Loral Langemeier, author of The Millionaire Maker says "Philanthropy starts early. As important as it is to teach a child the building blocks of the Wealth Cycle - to invest, to stay out of debt, to make money and create a cash machine using one's skills, it's also important to teach Charity. It is part of my son's annual routine to choose 5 of his toys and give them away to an organization that can give them to children in need. I also encourage setting aside a percentage of a child's earnings, even if it's from a lemonade stand, to go to worthwhile causes. Benevolent habits can and should be imbedded early."
I am very much aware, working with kids, that it is a natural instinct they have to want to give and help others. Helping others and sharing their personal items is totally different. They are hard pressed to share their personal items; however, if they see someone in need that they can help they are right there for them. Kids do not have a personal agenda, like helping others and giving to others, because the "law of the land" is that it will come back to you in double blessings - that does not matter to kids. In the Kids Forum, they tell me they like to help others because it makes them feel better - it seems to be more of a personal blessing/a good feeling which they bestow upon themselves by helping others.
There is a great book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstiein that explains, in a great way, what giving and taking from others is all about. Just click on the right hand side of our blog and it will take you to Amazon to purchase the book. It makes a great gift for grandparents, aunts, uncles and other people in a kid's life to give them as a special "I love you" gift.
As adults in a kid's life, open the doors for a kid to give to others. Even if it is what Loral suggest and have your kid pick out 5 toys each year to give to another kid, or an organization who knows where the needy kids are that do not have many toys to play with.
As always, I say to the adults "set the example" for your kid - give to others and make your kid a part of the giving.
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