13
Aug
School is starting up again and with it, there will be many new lessons for our children. Have you considered making generosity an intentional part of their learning experience this year? Studies have proven that children who volunteer do better in school and tend to be healthier and happier. Here are a few easy ways to teach your children generosity:
- Volunteer – HOPE has opportunities for children of all ages! Young children can color lunch bags for our Kids of HOPE program, children 10-15 years old can volunteer with their parents, and teens can earn Bright Futures hours.
- Share your unwanted items – Teach “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”! Encourage your children to sort through the toys or clothes and help them decide what they do not use anymore and would like to share. Then, bring your children to the HOPE Chest to drop off their donations.
- Start a food drive – Encourage your children to host a food drive with their sports team, dance class, or club. Have them decorate a box and encourage their friends to help fill it with non-perishable food items. When the box is full, bring them to drop it off at HOPE’s Food Pantry to help feed children in need.
- Finances – Help them learn how to allocate their allowance or holiday money. Teach them how to divide their money into “Save”, “Spend”, and “Give” to learn lifelong budgeting habits that will help them as well as their community.
- Be kind – Looks for opportunities to brighten others days! Encourage your children to be kind because we never know the struggle our neighbor may be going through, especially their fellow classmates. A kind word, compliment or helpful hand might be just what their classmate needs to have a better day.