I think it is learned at this age a lot by example. I mean you could sit and go over scenarios with this, but I do not think at the age my children are that they would really grasp it as well. I know our sunday school has a whole lesson on it.
When they are gloating or crying because they did not win. You can use that as a teaching moment. Talk to them about children less fortunate then them that do have diseases that cannot be cured and have it be a reminder how fortunate they are.
I think by serving others or showing them great teachers of humanity such as mother teresea, etc.
Teach them to say sorry and thank you. Know what it truly means.
I think it is learned at this age a lot by example. I mean you could sit and go over scenarios with this, but I do not think at the age my children are that they would really grasp it as well. I know our sunday school has a whole lesson on it.
When they are gloating or crying because they did not win. You can use that as a teaching moment. Talk to them about children less fortunate then them that do have diseases that cannot be cured and have it be a reminder how fortunate they are.
I think by serving others or showing them great teachers of humanity such as mother teresea, etc.
Teach them to say sorry and thank you. Know what it truly means.
ditto to this
Both my girls have learned a lot from Wednesday night church, where they get a new mission child/family each week to pray for. They learn about the kids and families that live where these missionaries go, and that helps them to see there are so many less fortunate kids than they are.
Also, each Christmas we do the Samaritan's shoebox, have for years. They love doing that! Again, it teaches them about those children, who may only get that one shoebox each Christmas.
I also include those kids in their prayers each night. I think it helps bring it all home when they pray for them, just as they pray for their own family. It makes it more personal, I think.
I agree about teaching moments and praying for those less fortunate. I try to correlate the talks with why she is upset or she just wont get it. We usually deal with it more when she doesnt like what shes eating. Well you should be thankful God has blessed us with this meal
I also agree its an example thing. Im bad at this and need to be better.
When we donate clothes or toys, we talk about gratitude. I try hard to get the kids involved with anything we do that helps other people, whether it's picking canned vegetables for food drives or donating toys/clothes/whatever.
We talk about the importance of having caring hearts, and that it's wonderful to have so much that we can share with others (Holly can compare this to my blood/platelet donations now -- that I am so glad to be healthy enough to be able to share part of what my body has with people who don't have enough to be well).
When they're upset, we try to balance validating their feelings with putting whatever it is in a wider context so they gain perspective.
I think my approach is to have them think, "I am so grateful to have X of Y! What can I do to help other people, using this abundance?" whether it's talents they have (Holly's great art --> cards for folks in a nursing home, or whatever) or "stuff" or anything else. If they automatically translate personal 'wealth' into a community perspective (NOT that all things should or could be equal necessarily; I'm not of an outright socialist mindset -- just that "Oooh, I have this! Yay!" should be at least partly tempered by "What can I do in the world with any excess I have?"), I believe humility will naturally be a part of who they are.
