It can start with a story.
Teaching children about the importance of giving and sharing God’s gifts – adults call it “stewardship” – can begin at a young age. And a good way to start is with a story as simple as this one: “Sarah, you have two cookies, but Catherine doesn’t have any. Sarah, would you like to give one of your cookies to her so you both have one?”
So simple, according to experts in child development, but so important and so effective. The stories you tell children – whether they are your own or the ones you teach during religious education classes or at school – can evolve in their complexity as children move from grade to grade. Experts say that children, by age 4 or 5, typically begin to grasp the concepts of generosity and empathy. That’s the time, they say, to provide examples of how important giving and sharing can be.
And this is the ideal time to bring Jesus and his love for all his children into the conversation. We, as adults, know that Jesus embraced children when he told his disciples, in Matthew 19: “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Sometimes children are invited to bring their offerings forward during the liturgy. The excitement on their faces, as they race to the altar, are moments to cherish. Their giving is pure and genuine.
Our purpose as parents, educators, volunteers and pastors is to help children, as they grow, to remember to count their blessings – and to share those blessings willingly and cheerfully. You can model this behavior with your offering to your church and your annual giving to the organizations that you hold dear. Another story worth sharing is Jesus’ parable about the widow’s mite. Older children can understand the concept of sacrificial giving.
Capital campaigns are wonderful times to share messages of giving. We sacrifice to build new places to worship, places for our children to learn about the Lord while they learn their ABCs, and places that work to help those in need. Let’s turn these campaigns into teaching moments for everyone, including our children.
One component of Steier Group campaigns is our A Child’s Guide to Giving program. This multi-week program focuses on teaching children the importance of helping others and sharing their blessings. It includes ways for children to participate – just as their parents are – in the campaign. They can give part of their allowance, share part of their earnings from doing special projects, or just lend a helping hand. It’s less about the dollars and more about the learning experience as we shape the faithful stewards of tomorrow.
The purpose is to instill in our youth the importance of giving – with the hope that generosity is a trait they never will outgrow.