As an active philanthropist, one of the greatest things to see is a young person with the desire to reach out and help others. Practicing philanthropy allows you to reach out to those in need and offer your help in various ways. From making monetary donations to volunteering your time, acts of kindness can really go a long way. One of the best ways to keep acts of kindness going is to involve young people and teach them the importance of giving back to others; in fact, doing so can be a philanthropic act in itself. Here are a few essential ways to give back, and teach children about philanthropy.
Donate Items
As the years go on, children accumulate toys, books and other gifts that they tend to quickly grow out of or lose interest in. The same generally applies for clothes. While your closets are stacking up with unused items, consider talking to your child about donating them to others in need. Explain how toys or clothes that they don’t use anymore will bring joy to others that may not have them.
Find a Charity That Focuses on Their Interests
There are so many charities and organizations that you can look into, and many of them may involve a child’s general interests. Consider if your child is interested in sports; they may want to volunteer their time with a youth sports team for training or coaching purposes, or donate sport related items to teams that may need them. If your child is interested in animals, they can participate with a zoo or rescue organization.
Help Other Children
Kids love to help other kids. Whether it’s joining a sponsorship program, volunteering at a children’s hospital, or something as simple as becoming pen pals with another child in a different location. This will help your child learn about the lives of others, as well as teach them the impact they can make on someone else’s life.
Get Involved in the Community
Keeping things local is always an option. There are plenty of opportunities within your local community that will provide your child with the chance to help someone in need. Local charities and food banks can work with schools, or you can help your child get involved with various organizations that offer help to other community members.