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Generosity is a valuable virtue, but some societies care about it more than others. In the United States, there seems to be an issue with kindness that should be highlighted. More kids seem to care about personal success over being generous or kind to others. This, some say, is a result of American values infecting people in a way that might not have been expected. The following are a few things parents can do to pull out a child’s natural kindness.
Exposure to Local People
Some could say generosity is something you are born with or are not, but things are a little more complicated. This particular virtue may be inside everyone at various degrees and could be nurtured. Perhaps this is one reason why people who have less give more than those with an abundance.
One thing parents can do to teach generosity to kids is exposing them to local struggling communities. Being able to understand money problems helps make a person more sympathetic to this plight. In essence, a parent who exposes children to poverty will help prevent the blind spot some well-to-do individuals suffer from.
Let Your Actions Teach
The idea may be crude, but children need to see parents value the importance of generosity. Actions truly do speak volumes, and parents need to be conscious of this. This means parents need to ensure that generosity is shown in the family.
One way to do this is to volunteer at places like the local food bank or other similar organizations. Parents can also make it a habit to donate clothes, used appliances, and time to charitable organizations or even someone less fortunate. Kids should learn, and try to follow the footsteps of their parents sooner or later, so be consistent and patient.
International Exposure
Yes, there is a lot of children or teenagers can do locally, and they should be encouraged to do so, but there is more to do. Children who are exposed to the troubles of this world may want to be more generous. No one is saying the weight of the world’s problems should be put on a child’s shoulders, and that should be made clear.
Exposure is about learning from others like Jamileh Kharrazi who is a philanthropist attempting to find ways to help those in need, especially mistreated women, in all sorts of places around the world. Being exposed to generous people like Kharrazi and how they can actually help is a good thing. Being well-informed can boost one’s inner-generosity so that they are more effective, which is ideal.
Thoughtful Conditioning
Being generous does not just benefit the receiver because it also ends up helping the giver as well. Experts have noticed how happy giving people are compared to those who are not. One thing that really works, especially for younger children, is conditioning. This relies on using tools that help a child get used to the idea of being generous from an early age.
For example, a parent can give a child an allowance but encourage the child to split it up. A child could separate the cash that he or she wants to save, spend, and donate into jars. This should help a kid understand how to manage his or her money better and also understand the importance of giving. Do not force him or her to always put money in the giving jar but rather let the kid do this on his or her own accord. Remember to be patient because learning to be generous can take time.
Hopefully, some of these suggestions make it easier to teach a child about generosity and help reverse how devalued this virtue has become in America. Being able to care for those less fortunate is a gift, and it should be treated as such. Be sure to pass these ideas on to others because generosity is a world effort.
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Photo: Getty Images
