TEACHING
KIDS ABOUT GIVING
How do we teach kids now about
giving? Prior to the pandemic, some people had started giving electronically and
weren’t putting offerings in the plate. I know there were some months, when I was
ushering at my home church, that people would just shake their head or wave
their hand, indicating not to pass them the plate. What does this behavior show
kids or others who are wondering about giving? Of course, for many churches,
the children are excused to Sunday School, Children’s church or child care
before the offering is even taken, so they don’t even hear it announced, much
less see it.
Who are good role models for
children? Parents, of course, and us. In my stewardship work, I have purchased a
Moon Jar and a piggy bank that were both designed to help children learn about
setting money aside for giving. Moon Jars are divided into three boxes: Give,
Save and Spend.
The piggy bank has four separate
slots, one for Donate, one for Save, one for Spend and one for Invest.
Each of these are a good way to talk
about money and help to set money aside for specific purposes, including donations.
Other ways to talk about money is to
have conversations during Sunday School, share and read stories about
generosity and giving, and there are always the stories in the Bible and in the
family.
Be intentional when talking about
money and generosity, whether you’re talking to adults or to children. Just as each of us should have a health relationship
with money, so should children. We must be stewards or money rather than being
controlled by it.
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