Teaching Your Child Compassion

                                      

We all hope our children find success and happiness in life but even more important than that we want them to be good people who know the importance of compassion. We need to show them that life doesn’t just revolve around us and that by helping others we can change the world one positive step at a time. Our acts of compassion can start a ripple effect that will continue from one person to the next. Carol S. Ritter a speaker on non-profit and leadership says “Take Care of People – People before Paper, People before Profits, People before Self and People before Projects”

 There are ways to help our children learn compassion and the great thing is that most of them are activities that we can share together. Here are just a few activities that can help you teach your child the value of compassion.

Volunteer        

     There are so many people who need our help that the need for volunteers is huge. You can volunteer at a retirement home, a soup kitchen, or an animal shelter. Most churches need volunteers to help with their outreach projects. Here are some websites to find out more;

www.spca.org      to volunteer with animals

www.giveback.org   a variety of opportunities

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/index.jsp?r=msa&l=39901    opportunities in Atlanta

www.strength.org    fighting hunger in Atlanta

Make an elderly neighbor dinner        

     You probably have someone in your own neighborhood that could use some compassion. If you know of an elderly couple or someone that is living alone, stop by some night with a prepared meal. Even the gift of your time for a few minutes of conversation would probably be greatly appreciated.

Do an act of kindness

     The wonderful thing about acts of kindness is that they seem to be contagious. Your one simple act could cause a string of similar acts that could brighten up so many people’s days. An act of kindness can be so easy; buy a coffee for the person in line behind you, open the door, or help someone in some small way. Even a smile can lift up someone’s spirit.

Keep a gratitude journal

     Write down what you are thankful for every day and have your child do the same. Talk with your child about all the blessings that you have in your life. When your child sees someone less fortunate than you discuss how lucky you are.

Model compassion yourself

     You are your child’s greatest teacher. They will model what they see you do so let them see you modeling kindness as often as possible.

Feed the homeless

     Go to the dollar store and pick out basic necessities like soap, toothpaste, and deodorant and then make two separate sets of packages for the homeless. One bag will have a set of necessities and the second will have sandwiches and fruit that you and your children have prepared. Go to a local homeless shelter or an area where you know you will find the homeless and distribute the bags. A local school in Atlanta, Mount Paran Christian has a community service day and a group of students goes to downtown parks to distribute the bags. The students commented that giving the bags out made them feel like they were helping someone and it gave them a better understanding of the wide variety of people who need our help.

Write notes of compassion

     Write your child sweet notes and put them in his or her backpack to find them later. Have your child write notes of thanks to teachers. Show them the power of lifting others up with kind words.