Gavin McCormack sent me this well written article on the importance of teaching our children to share as well as their responsibility to their global community.
McCormack states that our children need to be aware of their current surroundings and the essential fundamental needs of human beings that we take for granted that are not necessarily available for everyone.
Things such as shelter, warmth, love, family, clean water and clean air are not available to all. From an early age, children can feel the emotional rewards of giving over receiving.
These can be promoted in the home by modelling the behaviour you wish to view in your child. Actions such as recycling old clothes and donating them to charity shops, or as I do, donating them to new immigrants. Other actions such as collecting food for the homeless and writing simple notes and cards of appreciation to friends and family on a regular basis allow children to feel the rewards of being kind and empathetic.
Children who understand how good it feels to give back will develop a deeper sense of their global community and the impact they can have upon it as they develop into young adults. And, in the process of learning, your heart will melt over and over again when you see the sharing and caring actions of your children!