Preaching children the values of generosity and philanthropy and motivating them to give back to the community is something very important. Kids should be preached since early childhood about the significance of working for the community and society at large.

As humans, we always wish to receive from the community but are we also willing to offer back equally. It is especially important to make our kids understand that we just can’t be at the receiving end always, rather it is our duty to give back as much as we can.

Thus, we must inspire our kids to contribute to society as per their capability and potential. We need to make them understand that even if they do a small act of kindness, it does count in contributing to a bigger cause and purpose.

As parents, we must make our kids understand the roles and responsibilities that our kids can perform to make a difference in society, especially in times of crisis.  The role that a child can play during tough times might range from offering a helping hand to someone, creating awareness, fundraising,  and so on. Despite the little role, the fact that it does contribute to the greater cause is what makes the difference. And that is what we need to teach them which will enhance kid’s social skills.     

Here are some ways in which we can encourage kids to contribute to society:

• By contributing their time
• By showing kindness to our neighbors
• By contributing to charity events
• By helping people in the neighborhood
• By keeping the surroundings clean
• By planting trees and looking after them
• By volunteering in events to help the community

The most important thing that we can contribute is our time. We can teach our children to spend some time helping our community or neighborhood. It can be in the form of taking part in a cleaning drive to clean the surroundings or can help elders in the neighborhood who are unable to tend for themselves and so on. By cleaning barriers from the path where people commute is also an act of kindness that the children can do.

Besides, looking after the distressed in times of crisis is also a significant act that we all including kids can do. As per data by ICRC, the global pandemic has increased stress levels among people exponentially. Another survey says that more and more people in India are complaining of anxiety after the emergence of the covid19 crisis. Survey also states that there has been a three-fold rise in mental stress in people due to covid19.

During such times, children can act as a source of delight for their parents and the elderly in the family. They can be a source of comfort for the aged who are already under so much stress regarding the covid19 crisis. By comforting them with your words and sitting with them, kids can relieve the stress that the elderly are facing right now.

All these small deeds help in contributing to the greater cause and let the kids serve the community at large.