Teaching Kids About Philanthropy

I remember vividly gym class in elementary school. I had the most amazing gym teacher ever named Mr. Neal. He was simply incredibly. Definitely one of those souls of a teacher that you will simply never forget. At the time I was in school, we were encouraged to cut off labels of a popular soup brand and bring them into gym class. Each label that we brought in would allow us to get one drink pass during gym classes. As I grew older, I learned that it wasn’t really about the free water pass, but that these labels were actually doing good. While in elementary school, our school received several benches and play equipment that we were told came from us bringing in these labels. It was at this time that I believe my drive for giving back started. I was amazed that something so small could do so much good.

Fast forward, to this stage of my life, and determined to teach our girls the same drive and willingness to do small deeds and give back to others. It doesn’t have to be a large sum of money or some extraordinary act to make a difference in the lives of their peers, other human beings around them, and the Earth on which we live. Teaching our girls about philanthropy is so important to us as parents.

Walking to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes

Buying lunch for the person behind us in line, helping someone pick up something they dropped or spilled, taking a meal to someone who needs a pick me up, picking up trash along the road.  It’s little things like this that can make the world of difference.

What’s great about this is that it can start today.  No matter the age of your children.  With Skibbles doing Pre-K 3 this year we have already started teaching her about helping others and whether you homeschool, private school, or public school, there’s an incredibly simple way for you to start teaching them about doing small tasks to help others today.

Hefty Box Tops for Education, though not around while I was in elementary school, is the perfect opportunity for this.  You can teach your kids to look for the labels on selected products, like Hefty trash bags (the only trash bag that supports Box Tops for Education) and then cut out the coupons to save for their school (or if homeschooled, a school local to them to send in).  Each Box Tops coupon is worth 10 cents and every individual school enrolled can earn up to $20,000 every year.  More computers, new playground equipment, and books are just some of the things schools can purchase with their funds.  Wondering what else schools needs?  Watch this insanely hilarious video from teachers that Hefty put together.

It’s an insanely easy way to help the communities in which we live and I love sharing these moments with our girls.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.