Raising Generous Kids: Sharing the Joy of Giving

By Kaitlyn Grigsby-Hall, Together Women Rise Development Director 

Summer is here, which means the children in our lives are out of school and often spending more time with us. For the many Together Women Rise members who are parents and grandparents, these long July and August afternoons are a wonderful chance to pass along something that lasts a lifetime: the simple, deep satisfaction of giving to others.  

Teaching kids to give is one of the most meaningful ways we can help shape compassionate, engaged adults — and stronger communities along with them. And the benefits start early. When children take part in giving, they begin to notice that other people have needs and experiences different from their own. That perspective builds empathy. It strengthens emotional skills like gratitude and compassion. It nurtures a sense that they can play a real role in improving the world around them, along with the confidence that comes from knowing their actions matter. Habits formed in childhood tend to stick, too — kids who grow up giving often carry it into adulthood as a normal, joyful part of life. 

Simple Ways to Start

The good news is that none of this requires a grand gesture. A few small practices go a long way: 

• Make it part of everyday life. Look for natural moments — donating outgrown toys and clothes together, writing a thank-you note to a community helper, setting aside a little of an allowance for giving. 

• Let them help decide. When kids get a say in where and how to give, they feel connected to the impact. Let children research a cause or have the family vote together on where to give. 

• Connect it to something they understand. Children respond when they can picture how their gift helps — other kids, animals, families in need. Concrete stories make an abstract idea real. 

• Remember that giving isn’t only money. Time and kindness count too — making cards for seniors, helping at a food pantry, joining a neighborhood cleanup. 

• Talk about it and model it. Children learn as much from watching as from listening. When we give openly and explain why it matters to us, generosity becomes a shared family value rather than a rule. 

A Story Worth Sharing 

This is also where our Together Women Rise community offers something special. Our collective giving model — many people pooling what they can to make a bigger difference together — is a wonderful story to share with a child. Letting a grandchild help choose where a few dollars go or telling them about the women and girls our grants support around the world, plants a seed that can grow into a lifetime of generosity and global awareness. 

Teaching children to give isn’t about perfection or big gestures. It’s about creating small, genuine opportunities to notice others, understand their needs, and practice kindness. A summer afternoon and an open conversation may be all it takes to start. 

This article draws on guidance from the Baltimore Community Foundation.