Teaching Kids About Charity: A Family Giving Tradition Worth Starting

How a simple holiday dinner can teach kids about generosity, money, and making a difference.

Giving Kids a Say in Giving

When we think about teaching kids about money, we usually focus on saving, spending, and investing. All important stuff. But what about giving?

Charitable giving is one of the most overlooked opportunities in parenting. It teaches kids that money isn't just something we accumulate. It's also a tool we can use to make someone else's life better.

And here's the thing. You don't need to be wealthy to teach your kids about charity. You just need to give them a chance to participate.

A New Holiday Tradition: The Family Giving Dinner

Here's an idea I'd love for you to try this holiday season.

Set aside a small amount of money for each member of your family to donate to a charity of their choice. That means every child AND every parent gets the same amount.

Maybe it's $10 per person. Maybe it's $50. Maybe it's $100. The dollar amount is completely irrelevant. It's the conversation that matters.

Then pick a night around the holidays when everyone comes to dinner prepared to share two things:

1. What charity they've chosen to support.
2. Why that particular cause matters to them.

That's it. No PowerPoint presentations required. Although if your teenager shows up with a 20-slide pitch, you might have a future investment banker on your hands!

Let Your Kids Take the Lead

Here's where parenting gets interesting.

Your daughter might choose an animal shelter because she loves dogs. Your son might support a charity helping kids with disabilities because of a classmate. Another child might choose an organization fighting hunger because they saw someone struggling.

You may be surprised by what matters to your kids.

And that's exactly the point.

Give them the freedom to choose. Resist the temptation to steer them toward your favorite charity. Let them research organizations, ask questions, and make their own decisions.

Of course, parents participate too. When Mom and Dad explain why they've chosen their charities, kids get a glimpse into the values that guide their parents' decisions.

Suddenly, charitable giving becomes more than writing a check. It becomes a conversation about empathy, responsibility, and what your family stands for.

Show Them How the Giving Actually Works

Don't stop at choosing the charity. Show your kids how the donation gets made.

If you're giving directly, sit down together and walk through the process. If your family uses a donor-advised fund, this is a perfect opportunity to explain how it works.

You can show them how money is contributed to the fund and how you recommend grants to eligible charities over time. It's a great introduction to the idea that charitable giving can be thoughtful and planned, not just spontaneous.

And remember, giving doesn't always involve money. Volunteering time, donating clothes, or helping a neighbor can be just as meaningful.

Make It a Tradition They'll Remember

Now imagine doing this every year.

As your kids grow, their interests will change. Their understanding of the world will deepen. And the charities they choose may tell you more about the people they're becoming than almost any report card ever could.

That's what makes this tradition so special.

At Total Cents, we believe some of the most important financial lessons happen around the dinner table. Teaching kids about charity and giving is a wonderful example.

Because raising financially responsible kids isn't just about teaching them how to build wealth. It's about teaching them what to do with it.

And who knows? Years from now, your kids might be hosting their own family giving dinners.

Now that's a return on investment worth celebrating!