This is a sponsored post. 
As a mom, it hits me now more than ever the need to help others. As someone who has always had the heart and mindset that we are meant to help out others, I've realized it has surfaced even more. When you think about your own children, you want the best and always hope that if they were ever in need, someone would do their part to help out.
It might be something as simple as helping a friend move or watching their child when reliable childcare isn't available, or going as far as taking part in an entire movement to better your community or society as a whole. If there is one thing I hope to teach my children, it is to be a contributing member to society; do your part to help out.
Since I was a little girl, I remember finding ways to help volunteer my time. My grandpa taught me young to help out by things as simple as collecting pop tabs for charity and that helped mold my thoughts on reaching out as an adult today. Throughout high school, I volunteered for various organizations or events. I found ways to share my time at a local nursing home, clean up at an animal shelter, or be an event volunteer for the Special Olympics.
Every action helps make a difference and show your children what it means to help others. I regularly sport various "cause" ribbons from the
breast cancer logo to the domestic violence ribbons and so forth. It's a simple task many might overlook but, when your child asks "What is that for?", it's an easy way to throw in a, "I wear this to help others understand_____".
My children have visited animal shelters on a regular basis, spent time with those who are ill, or had an extra friend to play with while Mommy helped a friend.
Do you find ways to help teach your children about helping others?
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Comments (4)
I have been teaching my son to donate his toys and clothes since he was a little more than a year old. I keep a box in the closet for clothes that don't fit and toys that he doesn't want. Lately, he has been a little stingy with his toys, but he does play with all of them.
When he is older, I will definitely take him to places like homeless shelters and animal shelters. For now, I think the idea of donating money to a cause may be a bit abstract for him. Doing something hands on like volunteering or donating is something he can touch, feel, and process. We will definitely find causes for him when he is older.
We hold onto everything like clothes and toys just in case, but we often take the kids to the Humane Society so they can give the animals some TLC. Since our oldest started school this year, we bought her a backpack as well as pencils, erasers, and crayons to use on her homework. As we were buying these items, I encouraged our daughter to pick out some extra pencils, an extra box of crayons and some paper to donate. After we bought everything, I told her to walk over to the bin at the front of the store and place the extra items into it. She asked what we were doing, and I explained to her about other kids' parents needing some help with getting school supplies for their kids. She was so happy to help! We often donate food to the local food bank, and the kids always enjoy loading up the bags.
I hope and pray I can make my daughter a nice person. That is really one of my biggest concerns! I know "nice" is vague. But there are just little things that I see other kids do and I think "Wow, I really don't want my daughter to act like that." It's just little things like holding the door for people, saying thank you and please, being polite overall, not yelling at people when she is mad or upset... I really haven't given much thought to the whole donation/charity/community service idea, but I'm glad you mention it because I am sure most of us don't take our kids to the animal shelter to help, or the food kitchen. Great idea.
By watching my mother and father help people and be nice to people, I grew up with the same mindset. Both my parents would think veterans for their service, my mother would buy a meal for a homeless person, my father would always hold the door open for any elderly person, and one time my father pulled over to help a man with a walker across the street.
Parents set the example, and the children will follow.