I am a big believer in generosity and charity.

I don’t always practise it, but I do believe in it!

Christmas is that wonderful time where the “spirit of giving” can actually possess us to  help other people who need it, to be generous, to share, to be kind. We start to smile nicely at people who cut us off in traffic and only flip them the bird after they’ve turned away. We deny ourselves so that others may be blessed …

Who am I kidding? It usually brings out the worst in us.

Folks, if we want the me-me-me-get-outa-my-way-freak!-greed-is-good mindset to not grip our kids, we need (in most cases) to teach them intentionally to be generous and empathetic, to become a little self-effacing in the face of the needs of others.

(I’m gettin’ preachy, aren’t I? You can tell me straight. I can take it)

So in reaching for the magical make-my-kid-a-saint stick, you might also want to refer to the simple article How to Teach Generosity (to your preschooler), the main points for which are below (the article expands on them).

Demonstrate generosity.
Discuss other people’s wants and needs.Teach your preschooler that sharing can be temporary.
Show that you disapprove of selfishness.
Pile on the praise. (Whenever your preschooler does share)
Set some toys aside.
Let your preschooler learn from his peers.
Look for the reasons behind her stinginess.

At our house? Over the last 5 years, we’ve taught our kids to “tithe” on their pocket money. That is, they put 10% aside all year and then decide who they will help with it around now. It took a while to catch on, but it has.

Currently they’ve gotten a TEAR catalog and decided that they could afford to provide one home with clean piped water in India and maybe buy some schoolbooks for another child (all the while making jokes about what they’re actually going to buy for themselves with the money. At least, I think they’re joking. . .)

How have you encouraged your kids to share their toys, or to give to others who are less fortunate?

What worked? What didn’t?