As children grow, it is important to teach them how to manage their personal finances as a life skill. Helping those who are in need is also a good example of using your wealth wisely. Cultivating children's kindness will help develop their personality and set them up to be responsible adults in the future. For young children, the word "charity" can be very vague. But letting children directly participate in charitable activities, such as volunteering, donating some pocket money or participating in fundraising activities, will give them a chance to appreciate the act of helping others and to understand that “giving will give you more blessings”.
...
Financial freedom is key for enabling people to become independent after turning 18 – the earlier you learn about money, the easier it is for you to have mastery over money. "It’s a good habit to put your money into three boxes: save, enjoy and share! Nobody can guarantee a sunny future, and you need to save for rainy days – learning to save is the first step you take towards securing financial freedom," says Steven Chan, Director & Technical Representative of The Consolidated Marketing Group. He says that when you have enough money, do also enjoy your earnings and don’t forget to lend a helping hand to those in need. "We should never look down on youngsters, who also have the power to donate and make an impact." Chinese new year is coming up, and what kids do with their lai see is the first test. If they manage their lai see money well, it can be seed money to help them achieve their dreams. The following five ideas may be helpful in nurturing kindness in your children. At the end of this article, there is an extra tip that can easily help you become a kind parent yourself!
The easiest way is to give back is to gather clothes, toys, books, and other items that you no longer need and donate them to charity so that these once-beloved items can continue their life cycle. Donating several times a year can also help keep your home clean and tidy. At the same time you can have discussions with your children about what poverty is so they aware of how they can help. PHOTO︰Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash
By letting children work as volunteers in animal shelters, environmental protection agencies, community centres and other charitable organizations, you can teach them to make good use of time and better understand social realities. Through voluntary work, children can learn to be grateful for their own lives so they will not take their comfort for granted.
If children see their mom and dad place loose change in donation boxes, they are more likely to follow your example. Instead of impulsively buying a plastic toy that is discarded the next day, children can develop a habit of donating their pocket money for a good cause. Having a discussion about donating some of their monthly pocket money to charitable organizations such as The Fred Hollows Foundation will make a positive difference to those in need. Donating under their name will allow them to receive regular updates on how their donations change peoples’ lives. Understanding how their charity spends the money from donations, allows children to see that even small actions can help those who are less fortunate. If they know that their actions can restore someone's sight and help someone learn to read and write or give someone a chance to escape extreme poverty, they will understand the importance of giving.
A lot of children nowadays live a very comfortable life. Parents may consider that when children celebrate their birthdays each year, they can ask grandparents and friends to donate their “gifts” to their favourite charity, rather than buying presents. Read the example of Selwin who donated his birthday present to The Fred Hollows Foundation here.
If you are going to participate in fundraising activities such as a charity run, bring your children along. Not only can you spend more time with your children and create good memories, they can also have fun while helping others. Your family can also organize fund-raising activities and ask friends and family to donate to a supported charity. Charity baking, for example, can help raise funds and let your children get involved at the same time.
The role of parents is of paramount importance in fostering children's kindness. If we want our children to read more and reduce their use of electronic products, parents must lead by example and must walk their talk! Start giving back today and taking a step forward. Donate to The Fred Hollows Foundation by clicking here.
Watch this video to learn more about The Fred Hollows Foundation and check out our YouTube channel for more.