TAG Question of the Week

One of the great things about being part of a community is seeing how people come together. We talk a lot about exposing our children to community need and one of the great lessons of this is showing them how great it is when people come together.

But what is a community? It’s lots of things! It’s your school. It’s your place of worship. It’s your neighborhood, town and state. It’s even your scout troop or sports team.

And there’s a lot more to a community than just services and organization. In our community we find friends and neighbors, we celebrate tradition, we share values and we enjoy life – with its ups and downs – together as a group.

So what do you personally appreciate about your community? What does your family enjoy? Why is your community important to your children? What does that mean to them?

Find out how your family feels about your community using the Question of the Week!

Published each Friday, use the Question of the Week to spark conversation with your children about family, money, giving and help them explore what matters most to them.

Introducing children to community need can be a little daunting. The issues facing our community can be complicated and many parents aren’t sure how to explain these problems in a way that kids can begin to understand and in a manner that won’t scare them.

At the same time, we want our children to grow into community-minded adults who are aware of the needs of our neighbors. And we want them to know that they have the power to make a difference. So where should we start? More

For whatever reason, we have a tendency to judge those who are less fortunate or different in some way. And as our society struggles with bullying, we are more and more aware that this starts at an early age.

Fortunately as parents and mentors we have opportunity to influence our children’s ‘compassion meters’ and there are numerous ways we can do this. Not only will they be better for it, but the world will be a sweeter place. Here are some tips and ideas:

1. Point out examples. There are acts of compassion everywhere. Be sure your kids notice! You might see it on TV, in a book or in person. Or maybe someone you know has done something kind for someone else. Tell your children about it.
2. Nip potential false impressions in the bud. All homeless people are not alcoholics. Children whose parents are unable to care for them are just as deserving as we are. Every drug addict is not a bad person. Kids with special needs are not less worthy of our friendship. Feel free to guide your children as they’re formulating their opinions of others. More

TAG Question of the Week

Recent research studies published indicate that children (as young as 15 months!) are naturally altruistic and generous. What’s even better? Environment plays a role in this, so we do have the power to influence our children and their behaviors in terms of how they think of and treat others.

Recognizing need is an important lesson that, if handled properly, can teach a lot about empathy and our ability to make a difference in the life of others. And as parents, grandparents or mentors,  sometimes the trick is helping children understand that recognizing need does not mean judging or thinking of themselves as ‘better.’  More

So you’re looking for a way to pull your family together for some meaningful quality time. What next? Here are some tips and ideas to help you and your kids get the most out of your volunteer efforts.

1. Plan as a family

We know from research that including children in the conversation – the rhyme behind the reason – of our philanthropic efforts helps them understand why it’s important to us and gets them thinking about what is important to them and why. Explain why you feel it’s important that you volunteer as a family and the impact that it can have on our lives and the lives of others. More