UNITED WAY
THE VALUE OF GIVING WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO TEACH YOUNGSTERS ABOUT HELPING OTHERS BY JIM TIMLICK
I
t’s never too soon to begin teaching about the importance of giving. Heather Block, director of strategic initiatives for United Way Winnipeg, says the sooner families begin teaching youngsters about generosity and gratitude, the more likely it is those messages will help shape the adults they become. “I’ve learned from Indigenous leaders and peoples to think about those around us as our relatives and kin and to look at others as those who deserve our care and respect and kindness,” she says. “Part of that is about giving financially, part of that is giving time, and part of that is listening and
learning from others. I think with the next generation as they grow those values and ways of interacting, they will continue with them into adulthood and they’ll become established behaviour for them.” Sharing that message has never been more important than it is right now, as the number of Canadians who donate to charity has been in decline for more than a decade. A recent Statistics Canada report indicated the number of tax filers claiming charitable donations fell from one in four in 2012 to a little more than one in six in 2022. “There are less and less people donating to charities every year,” says Block.
“Yet, as we have seen, the needs of the community are growing. For the sake of a healthy community, it’s important that we embed that lifestyle of giving. The best and easiest way to embed it is with the next generation so that it just becomes a lifestyle.” Block says there are several ways families can teach kids about the value of giving. One of the easiest and most effective ways is to involve them in the decision-making process when it comes to determining any charitable contributions the family will make. Even though the child may not be giving any of their own money, they will still feel invested in that decision-making.
“Part of building empathy in kids is finding out what matters to them, where their heartstrings are.”
— Heather Block, director of strategic initiatives, United Way.
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Manitoba
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