How millennial parents are teaching their children the power of generosity

Many millennial parents who have begun their journey into parenthood are coming up against the challenges of what it is to raise little human beings – imbuing in them all the good nature and values which will lead them to being kind members of society. Whilst dealing with your child and all the complexities of them discovering a whole world for the first time is already difficult at its baseline, it’s important to put in the work from the get-go to teach them the importance of kindness, sharing, empathy and all other aspects of generosity.

Below are some of the ways in which millennial parents are teaching the next generation how the power of generosity can work like dominoes, positively affecting the communities around them and even the world at large.

By giving them the gift of giving

When it comes to teaching children generosity, giving them the agency to practise generosity themselves is vital. Parents start by giving their children extra pocket money and education on charities to donate to, with the stipulation that their extra pocket money must be donated. This is a great way to get them thinking about how they might affect change and where it is in particular that they wish to affect change. It also provides parents with the unique opportunity to sit down with their children and teach them about charitable organisations, people who are underprivileged or in need, some of the social and ecological issues affecting our planet today, and how we can do our part to bridge all these gaps.

For smaller children, introducing them to the concept of conscientious giving can be as easy as preparing for their friend’s birthday party in a more hands-on way. For example, parents can sit down and have a conversation with their children about the gift-giving process rather than simply buying the gift themselves. This can help children understand the role that empathy can play when giving a friend a gift that aligns with their interests. And chances are that your child will get hooked on charitable and conscientious giving when they see their friends’ reactions to all of their thoughtfully selected gifts.

Take on some volunteer opportunities

A logical next step from charitable donations is volunteering opportunities that are suitable for children. Volunteering can help a child engage with their community, begin to feel their impact, and even improve their physical and mental health.

Volunteering can even be done as a family – providing a chance for the family unit to bond while also assisting the less fortunate or the environment. And again, providing kids with agency is important here as well. That’s precisely why millennial parents are asking their children where they’d like to volunteer.

Do they want to help out at their school’s next working bee? Do they want to see the family unit get together to pick litter at their local parks or assist in programs which work to provide food and supplies to homeless people? Then that’s what you’ll get to do! Children may also even be able to find opportunities working at local animal shelters, which can be a solid choice if your child already has a love for animals.

Build your own Little Free Library

Little Free Library is a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is simple: expand access to books through street-accessible book-exchange boxes. And with over 150,000 Little Free Libraries worldwide and counting, they are doing well in achieving their goal.

Millennial parents are playing a vital role in helping this unique organisation expand their efforts further by getting the family together to make their own Little Free Library. Building your own Little Free Library is a superb way of guiding a child through the work it can sometimes require in order to do good things for the community. And placing your Little Free Library on your property, on your nature strip, or somewhere nearby can also transform this novel social impact endeavour into a continued lesson, seeing the exchanging of books and the value of reading in action with every passing day.

Focus on generosity in the day-to-day

Once again, one of the simplest ways of encouraging the ethos of generosity is fostering it where it already exists in a child’s regular life. For example, one of the earliest lessons for a child is the importance of sharing. Along with teaching them to share, it’s vitally important to show them why it is we share, encouraging the development of their social and general cognitive abilities.

Millennial parents are also encouraging their kids to share by ensuring that their children have plenty of access to social opportunities, both with their siblings and family members as well as with friends of all ages. With plenty of play dates lined up, children can consistently experience the joy that accompanies sharing their toys with their friends and having their friends share theirs in return, building positive correlations with the act of sharing.

Be an excellent example

It’s no secret that children watch and copy everything that their parental figures and older siblings do. So it stands to reason that the best way to teach a child generosity is to model it for them. Millennial parents are living their own ethos of generosity every day and ensuring that their children have an exceptional model to follow when communicating with their peers and when interacting with their community at large. New parents are encouraged to be engaged and excited about the world outside of yourself and ensure that you are persistently practising empathy so that your little ones can follow suit.

Remember that there is never any use in teaching a child a lesson that you yourself don’t also practise. When it comes to the power of generosity, it is important that the adults have a grasp on it first.

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When coming together and approaching the world and others within it with curiosity and understanding, the power of generosity is able to bloom naturally. It is important to stay informed of the world outside yourself and to be constantly looking at where you might affect positive change. Then, all that’s left to do is simply take your child along with you for that journey – all the while still giving them the agency to make their own choices.

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