'Tis the season to be generous

It’s that time of the year again, Christmas music is playing, department stores are filled with all types of festive memorabilia, there are queues for a picture with Santa, and there are people struggling to meet their debts and provide a shelter for their families. This last one exists all year round, but Christmas can be a great time of year to teach our children about the importance of charity and generosity.

We assume that if we lead by example, our kids and our growing teens will follow. Unfortunately, this seems to be true with our bad traits, and not necessarily with our good. While schools often do a great job of making the youth aware of those less fortunate, Christmas can be a time where those struggling, often feel it the worst. It’s worth exploring charitable options further to help remind our family how fortunate we are, and that there are others in the world struggling.

Start a conversation

At Edstart, we also assumed lead-by-example was the best method. But upon further exploring, we learnt that the best way to communicate the needs of others was by simply talking to our family. Talking intentionally to your children, according to our online research, will significantly increase the likelihood of them giving to charity and doing charitable acts.

And by talking what do we mean exactly? We mean everyday conversation. Mention the fundraiser your office put on for the Leukaemia Foundation, all the moustaches people are sporting in your office to raise funds for men’s health during Movember, the spare change collection tins for the Salvos with Christmas decorations. Simply starting the conversation and bringing it to their attention, will encourage their thinking about others. Also explaining the role of each charity can draw their attention to the different ways donations can help others.

More than money

It’s important to note that being charitable doesn’t always revolve around money and that Christmas can bring out financial strain for everyone. We understand teenagers work hard for their pocket money, or at their part-time or summer jobs, and they should enjoy it. Talking about alternative options to help others is a great idea as well, for which there are plenty.

When you drive around in a lot of shopping centre car parks like Westfield, you notice there are charity bins to donate unwanted clothes. Having your children, especially your teenagers with their growth spirts, donate clothes they are no longer able to wear, is a great way to get involved. Clothes, especially at Christmas can be a great gift.

Christmas time, as we know, is when Santa or Mum and Dad spoils you with presents. But families who struggle often can’t afford to purchase anything extra. Often department stores, hospitals or offices have a Christmas tree where you can give a toy to a child or teenager of a selected age, a Christmas present. No gift is too small they usually say.

Over the Christmas holidays, with such a long period of time off from school, teen surf clubs offer a range of training to help guard the beaches. Or they have volunteer groups who help to clean up the beaches that are often left with garbage from all the holiday-goers. This is a great one to do as a family.

Any involvement in giving to charity is good. By getting involved with community activities, your teens are more likely to come across like-minded peers and positive role models. Also, being charitable can open up different kinds of roles that teenagers may be interested in as potential careers.

We hope you are generous this holiday season!

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