Service to others doesn't have to involve strangers or traditional volunteering. In fact, when teaching small children the value of empathy and caring, you'll often get further if you start with familiar people and places.
Animal Love
Create a Family Giving Circle
Giving Circles make for fun and effective philanthropy, whether you have $5 or $500 to give. The idea is that individuals pool funds, then decide as a group where to donate. By creating a Family Giving Circle, you can use this same concept to teach your children about charitable giving. They'll love having a big say in donation decisions and will learn firsthand about this crucial way of sharing.
Helping Children Bring Their Passions to Life
Become a Cultural Ambassador
Our increasingly globalized society can provide your family with important opportunities to interact with diverse people and cultures. This allows children (and adults) to appreciate the complexity and richness of other countries, to develop a sense of their own place in the world, and to realize that their view is only one among many possible views.
Advocate for Your Cause
What issue does your family care about? Are you passionate about global poverty, empowering girls, environmental sustainability or benefits for veterans? Be an advocate for your cause! Hone in on your passion -- and educate others about the issue -- by exploring creative ways to raise awareness. Here are some ideas to light a firecracker under your campaign!
Raising a Nature-Loving Child
Being your Child’s Emotional Tutor
A Mindful New Year
Collecting for the Community
Want to add a bit of altruism to your children's summer? Instead of collecting shells and rocks, hold a collection drive for those in need. It could be cereal for a food pantry, cat or dog toys for a humane society, diapers for a crisis nursery, or books for a family homeless shelter.
A donation drive is a fun, easy family activity that can improve lives.