Teach Your Child to Give Back with the Boys & Girls Club of America

I love all of the excitement surrounding the holidays — the yummy food, the pretty lights and decorations, and the time spent with family. It’s truly a wonderful time of year and I am so thankful for everything I have. I know for many people this time of year isn’t always easy. Financially it can be a struggle, so I think it’s important to remember to pay it forward and give back to those who are less fortunate if you can.

Want to Give Back?

This year marks the 2nd annual Boys & Girls Club of America Give the Gift of a Great Future holiday campaign. With your help, millions of kids across America will benefit from the services that the Boys & Girls Club provides. Getting involved is free and makes a huge difference!

Here are a couple of ways you can help:

Play the free Giving Game — It only takes 30 seconds of your time and is super easy. I just played and now an art kit will be donated to a child in need. How cool is that?! I encourage you to get your kids involved and do the same.

Vote in the Kids Give Back photo contest — It only takes a minute to vote and the winning club will receive a $2500 grant from BGCA!

Teach Your Children the Value of Giving Back

During the holidays it’s so easy for kids to get wrapped up in the excitement of receiving presents, oftentimes forgetting about how rewarding it is to give back. As parents, it’s our job to teach our children that it’s better to give than receive. I want my kids to enjoy all of the excitement surrounding Christmas, but I also want to them to develop a compassion and desire to help those who are less fortunate. This year my family will be participating in Angel Tree and will be giving presents to children in need.

If you are in need of ideas on how to teach your children to give back, BGCA created a list of tips to help. Here are my favorites:

1. Talk about giving. Tell your kids which causes you’re supporting this year and why. Better yet, make the choice together. Or give each child a portion of what you plan to donate this year and allow him or her to choose the charity.
2. Read books about giving. Try The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen, I Can Make a Difference by Julie and Amanda Sexson or a selection from Learning to Give’s Annotated Bibliography of Children’s Literature.
3. Volunteer together. Whether serving a meal at a soup kitchen or lending a hand at an animal shelter, volunteering helps kids learn compassion – and it’s a great way for families to spend time together. Check with your child’s school, your religious institution, a local Boys & Girls Club or The Volunteer Family for project ideas.
4. Be enthusiastic! Boys & Girls Club kids who are active in community service say they’re inspired by the adults in their lives who give back, too.
5. Make philanthropy a family value. The holidays are a natural fit for giving, but causes can use your support in other seasons, too. Look for opportunities throughout the year to reinforce the idea that helping others is important. Boys & Girls Club teens who are passionate about community service said it was critical to hear this message repeatedly from the adults in their lives.

This holiday season I encourage you to get your family together and find a way to give back. If money is tight, remember that you don’t always have to donate money or gifts to make a difference. Simply volunteering at a local organization or participating in the BGCA Give the Gift of a Great Future campaign can make a huge impact on someone’s life. These small acts of kindness can make huge impressions on children and will hopefully encourage a lifelong practice of giving back.

 

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs of America. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.