Mary DesJardin
One of the main purposes of this class is to learn what philanthropy is and the role it plays in the social world. The concept can seem daunting and too advanced for some people, including children and adolescents. However, introducing them to the concept of philanthropy can create more global citizens, as they are more aware of the world around them. Here are a few ways philanthropy can be introduced.
Encourage them to ask Questions and Ask Them Questions: When you are donating items, or are given opportunities to teach your children about philanthropy, encourage them to ask questions. Creating opportunities to engage in conversation about philanthropy can spark action in children at a young age.
Create Environments that allow for Discussion: Having conversations with children when they see instances of injustice can help them develop empathy. Empathy is one of our strongest emotions and can be used to help children understand harder concepts. This feeling is one of the strongest drives behind philanthropy. Therefore, introducing it to children early allows them to develop their own sense of empathy and prepares them to engage in action as early as adolescence.
Hands-on Community Service: Encouraging children to engage in volunteer actions at a young age can help them engage at a larger scale in the future. A child’s brain is like a sponge, they are constantly taking in new information. Hands-on engagement shows how big of an impact they can have on other people, even though they are so young.
Food/ Clothing Drives: Typically, around the holidays, schools will hold drives for various causes in the community. When/if this occurs, have a conversation with your child about why it’s important to donate food.
There are other various ways to introduce philanthropy to younger people, but these are a few suggestions to get you started.