Recently 12-year-old Alexia Blakeman made headlines with Courageous Kaydie, a paper doll she created to honor a friend of her grandmother’s who was stricken with breast cancer. Over the last year she has raised more than $800 for breast cancer research by encouraging people to pay $1 to have their picture taken with her paper doll and post their pictures on Facebook.
Alexia is on a path to a lifetime of generosity. Whether your child is 6 or 16, it is your influence at home, and what they experience at school, that will set them on that same path.
Empathy and generosity come naturally to most children. When they witness the devastation of fire and flood, war and illness on TV, their instinct is often to help those who are suffering. Your job as a parent or teacher is to help them find the ways they can make a difference and learn about the joy that comes from reaching out to help others, sharing the spirit of community service, building a foundation of generosity as a lifelong habit.
Since school plays such an important part in a child’s life, for many their first encounter with sharing their time or talent comes in the classroom. Springfield School District 186 encourages each school to develop its own community and charitable projects. Some are exotic (Carrie Miles teaches art at Springfield High and has students involved in an art auction to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network.) and others are far simpler (Many schools have ‘hat day’ – where each student contributes $1 for charity to wear a hat all day.). Regardless of the complexity, the outcome is the same – the children learn firsthand that it feels good to do good. Visit www.sp186.org to see examples of the many efforts going on around local public schools.
At Blessed Sacrament School “giving back” is part of every school day. “Each classroom has a mission project each month,” said Kim Hoffman, the school’s development director. “We start the pre-school kids with a diaper drive that the teachers lead. Whatever we’re collecting, we ask all the kids and their parents to participate. They watch the pile grow and it inspires them to do even more.” One of the school’s teachers volunteers at St. Martin de Porres and often takes some of the older children with her. Depending on their age and grade, students might participate in a service day at St. Joseph’s home or make blankets for the babies at the Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery. “We believe that instilling these values early helps them understand their role in the bigger world,” Hoffman said.
Across town, St. Patrick’s School serves disadvantaged students, many of whom have been on the receiving end of charity. “We feel it is very important to emphasize the importance of sharing what you have,” says Judi Willard, St. Patrick’s development director. “Everyone has something valuable to give, even if they rely on help in some aspect of their life. We remind the kids that God gave everyone something special – time, talent or treasure. Whichever you have, share it with those who need it.” While each teacher establishes her own classroom giving project, the school takes the kids to visit senior citizens where they might sing or spend time talking. “It really helps the kids see and understand their place in the circle of life. Generosity feeds your soul and gives your life more meaning.”
Here are some simple ways you can take these lessons from school and make them a part of life at home.
• Talk to your children about the nonprofit groups you support and why. Your kids may not know that you serve on a board or donate to a particular group. Be proud of your giving.
• Encourage children to give away items. An easy place to begin the giving habit is to help them identify toys, games or clothes they no longer need but that others will treasure.
• Encourage them to share a portion of their allowance. The amount is less important than establishing the spirit of sharing with those who need a helping hand.
• Remind children it isn’t always about money. Helping a neighbor complete a task or befriending a child who is being bullied builds character and personal pride.
• Incorporate their outside interests. Would the soccer team welcome a community project? Working with others to meet a goal is a great way to prepare for a lifetime of community service.
• Ask your kids to choose a “family” cause. You could walk to raise money for a charity, volunteer to walk the dogs at APL or conduct a food drive. Doing it as a family makes it all that more meaningful.
This article appears in Capital City Parent October 2012.
