Is there really an “art of giving”? According to developmental psychologist Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD, there is—and it begins in childhood. Whether it’s baking for a neighbor or donating to those in need, the experiences children have around generosity shape their empathy, gratitude, and identity for life. In this guest post, Dr. Price-Mitchell shares four meaningful ways families can inspire kids to become lifelong givers.
4 Powerful Ways to Teach Kids the Art of Giving
1. Give Voice to the Meaning of Gift Giving
You can help children become more mindful about gift-giving simply by encouraging them to think, voice their thoughts, and then act on them. Engage children in open-ended questions that dig more deeply into the meaning behind giving, like:
- If gifts could talk, what would they say?
- What gifts have you treasured most? Why?
- What does a gift really mean?
- If there is an art of giving, what does that art look like for you?
- What is a gift you would never return?
- How do you measure the value of a gift?
2. Turn Your Family Values Into Action
Discussions about giving can lead to identifying and articulating family values. Turning those values into action is a key to shaping children’s personal art of giving.
Decide as a family how your values can be transformed into holiday gifts for family and friends. What kinds of gifts shared between family members and close friends are most meaningful? Decide on gifts that will bring this meaning to you and your children’s lives.
Don’t be afraid to make changes from previous years and adapt to changing economic times.
3. Connect the Art of Giving to Stewardship
It takes the combined efforts of families, schools, and communities to raise caring citizens and stewards of the planet. Families play a vital role when they help children connect the art of giving to lifelong citizenship.
There are thousands of ways children and families learn to give throughout the year that shape a child’s identity and personal art of giving. We are stewards to each other and the natural world around us. You can help children discover the daily ways they act as givers to their parents, siblings, neighbors, the earth, and those in need around the world by recognizing their small but significant gift-giving actions.
Parents can bring meaning to these actions through family conversation starters like:
- How is doing chores around the house connected to giving?
- What does it mean to leave a flower or light a candle in remembrance of a person who has died? How does this action connect with giving?
- How can we practice our family values by cultivating the art of giving in our home?
- What do we most want from our family relationships? How would those wishes be gifts to each of us?
- How is recycling (and other conserving behaviors) a gift to the earth? Why should we care?
4. Engage Children in Community Giving Projects
About the Author
Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD, is a developmental psychologist and author of Tomorrow’s Change Makers: Reclaiming the Power of Citizenship for a New Generation. She is founder of the blog Roots of Action, where she synthesizes research in positive youth development. 
