Teaching Children the Value of Giving

Many adults want to learn how to instill the value of giving to the young people in their lives.

In her foreword to The Giving Family: Raising Our Children to Help Others, Dorothy Ridings provides this advice for working with children:

  • Be a role model – as a volunteer and a donor
  • Show kids the way – take them with you to volunteer and talk to them about your donations
  • Make giving a year-round project, not just something to do at holidays
  • Start now. The earlier you teach the habit of giving, the easier it will be to sustain
  • Expect your children to serve and give
  • Let children decide what projects to support with their money and time
  • Teach them to manage money
  • Praise them for their philanthropic actions

Here are some additional ideas:

  • Give your children a "giving allowance"
  • Create a special account for your children that they can draw from to make charitable gifts. Add to this special account each time they volunteer for a charity. Match any charitable gifts they make from their regular allowance.
  • Establish a family donor advised fund (link to definition) on your child's birthday or graduation. Parents and grandparents who have the means might wish to establish a donor advised fund and name their children as well as themselves as advisors to the fund.