stressed in this situation.
• Encourage your children to help someone without expecting to get anything back. Take the neighbour’s dog for a walk, play a board game with a younger sibling, or un-stack the dishwasher for mom and dad. Small steps set the trend.
• Set up a change jar in a visible place, and get everyone to contribute their loose change. You’d be surprised at how quickly the cents add up to rands. Decide as a family what to do with the money.
• Encourage even the smallest children to make something as a gift. Whether it’s a crayon painting in a pasta decorated frame, or just a sincere, hand-written note, it really is the thought that counts and the effort that reflects the love behind the gift.