Raising children can be difficult, especially when you want to set goals for them and hope they succeed at everything they do. Children are more likely to succeed at achieving their goals when the adults in their life reinforce certain behaviors. This is why it’s so important to lead by example, especially when it comes to teaching children to be kind to others.
If you have to ask your child to do something, that means they are still in the process of learning the skill. However, if they do it on their own accord, that means you have succeeded in teaching them the skill or behavior you wanted them to learn. In the interest of inspiring generosity, here are the top ways to raise children who treat others with kindness.
Encourage Empathy
If your child sees that you are kind to people outside your immediate family, they will begin to understand what it means to have empathy. When they see you model this behavior, they will be more likely to be kind to people themselves, which will encourage them to be generous in a multitude of ways. They may offer their services to people in need or donate to charity, and they will understand the importance of being a good Samaritan due to this way of thinking and living.
Praise Them for Good Deeds
Every time you catch your child performing acts of kindness of their own volition, praise them to reinforce those ideas. This further emphasizes that they are doing the right thing. Encouragement goes a long way with children, as many of them long for the approval of their parents.
Set an Example
It’s one thing to teach children and praise them, and it’s another thing to lead by example. When you set the bar for generosity, your children will want to match you at that same level. As such, try to consistently put on the face of a good Samaritan and generous person; your kids will automatically start to do the same because they want to follow in your footsteps. For instance, if your kids see you giving back to the community, they might ask to join you and help do their part in contributing to a charitable organization.
These have been a few top ways to raise generous children and encourage them to be empathetic individuals.