A Guide to Teaching Compassion
Ways to foster your child in caring for others
Compassion simply means caring for someone who is less fortunate than you. It is a desire to show mercy and tenderness to another person, and having a heart to help. Teaching your child to be a caring individual is a road that both of you will cherish and enjoy. Jesus says, "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" - Matthew 25:40
Below are some simple and unique ways to teach your child to be compassionate. Remember that children are not born with the ability to nurture and love others. It is something that they learn along the way by watching and listening to the world around them and the people they love, like parents, teachers, and even older children. The best thing about showing compassion is that it will make your child beam with joy when he feels good about helping and trigger the want to do more! It is never too early to start the ball rolling.
Preschool through Early Elementary
Young children are like sponges. They can take in so much at this age and they are very eager to be "little helpers." Here some activities they can do, with parent involvement:
Make cards or little crafts and deliver them to a local nursing home, bring in food and toys to a local Human Society to help homeless pets, send postcards or cards to sick people in your church or your school, save your money to donate to something you want, like your church, a food bank, or a shelter for the homeless. *Remember to explain to your child why you are doing this activity, and use this time as an enriching teaching moment.*
Upper Elementary and Teens
Children in this age group can handle a bit more responsibility and do more things on their own. Just use parental discretion as to how much you want to help out.
Make sandwiches for a homeless shelter, help out at a local soup kitchen by setting tables and cleaning up, hold a bake sale or have a lemonade stand with proceeds going to a charity, read books to children in daycare, start a can drive in your neighborhood to donate the food to a local food bank, mow the lawn for an elderly neighbor or offer to clean their house or run errands for them.
Working along with your child will show that you are compassionate, too. Your child will learn from your example, so your active involvement with them is very valuable. Consider your child's interests and try to match them with an organization that deals with that subject area. For instance, if your child likes petting dogs and playing with kittens, then the Humane Society would be a good choice. Or, if your child enjoys working with Legos or building/construction toys, then perhaps your local chapter of Habitat for Humanity would be a good match.
The point is, you are teaching your child to care for others, and in turn they will feel good and have more confidence in themselves because they made a difference in the world, even if it is in your own neighborhood!
