Some kids naturally begin to show compassion and generosity to others, but other children seem to think the world revolves around them. You as a parent can help train your child to be generous and compassionate (and in so doing, you can set them up to have more fulfilling and successful relationships in the future). The best way to do that is to model service and generosity. Here are some ideas:
- Go with your child to shovel a neighbor’s driveway or mow your neighbor’s lawn.
- Help your child prepare a meal for a community member or make a card for someone.
- Volunteer with your child, or encourage her to join a service club like 4-H or Scouts.
- Pick a week for each family member to do random acts of kindness for another member of the family. At the end of the week, guess who did what for whom.