A friend asked me to write about how to introduce young children to charity:

Three jars:  one for saving, one for spending and one for giving.  I heard the idea years before I even had children, but it has stayed with me.  Now that my two are 5 and 3, teaching them the value of helping others through charitable giving is a lesson I take very seriously.  The tangible three-jar approach is one I have yet to implement, but as they get older I plan to use it.  In the meantime, my husband and I try to demonstrate our generosity to them through tithing at church, donating to non-profits by mail or in person at events and simply giving something when the opportunity presents itself.  This is where they come in.  Handing them the coins to drop in the red kettle for the Salvation Army during the holidays.  Letting them take the flag from the disabled veteran collecting money in exchange outside the grocery store.  Telling them to open their piggy banks and get some money for collection at Sunday School.  These are the small steps we are asking them to take that ultimately will be big life lessons in terms of their future generosity.  Charity starts at home so my husband and I try to regularly imprint their lives by example.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 46