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As the wise old saying goes, “it’s better to give than to receive,” and as grandmas, we know this to be true better than anyone! (After all, what’s more rewarding than seeing the smiles on our grandkids’ faces when we shower them with love and affection?)
While it’s important to spoil our grandkids with treats and presents, it’s also important to teach them the value of giving to others, which is why I want to share with you some fun and creative ways to teach our grandkids to be more generous.
From playing games that promote sharing and cooperation to volunteering together in the community, there are so many ways we can help our grandkids develop a generous and compassionate spirit. Let’s dive in and spread some love and kindness together!
1. Encourage donations
One fun way to encourage your grandchild to donate items they no longer use is to make it into a game. You could challenge your grandchild to find five toys they no longer play with and have them pack them up in a box. Then, together, you could deliver the box to a local charity or donation center. Not only does this activity help your grandchild practice generosity, but it also teaches them about the importance of giving back to their community.
2. Teach the importance of sharing
Sharing can be a challenging concept for young children, but as a grandma, you can help make it fun and engaging. Try playing a game of “pass the ball,” where you and your grandchild take turns passing a ball back and forth. As you play, you can talk about how sharing is like taking turns and how it can help us build strong relationships with others.
3. Involve them in community service
Community service projects can be a great way to teach your grandchild about the importance of giving back. Consider getting involved in a local charity or volunteering at a soup kitchen or food bank. Your grandchild can help you prepare food or pack boxes, and you can talk about how their efforts are making a positive impact in the community.
4. Discuss the benefits of generosity
Talking to your grandchild about the benefits of giving can be a great way to help them see the value in giving to others. You could share stories about times when you felt good after doing something kind for someone else or ask your grandchild how they feel when they share with others. By helping them connect positive emotions with being charitable, you can help them develop a lifelong habit of giving to others.
5. Highlight those in need
It can be difficult for young children to understand the challenges that others face, but by highlighting those in need, you can help your grandchild develop empathy and compassion. For example, you could talk about how some families don’t have enough food to eat or how some children don’t have access to toys or books. Then, together, you could brainstorm ways that your grandchild can help make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate.
6. Play games that promote sharing and cooperation
Playing games that involve sharing and cooperation can be a great way to help your grandchild practice these skills in a fun and engaging way. Try playing a cooperative board game where you work together to achieve a common goal, or play a game of “Simon Says” where you take turns sharing the lead. By playing games that emphasize sharing and cooperation, you can help your grandchild develop the skills they need to be more thoughtful in their everyday lives.
7. Read stories about generosity
Reading stories about selflessness can be a great way to help your grandchild understand the concept of giving to others. You could read books like “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein or “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister and talk about how the characters demonstrated this quality. By connecting the concept of generosity to beloved stories, you can help your grandchild see the value of being more considerate in their own life.
8. Create homemade gifts
Making homemade gifts can be a fun way to teach your grandchild about the joy of giving. You could work together to create a special piece of artwork or bake some cookies to give to a friend or family member. As you create the gift, you can talk about how good it feels to give something special to someone else and how much joy it can bring to both the giver and the receiver.
9. Reward generosity with praise
When your grandchild demonstrates giving, it’s important to acknowledge and praise their efforts. You could give them a high-five, a hug, or a special treat as a way of showing your appreciation for their kind act. By recognizing and praising them, you can help reinforce this positive behavior and encourage them to continue being kind and thoughtful to others.
10. Start a giving jar
A giving jar can be a fun way to encourage your grandchild to save up money for a special cause or charity. You could decorate a jar together and then have your grandchild add spare change or allowance money to the jar each week. Once the jar is full, you can help them choose a charity or cause to donate the money to. By involving your grandchild in the process of giving, you can help them develop a sense of ownership and empowerment around generosity.
11. Emphasize experiences over material possessions
As a grandma, you can help your grandchild understand the value of experiences over material possessions. Try planning a fun outing or activity together, like a trip to the park, a hike in the woods, or a visit to a local museum. As you enjoy the experience together, you can talk about how experiences can create memories that last a lifetime and how sharing experiences with others can be a form of thoughtfulness in itself. By emphasizing the value of experiences over material possessions, you can help your grandchild develop a more generous and fulfilling perspective on life.
12. Use role-playing
Role-playing can be a fun way to help your grandchild practice giving back in a safe and supportive environment. You could set up a “store” where your grandchild can “buy” items with pretend money, and then encourage them to give some of their items away to others. Or, you could play “restaurant,” where your grandchild gets to serve you and practice sharing and taking turns. By using role-playing games, you can help your grandchild develop the skills they need to be more hospitable in their everyday lives.
As grandmas, we have the opportunity to shape our grandkids’ values and help them grow into kind, compassionate, and generous individuals.
By modeling generosity ourselves, encouraging donations, emphasizing experiences over material possessions, and more, we can help our grandkids understand the true joy that comes from giving to others. Let’s continue to spread love and kindness to our families, communities, and the world at large.
Together, we can make a difference and leave a positive impact on future generations. Thank you for being an amazing grandma, and let’s keep up the good work!
