How to create a Giving Generation and not a Give-Me Generation

Today, majority of the families have single child and in such cases, most of the children happen to become adamant from the very infant age. The reason for this clearly is, they are given over importance and attention from the family than it is actually required. They are totally negligent towards sharing. From the very young age, they have the aspect of “this is Mine”, only mine, in them. We give them materialistic things in the form of clothes, toys, etc. more than that is required. Thus, in order to make them better adults, it is very important to implant the ART OF GIVING.How do we develop the sense of GENEROSITY in them? I purely believe this art of giving should be dealt with, in such a way that children do not feel they are being imposed with our thoughts. English Medium School in Ahmadabad. So here are a few ways that can help them become generous and kind adults.

• Teach what it means to share:

  From the very infant age, they have to be taught why to share and how to share. It can be taught by very simple day to day activities like sharing food or sharing toys etc. This can help them understand in concrete terms how to be generous. By such daily acts of sharing, they can realize how important it is to share and upon such act, how did it help the receiver.

• What do we as parents feel after sharing:

  It is really important to explain, how we felt after we shared. Did we feel proud, happy, contented, helpful, kind or generous? This feeling can be explained to them by sharing our stories of kindness.

• Do it in front of your child:

  Any act of generosity, if done in their presence, helps them build that faith and confidence in giving. Do not do it in order to create the pressure of showing your child that is good. Rather do it, in a selfless way that makes your child feel that this was the best part of his/her day. By seeing this, the child always believes it to be true and considers it to be the best gift of all. The gift that can help the one in need. For an instance, if you are eating an ice-cream or a snack in your car and some beggar or any underprivileged knocks the door of your car, do not neglect that person by being rude or insulting him. Do not even give him money. Rather, buy him food to eat so that he can fill his stomach by one meal of the day. This will help your child understand the art of giving by believing from his own eyes. So, in this way the child will feel the act of kindness to be real.

• Be generous with your own child:

  In order to develop the importance of generosity in your child, you yourself have to be generous to your child. It is similar to “Charity begins from home”. It is understandable that, today’s generation is not easy to be dealt with, in case of their tantrums and adamant behavior, but it is equally important to create an environment at home, where they are treated with generosity from their own family.

• Be Patient:

  The values of life cannot be created, developed or instilled in your child overnight. It is a process. A process that requires thorough dedication, patience and perseverance.

• Appreciate their act of kindness:

  If their acts of kindness are appreciated, then they will certainly understand that such an effort made by them has created a great impact or a difference in someone else’s life, and that has made the receiver really happy.

• Do not compare them with others:

  Every child is different and is a gift of God. Never compare your child with the other child rather create an environment and make them believe that they themselves can be good examples. Comparing can always deteriorate their morals and make them loose their self-respect along with their self-confidence. Comparison will never be a key to built healthy relations and surroundings around your child.

• Stick to your values:

  It is very important to teach them the importance to values and ethics and to stick to them. Promises once given have to be fulfilled. So teach them to promise only if they are able to fulfill it. Morals, values, ethics, generosity, kindness are not to be taught, they are self learnt through examples that you set for them.

• Do it together:

  Ask your child to help you, when you pack your donation for others. During packing you can teach them the importance of donation and can also educate them about how helpful it can be to the receiver. Teach them to always give without expectations and reciprocations.

• Politeness:

  Generosity is not only helping with material things or monetarily. It is also how you behave and what should be your tone with others. Specially with, those who work for you or who belong to the level lesser than you. Politeness in your language and calmness in your behavior is the most important example of generosity.

  At the end, the goal is to make generosity a natural part of your child’s life and not a compulsion to show the world around them. That will ultimately help them become kind and giving adults. This can go a long way towards helping your child become a better person. It is rightly, said The More You Give, The More You Receive.The Power of giving and the Joy of helping is the best investment towards achieving genuine happiness. Apple Global – English Medium School in Ahmedabad..

DEETI BOSAMIA
(MOTHER OF HITEE BOSAMIA, NURSERY)