It’s a fact that children learn from example. As such, they get to imitate the things they see their parents, teachers and older siblings are doing.
Yes, role modeling is still an effective way of teaching children the right way to do things. This is despite the modern techniques people and psychologists now use to raise kids. Even the teens can still be influenced by what they see their mom or dad are doing inside and outside their homes.
This being the case, parents need to instill in their children the value of giving to charities while they are growing up. Not only should this be done in their early years but even in their teens.
In fact, it should be easy to convince your teenager to give back to your community. If they’ve learned this from you early on, they will not hesitate to help other people as they continue into their journey towards adulthood. This giving attitude will also come natural if they have been involved in their school’s fundraising projects.
Teens may often be seen as uninvolved and lazy but there’s hope if you, as a parent or teacher, help convince them about doing their share in the community and the sharing with them the benefits they can gain moving onward. A recent study done by the United Nations Foundation and the Women’s Philanthrophy Institute at Indiana University Lily School of Philanthrophy showed that talking to children about charity is effective regardless of the child’s race, age and gender or his parent’s income level.
The Benefits
Encouraging a teen to give to charity is a great way to help boost their self-esteem and develop their social skills. What matters is you are able to introduce the idea to them in an engaging, relevant and fun way.
Studies have recommended that apart from letting children learn from observing others who volunteer or give to charity, parents should talk more to their teens about taking part in their community. Again, role modeling is vital here.
What You Can Do
In the home, one way to do it is by setting a schedule each year or maybe twice a year for organizing and cleaning up your teen’s closet. This is a golden opportunity to help your child choose clothes and personal items he or she no longer want to use.
You, as a family, can also join community projects for the benefit of a charitable institution. Contribute easy and fun fundraising ideas that you and your teens can do to raise money.
If you’re supporting a number of charities, you might as well allow your teen to choose an organization that he or she feels strongly for. You can present to them some that you know very well and explain their causes in an easy to understand manner.
Special occasions notably birthdays are also the best opportunities to let your teenager give to charity. For instance, you can start a personal campaign that when your child reaches his or her teen years, you will give them a certain amount of cash a portion of which they should donate to charity. You can even encourage your teen’s invited guests to bring something for that particular charity as their own contribution.
Parents, whether divorced or not, should help develop this giving trait for their teens. For moms and dads living separate lives, it may be a good idea to consult a Pasadena divorce lawyer to seek ways to collaborate on this particular responsibility. It’s a good move to find out what you can do to continue to be a part of your teen’s life despite your present situation.
It will be all worth it if you set aside your pride and focus on how to support your teens and raise them to become responsible individuals that you can be proud of.
Originally posted on October 23, 2014 @ 9:28 am