During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, people often feel they have to get their loved ones the perfect present or go shopping and spend money to make others happy. It’s something that is instilled in us very young with the holiday season. As children, we were always so excited to receive presents from our parents, friends, and family members. The truth is, though, that you don’t always have to give material goods to others in order to make people happy.

Some people may be more motivated by gifts than others, but not everyone is.

Helping your child understand why we do what we do and how we give back to our communities is crucial in assisting them to achieve their sense of purpose and in turn, making them better citizens, and giving them something to be proud of. So how do you help your child realize their potential and instill a sense of giving in them? Keep reading for tips!

Be a good role model for giving.

Kids learn how the world works from their parents in their earliest years. Children tend to be more generous and giving when their parents are, and when they see their parents giving back. Whether by donating to charity or volunteering their time to help their favorite cause. In fact, research shows that kids are 33% more likely to give to a charity if their parents do, and the parent explains to them what they’re doing and why. Similarly, kids who knew their parents were involved in volunteer work were 47% more likely to engage in volunteer work themselves as teens.

Help them to understand the need and impact of giving back.

Just like many adults, kids want to be needed by others and to have a purpose and mission. This helps build their self-confidence and self-esteem, and it makes them happier. If your child doesn’t realize the need, they may not understand just how important it is to help others. A good way to introduce children to this concept is by volunteering with them, or showing them what needs to be solved and talking to them and reflecting on the experiences of others.

Show them the impact of giving back.

Until children are old enough to understand the concept of money and how it works, monetary donations and financially helping support charities and non-profits are often ineffective. But just because a young child doesn’t understand the concept of money yet doesn’t mean that they won’t benefit from seeing people they help at a soup kitchen or the animals they can help at an animal shelter for example. As they get older, however, monetary donations to their favorite cause often make them feel like they’re making an impact and it can encourage them to keep giving and caring as they get older.

To learn more about how you can help your child learn to love giving back, click here!