This post is sponsored by World Concern.
There are three things I hear my kids say a lot in our house:
- “Just order it on Amazon, mom. We’ll get it in a few days.”
- “We can just get another one.”
- “I need more.”
We aren’t wealthy, but we own a house, have two cars, a refrigerator and a freezer that houses lots of food, clean water and generally we don’t have to wait forever to buy the things we want. Trying to teach our children gratitude and a giving heart can be a challenge in a world of “need, need, need” and “more, more, more.” Here are a few ways we are combating this in our house.
- We say no. It is good for our kids not to get everything they want. This doesn’t mean I don’t want to give them everything and more, but it does mean that we say no more often. Even more, we try not to feel guilty about it because it is okay!
- We talk about being grateful. We look at what we have and talk about needs versus wants. This is a good reminder for us as adults too. We often forget about what we have been given because we are so focused on what we don’t have or the next greatest thing we need. We slow down and remember.
- We have intentional conversations about giving. We talk about children in other countries that have less than them and talk about their way of life. We talk about how they will encounter people with more than them and less than them and that we are all called to give in one form or another.
- We get them involved. We allow them to give and create opportunities for them to do so in meaningful ways. One way we’ve done this is through The World Concern Global Gift Guide. We allow our children to scroll through the catalog and choose a gift to give. They get to purchase the gift and understand that it makes a difference in the life of a child JUST LIKE THEM. From sheep, chickens, ducks and goats to clean water and medicine, there are so many things to choose to impact children’s lives. This year the Global Gift Guide has a specific section just for kids. With large photos and bright smiling kid faces, it is a great way to show your family that these are real children who need their help and that we can make a difference in their lives even from a distance.
It’s hard to be intentional when it comes to teaching our children about giving. As a mom, I am often just trying to make it through the day. However, with a powerful tool like the Global Gift Guide the conversations come easily and you’ll be surprised at the beauty that can arise when your child learns the value of giving.
Check it out, have some conversations with your kids about giving and let us know how it goes. We would love to hear about the tools you use to make it intentional and meaningful in your house.
