The needy are part of everyday life. Here are 5 tips on responding to the needy while using the experience to teach your children some important life lessons.
There are homeless and downtrodden in every city. They hold up signs asking for money. They are war veterans. They are on their last dime. Their car just broke down and they need a little help.
You probably don’t believe every last one of them -- maybe none of them.
While you may choose to hit the gas pedal and wipe them from your memory, your kids may not.
There they are in the back seat of your minivan, wondering why mom or dad wouldn’t help. So, how do you handle these moments as a parent? How do you keep your kids from thinking you’re uncaring? How do you make this a teaching moment?
Don’t Give Your Money to the Homeless
Many people think that the homeless will simply take your money and buy booze. Go buy some food. Hit a drive-thru and go back by that same corner and give away a burger. If the individual is truly homeless and hungry, he will appreciated a meal.
You will feel better about it because you’ll know you weren’t taken to the cleaners. You will also feel good about it because you didn’t ignore them. And it will open up a healthy conversation with your kids.
What Makes Kids Care?
If kids see a caring spirit in their home (or in their car), they learn a caring spirit. Gentle communication and role modeling are two of the biggest influences in the home, according to the American Psychological Association.
Kids will naturally want to do something to help out the needy. You can foster and grow this natural feeling by getting involved in giving -- and letting your kids be involved too.
Do Charity with Your Kids
When your kids see folks who are down and out in your community, they will likely feel sad. Find a way to make a difference and let your kids be a part of that process.
Volunteer at a soup kitchen, adopt a poor child to buy a Christmas gift for, donate money or time to the local Salvation Army or other charity. Here are nine ideas to kickstart the charity bloodline.
It will prove to be a learning opportunity and a bonding experience for parents and kids alike.
Teach Your Kids to be Thankful
Seeing a homeless person can also open the conversation up to thankfulness. It may take seeing someone who has no clean clothes for some kids to realize just how lucky they are. Here are a few tips that might help in that conversation from familycares.org.
Jotting down even one thing that you're thankful for each day is a great exercise.
Talk to Your Kids About Drugs
Your kids may wonder how someone becomes homeless. While there are many different reasons, drugs and alcohol rate very high. Capitalize on this opportunity to talk about drugs. It's never too early to talk about drugs and the effects they can have. A good resource for this and other tough talks is Talking with Kids.org.
