3 easy ways you can teach your kids about charity

1. Introduce kids to good role models on social media 

Children these days are very tech-savvy and have access to information and stimuli in the palm of their hands. This is due to mobile computer devices being readily available together with the prevalence of social media.

This can be a cause for concern for parents, as children may be easily susceptible to outside factors like Instagram influencers and advertisements promoting fad diets or fast fashion. 

But technology and social media can have a positive impact on children, providing a platform to perform good deeds, and allowing them to organise and participate in important global events.

The good news for parents is that their children are growing up being exposed more and more to other young people as role models. 

Some of these young people include:
 

• Climate activist Greta Thunberg who came into the media spotlight last year, at the age of 15, and has given rise to the school strike for climate movement. 

• The youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was already an advocate for girls’ right to education at the age of 11. Now, at 22, she runs her own charitable organisation to help support girls get an equal opportunity to education. 

• Will Connelly (aka egg boy), who took a stance against hate speech at the age of 17 by cracking an egg on a (former) Australian senator’s head. Will used his newfound fame to help raise close to $100,000 through GoFundMe for the victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack.

• Jack Berne, a Sydney school student, who at the age of 10,  started a fundraising campaign called Fiver for a Farmer that raised over $1.5 million in just one month. Jack was inspired to help farmers after watching a video at school about the harsh drought that’s affecting rural Australia.
   

2. Set a good example as a parent

It’s important to get kids into the habit of being considerate towards others by introducing them to worthy causes at a young age. It’s not dissimilar to teaching them good eating habits, keeping their toys and belongings tidy, saying please and thank you, and holding them accountable for their actions.

As children love to mimic the speech, mannerisms and deeds of their parents, the best way to teach children is to lead by example.

By involving your children in the following acts of kindness, you will help shape them into naturally compassionate and caring adults:

 

Take part in a charity drive with your children

This is the easiest way to get kids into the habit of charitable giving. Start by getting them to sort out clothes that don’t fit into piles that can be given to charitable op-shops. 

Explain to them how this will not only help clothe children their age but also how pre-loved clothes are a more sustainable option overall.

Other great items for a charity drive might include toys and books. A food drive a few times a year will also make them aware of important social issues such as poverty.

 

Donate a portion of their pocket money

If they see mum and dad putting spare change into a donation box, kids are more likely to do the same with their pocket money instead of impulse buying a plastic toy that will be forgotten the next day.

If you choose to donate on a regular basis to a charitable organisation, such as The Fred Hollows Foundation, you’ll receive regular updates on how your money is impacting real people in positive ways. Sharing these updates with your children will show them tangible proof of how their act of kindness can help someone who wasn’t born as fortunate as them.

It’s also important to educate children on the cause they are donating to.

If they know that their money will restore sight to someone, help someone learn to read and write or give someone the chance to escape extreme poverty, they’ll understand the significance of their donation.

 

Involve kids in fundraising events

If you’re taking part in a fundraising event, involving your kids will give you more time to bond with them and make happy memories, and at the same time contribute to a worthy cause. 

Whether it’s baking cupcakes for a charity morning tea or walking off those cupcakes by trekking to raise awareness about an issue – there are so many ways you can fundraise for charity. 

 

Encourage kids to take part in volunteer work

Getting children to volunteer their time at an animal shelter, a nursing home, a refugee centre or a homeless shelter will open their eyes to the realities of life. It will make them more thankful for all the creature comforts you provide for them, and it will ensure they don’t take these luxuries for granted.

Lauren, 2019 Victoria Junior Ambassador, visiting Fred’s wax figure at Madame Tussauds Sydney, 2019 |

PHOTO CREDIT: Lauren’s family

Meet Lauren Rowe-Roberts. She is a 12-year-old Melbourne philanthropist who has raised over $15,000 in the last five years and has helped restore sight to more than 600 people.

Lauren’s donated her birthday money by requesting donations instead of presents. She has also fundraised by selling cookies. Plus, she’s taken part in the Melbourne Coastrek and, most recently, the Eureka Stair Climb that she finished in 15 minutes and 48 seconds.

“I love fundraising for The Fred Hollows Foundation but this was my first time doing the Eureka Stair Climb. And I didn’t just want to finish the climb, I wanted to do well,” says Lauren.

“I look up to Fred Hollows because of his compassion for people who are less fortunate, and for doing something about it. I think we can all learn a lot from him.”
 

“The essence of the human being is our capacity to help others.”
  - Professor Fred Hollows

3. Nominate a year six student for the Humanity Award

Acknowledge your child’s charitable streak by nominating them for The Fred Hollows Humanity Award. An annual event, this award recognises Year 6 students who follow in Fred’s footsteps by making a positive difference in their community. It celebrates students who show compassion, integrity and kindness in their everyday lives, just the way Fred used to.

The Humanity Award inspires children to continue performing acts of charity as they progress to high school. It also encourages younger siblings to follow in their older brother, sister or cousin’s footsteps.

Zara Matthews (7), Junior Ambassador for NSW, 2019 Fred Hollows Humanity Award. 
PHOTO CREDIT: St Philips Christian College, Gosford

Zara was nominated for the Humanity Award by her teacher for leading an initiative at her school called Kenya Help Day (KHD) where Zara and the kids in her grade run stalls once a year to raise funds. So far they’ve raised over $20,000 by hosting five KHD events. They’ve used this money to help two schools in Kenya.

The Humanity Award is open to all schools Australia-wide. Teachers, principals, parents and other family members are all invited to nominate children who have shown empathy and performed acts of kindness to help other students or people in their hometown and beyond.

When she can, Gabi Hollows travels to every state and territory each year to meet all the nominees and presents them with a certificate to celebrate their achievement. 

From each state and territory, a Junior Ambassador to The Foundation is also announced. 

These eight Junior Ambassadors extend their humanity to the world by allocating $5000 each, donated by the Humanity Award sponsor Specsavers, to one of The Fred Hollows Foundation programs of their choice. 

Learn more

Interested in teaching your kids more about charity? Share these 10 inspirational quotes from notable humanitarians with them. 

Thinking of donating? Find out why monthly giving has more impact.