Helping other people not only feels good, it sends vibrations of benevolence into the universe, energies that are bound to reciprocate. American author, Zig Ziglar, said, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”
Be the Model
One of the best ways a mother can teach children about helping others is to just help others. Let children witness genuine happiness in our eyes anytime the opportunity to truly help someone presents itself.
Children Want to Feel Helpful & Valued ***DO NOT UNDO THEIR WORK***
From the youngest ages, children naturally enjoy helping others. Think about when they learned to feed themselves; as soon as they were able, they want to help feed mom! When children want to help, give them the chance. Encourage them by expressing gratitude and saying, “Thank you.”
One critically important caveat—there’s a decent chance we won’t be satisfied with the quality of their work. We must NOT undo their work to satisfy our OCD. By re-doing their work, we send the message that we neither appreciate their help nor value their effort, discouraging them from wanting to offer help in the future. Always show gratitude; an appropriate time will present itself for us to show them how we’d like the work to be completed. In the moment, show appreciation and praise them for their contribution.
Helping Others Develops a Sense of Purpose
As our children set out to help others, consider guiding them in ways that align with their passions and interests. Animal lovers might be interested in helping at the local animal shelter. Book lovers may be inclined to help the local librarian. Small hands and small gestures really can make a difference, both in the moment and in the development of lifelong habits. Start young, as children mature and start to see the bigger picture, they may become disillusioned by the magnitude of people who need help in this world. The opportunity to help others can instill a great sense of purpose.
Summary
American military veteran, John Holmes, wrote, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” By making a habit out of helping others, our children will learn to make their world a better place, infusing the universe with the reciprocating vitality of “paying it forward.”
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
—Romans 15:1 KJV
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper (1 – 4 years)
Especially for toddlers, this book features an intriguing locomotive with bright, cheery illustrations with a timeless story just right for reading aloud.
Help! How to Build a Better World by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Angela Dominguez (4 – 9 years)
Every night when Sonia goes to bed, Mami asks her the same question: “How did you help today?” Sonia wants to help her community and always makes sure she has a good answer to Mami’s question.
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success
by Adam Grant
For generations, we have focused on the individual drivers of success: passion, hard work, talent, and luck. In today’s reconfigured world, success is increasingly dependent on how we interact with others…
Kindness is my Superpower
by Alicia Ortego (3 – 6 years)
This charming story with peaceful rhymes and colorful illustrations will explain to your child that it is okay to make a mistake and say I’m sorry. Lucas will teach your child good manners and positive behavior at home, at school, in the store, and on the playground.
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Patrice Barton (5 – 8 years)
A gentle story that teaches how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish.
Bringing Out the Best in People by Alan Loy McGinnis
This book shares twelve principles to help anyone—parent, manager, teacher, friend—motivate, inspire, influence, and build enthusiasm. Bringing out the best starts with you, and then you can bring out the best in others.
PLEASE NOTE: As an Amazon Associate, Mothers Truly Matter earns from qualifying purchases. The information in this post should not be construed as providing specific psychiatric, psychological, or medical advice, but rather to offer readers information to better understand the lives and health of themselves and their children. It is not intended to provide an alternative to professional treatment or to replace the services of a physician, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist.
