Charitable Children Make For Happier Adults

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More adults who were raised to be charitable report being very happy today, compared to those who were raised without an emphasis on philanthropy. According to a study conducted by Fidelity Charitable, 48% of those who grew up with strong giving traditions are very happy today, versus 33% who did not grow up with strong giving traditions.

There’s also a correlation between family closeness and giving: Some 81% of respondents who were raised to be charitable describe their core family as very close, versus 71% of respondents who did not practice philanthropy throughout childhood. “Establishing a giving tradition not only benefits the causes that your family cares about, but can also bring your family closer together,” says Elaine Martyn, Fidelity Charitable’s family philanthropy expert.

Among the respondents who grew up with strong giving traditions, parents were their biggest motivators. In fact, 38% of survey participants who were raised to be charitable say their habits were inspired by their parents. “Having open discussions with children around how your family supports different causes and charities not only reinforces the importance of helping others, but can also inspire future charitable giving,” Martyn says.

“Incorporating charitable giving into family life can be an effective way to teach children healthy attitudes towards money while reinforcing the importance of helping others. It can also lead to greater happiness later in life,” Martyn adds. She explains that children who become involved in family giving efforts learn early on how to explore their own passions and personal values as they learn about the world around them. At the same time, they developing critical thinking and communications skills through giving.

Below, some tips for raising charitable children.

Start them young. Experts believe that no age is too young to introduce giving to your children. When doing so, start simple. Introduce giving with a concept as easy as donating gently used clothing and toys. Talk to your children about where the items will go and let them help during the collection process. Also teach them to take care of their treasured items so that they remain in good condition when it’s time to pass them on.

Share giving stories. “Carve out time for an annual meeting for family members to share a charitable cause or issue they care about, as well as ways they’d like to support that cause in the next year,” Martyn says. Planning ahead allows family members to get excited about a giving tradition in the future.

Find a valuable platform. Giving platform Daymaker rolled out an initiative called Yearmaker, which is designed for children of all ages. Children are matched with a child of a similar life stage and can support them as they navigate challenging circumstances. Donors send gifts to their buddy five times a year (chosen from a wish list) and can develop a relationship with him or her through digital communication. Choose a platform that helps to get kids engaged, and the act of giving will become more meaningful, relatable and rewarding.

Volunteer as a group. Martyn suggests signing up to help out a favorite charity in the morning and discuss the experience in the afternoon, reflecting on the experience together.

Create a charity “registry.” Ask family members to bring an item from a favorite nonprofit’s wish list to an upcoming family gathering, like a Thanksgiving dinner or a birthday party – and, if possible, arrange a time to deliver the items together, Martyn suggests.

Keep it going. According to a separate study conducted by scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and published in the journal Child Development, teens who were engaged in civic activities—such as volunteering, voting and activism—were more likely than non-engaged peers to attain higher income and education levels as adults. The study also suggests that volunteering and voting were favorably associated with subsequent mental health and health behaviors, such as a fewer symptoms of depression and lower risk for negative health behaviors including substance use. Encourage giving throughout the teen years, and your children will be more likely to carry the benefits and a passion for giving into adulthood.

 

source: forbes.com