Generosity is a beautiful quality to nurture in children. It helps them grow into kind, caring individuals who make the world a little brighter. Teaching generosity doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s often the small, consistent lessons that make the biggest difference.
Here are three simple ways to teach your children the joy of giving to others:
1. Talk About the Joy of Giving
Start by having conversations about why generosity matters. Share stories of times when giving made a difference in your own life, whether it was donating to a cause, helping a neighbor, or simply sharing with a friend.
When kids understand that generosity can make someone’s day better AND even bring joy to their own hearts, they’re more likely to try it out for themselves. Use words they can relate to, like “helping,” “sharing,” and “kindness,” to make the idea more approachable.
Ask questions like, “How do you feel when someone shares with you?” or “Can you think of a time when you made someone happy by helping them?” These discussions help children connect emotionally to the idea of being generous.
2. Teach Through Modeling
Children learn best by watching what we do. If you want them to be generous, let them see YOU being generous.
This can be as simple as sharing your time, offering a kind word to a stranger, or volunteering as a family. When they see you putting others first, it shows them how rewarding generosity can be.
Even better, you can also involve them in your acts of giving! For example, if you’re baking cookies for a neighbor, let them help mix the dough. If you’re donating clothes, invite them to choose a few toys to give as well. These moments show them that generosity isn’t just something we talk about—it’s a way we live.
3. Teach That Being Generous Doesn’t Have to Be Big
Kids often think generosity means giving away something huge or expensive. Help them understand that even small acts of kindness count!
Generosity can be as simple as sharing a snack, holding the door for someone, or drawing a picture to cheer up a friend. These small gestures teach kids that they don’t have to wait for a “big moment” to make a difference—they can start spreading kindness right now.
Printable Resource: “Have a Giving Heart”
To make this lesson easier, I’ve created a printable resource to help kids practice doing small acts of kindness. It’s full of simple, fun ideas they can do on their own or with your help. From giving a compliment to helping someone carry in groceries, these activities are designed to show children how small acts can have a big impact.
This digital download includes:
- A lesson about being generous, even when it’s with something you really want for yourself.
- An activity where you can tear off pieces from a heart to get simple, quick ideas of how to be generous right then.
- Role plays for practicing generosity: not just being generous with your things or money, but also with your time, with your thoughts, and with your words.
The printable comes with everything you need to teach generosity and sharing with others: a lesson, an engaging activity, discussion questions, a visual reminder, and role plays.
Teaching generosity is about planting seeds of kindness that will grow throughout your child’s life. By practicing giving regularly and showing them that even small acts can matter, you’ll help them develop a bigger heart for others.
If you would like more resources to teach your children values, you might like these resources: