TOP 5 THINGS KIDS LEARN FROM PARTICIPATING IN CHARITY FUNDRAISERS

Written by Jade Crerand

As a parent we want to ensure that our child has a balanced lifestyle, so encouraging them to take part in fundraising and charity activities either at school or outside of the classroom can be beneficial. Not only can it help foster integral life skills at a young age, it can also help aid their overall development. Here are 5 key things that kids can learn from participating in fundraising experiences:

Empathy

Young kids who take part in fundraisers can learn the valuable life lesson of being able to understand the difference between empathy and sympathy. This can help give them a wider perspective on the world and the potential to build strong connections with others more easily. Children are not born with empathy, it is a skill that they can learn and acquire from a variety of situations in their early years. For example, fundraising activity involvement can help develop a child’s empathy and children who are empathetic are reported to potentially do better in school, in social situations and in their adult careers.

Empowerment

Children who have taken part in fundraisers can feel a great sense of achievement and success in taking part, having found the strength to complete the challenge they have set themselves. Empowering kids can also help them figure out their values, develop healthy boundaries and advance how they are able to relate to others. The acknowledgement and praise that they receive from their family and friends for taking part in fundraising activities can also help them to feel empowered.

Philanthropy

Children who take part in Philanthropic activities such as fundraisers can feel more connected to the wider community and potentially are able to acknowledge the differences between people and putting others first. Exposure to Philanthropy at a young age potentially leads to them taking a stand and developing leadership skills early on. Children as young as 5 have been reported to have an emerging sense of self and are at an age that is potentially appropriate for growth and achievement through new challenges such as fundraising.

Community Values

Fundraising initiatives within schools can encourages a sense of community between the pupils and the staff, in the same way that when a parent and their child get involved in their local neighbourhood charity drive, they can feel closer to their community. This involvement helps re-enforce important values to the child, such as caring for others in their network and to have compassion and resilience. Fundraising activities have the potential to bring entire schools, neighbourhoods and communities together.

Social Conscience

A child’s conscience is formed through three processes that happen during the early and middle years of their lives, so it’s important for them to be involved in activities that help progress and develop these first stages of their social conscience. By being exposed to charity fundraising, children can learn how they can help others. When educated on how their contribution helps, it allows them to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, someone who may not be as fortunate as them. This potentially contributes to developing a child’s social conscience and perception of the wider world.

Getting your child to participate in charity fundraisers isn’t as hard as you may have imagined. There are many fundraiser’s that you can participate in as an individual, as a family or even as a school group. One example of a charity fundraiser that you should consider getting your child involved in is the World’s Greatest Shave.

The World’s Greatest Shave is the Leukaemia Foundation’s biggest annual charity fundraiser and takes place from the 13^th– 17^th March 2019. It’s a great way to introduce your child to the fun, excitement and fulfilment that you feel when participating in fundraising activities.

This fundraising event has seen a significant 63% increase in children participating and with a goal of raising $16 million in 2019 that will help provide support, education and services to Australians that have been diagnosed with blood cancer, there is no time like the present to get your child involved.

If you want to find out more or register your child, yourself, your family or maybe even get your child’s school involved, simply visit https://worldsgreatestshave.com/ or call 1800 500 088 to speak to the one of the friendly team who will help with your queries..

A Little Bit About the Leukaemia Foundation!

The Leukaemia Foundation is the only national charity dedicated to helping more Australians survive blood cancer and live a better quality of life. Leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders are all types of blood cancer, which can develop in anyone, of any age, at any time.

More than 100,000 Australians are living with blood cancer or related disorders, and the equivalent of one person every 41 minutes is diagnosed. Although research is improving survival, sadly an Australian loses their life to blood cancer every two hours, claiming more lives than breast cancer and melanoma. For more information, please visit leukaemia.org.au or call 1800 620 420.