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13
RAISING A SOCIALLY
AWARECHILD
Community involvement. It’s something we all strive
for. It’s written on our hearts. Help people who need
to be helped is the battle cry of all responsible
citizens. As parents it’s our responsibility to instill
that value in our children. But how? And when?
Social injustice is a planet-wide problem, but I can’t
take my five-year-old to war-torn Iraq. I’m not even
sure I’m thrilled about taking her downtown to a
soup kitchen.
Like most parents, I struggle with how to teach my
children social awareness and compassion. I want to
get them involved with projects that matter, but I
also don't want them in harms way. It’s one thing to
write a check and have them drive downtown with
me to the charity we’re supporting. But I don’t really
think that’s the mark I want to hit. To me, teaching
awareness and compassion is more than writing a
check and making your kid go with you to deliver it.
In order to teach my kids social awareness and
compassion, I want to dig in and get my hands dirty
for a good cause. And I want my kids to get their
hands dirty too.
Teaching your child to be compassionate and
socially aware is more than picking a charity and
throwing money at it. It’s finding a cause that you
believe it, and letting your child know that this cause
is worth your time and energy. As soon as children
are developmentally able to be aware of others and
their needs, get them started on something that
matters. It’s never too soon to help your children get
involved in their community and the world.
Helping children become empathetic and aware of
social issues is not about raising the next generation
of activists, though some may grow up to dedicate
their lives fighting unjust causes. It’s about raising
kids to become compassionate leaders at work,
involved members of their community, dependable
friends at school, and caring brothers and sisters at
home.
Social consciousness doesn’t just happen, though. It
requires the conscious efforts of parents, friends and
others in their communities to foster an environment
of love, gratitude, empathy and empowerment. Here
are some tips on how to raise socially conscious
children. It really does take a village.
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