I always believe in paying it forward. I've always been a recipient of other people's kindness and generosity growing up in Asia, even now that I'm older and in the US. Anywhere you go, you'll always find kind-hearted people and it's a blessing to have them around. I akin doing good to others like spreading good bacteria. Those who receive it, most often than not, will spread it to others. Now that I have my own child, I want to teach her this gift early on and here is how I've been doing it:

1. Be a Giver yourself - Our children learn from us. They mirror what they see from us. This is how their core values are created. Seeing our own ability to give unselfishly will be a pattern they will mimic naturally.
2. Participate in charitable causes - This is a great way to give your children an idea what charity means. A way to give them a visual image of what a charity entails, who it is being done for and why.
3. Get the children involved - I have been actively involved and done several charitable causes for a couple of years now and it has always been fun having my daughter involved in the process. I take her with me to meet people to collect donations pledged all the way to the donation drop-off locations so she can see how many people in this crazy world are actually good and generous.
4. Host a Cause in your own home - Nothing beats hands-on experience. Just December of last year, I celebrated my birthday by doing a Toy drive at my house. My daughter not only got to share the experience with her friends but also enforced the meaning of giving by seeing it up close and personal.
5. Choose a Charity that supports Kids - It's easier for children to get a grasp on why you're doing this act of kindness when the recipients are ones they can relate to. The Toy drive I did for my birthday was for homeless children. It created a huge impact to my daughter knowing that kids her age are not as privileged as she is.
6. Get the Children to pledge their own donation - Showing is just half the lesson. Encouraging them to donate on their own accord enforces the lesson. Letting them decide on what they wanted to donate also empowers them. My daughter had this experience when we went to her favorite toy store and chose the toy she wanted to donate.
7. Encourage selfless giving -  This is probably the hardest to curb when you have young children at an age who believe they are the "center of the universe". Just as what happened to my daughter while we were shopping for toys to donate. Instinctively, she insisted she gets one too since some children are getting toys at her favorite toy store!  The key is to be firm and diligent in reminding them that what we're doing is for a great cause.

My daughter is only six and we have a long way to go in achieving this gift. How about you, what are other ways do you do to instill the gift of giving in your children? What is your favorite Charity?

Check ZensibleMama.com For more on Maricris' Zensible journeys in her Geek life +Style.

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