GivingTuesday is happening on November 29 and it’s a great opportunity for parents and caregivers to share their values around philanthropy and get kids involved in doing good – right where you live.
Giving back makes kids feel empowered and instilling the value of generosity can have lifelong benefits, including enhancing their mood, fostering optimism, reducing depression, and creating healthy relationships. Generosity has even been linked to higher rates of happiness. If we want our kids to be generous, we have to talk to our kids about generosity.
Start by asking your kids what causes and issues matter most to them or what aspects of their local community they’d most like to help. If your kids…
…love being outdoors: clean up a neighborhood playground, park or beach.
…are concerned about the well-being of other kids: collect and donate school supplies; run a toy drive before the holiday season; start a fundraiser to help local kids in need.
…want to help create a society that’s more kind: make a generosity wall in a public space and encourage others to write kind messages, or paint kindness rocks and hide them throughout the neighborhood.
…are worried about the homeless in your community: prepare care kits and deliver them to homeless shelters.
…love animals: set up a pet supply donation drive to support animals in need or volunteer at the local shelter.
… want to support our servicemen and women: write thank you messages to first responders.
… want to address cyber-bullying: ask your school if you can help create an anti-bullying campaign and help plan a virtual rally about it.
… are concerned with food inequities: create bagged lunches and give them to anyone who might be hungry or donate canned goods to the local food bank.
Three Things You Can Do Right Now
Connect: Follow #BGCSV, #GivingTuesday, and #GivingTuesdaySpark on Instagram and connect with other kids who are committed to doing good.
Share: If your kids use social media, encourage them to join the #GivingTuesday challenge and post their act of generosity on TikTok or Instagram and join celebrities and influencers from all over the world on the global day of giving on November 29.
Join: Become a Boys & Girls Clubs Ambassador, take our social media challenge, or start your own fundraiser.
