1. Cultivate cooperation. Children as young as 3 or 4 can understand cooperation. Encourage the littlest ones to pitch in to help others — whether it's Mom asking for help picking up toys or an older sibling who needs help quickly gathering things for a last-minute outing. Helping is empowering, cultivates gratitude and teaches giving.
2. Include your children in finding solutions. Discuss situations that need to be resolved. If your child struggles with being on time on school mornings, for example, enlist his or her help in the solution. Lay the situation out for him, and see if he can suggest changes. Then, try them! This will help your child understand how his actions affect others, and how he can be part of a solution.
3. Listen. Modeling is a critical part of child-rearing. When your child raises an issue, no matter how simple it seems, take the time to listen and help her cultivate solutions. Your child will come to expect it of you, and should integrate it into her own friendships.
4. Talk about caring — and take action! If your children care about stray animals or litter, talk with them about it. Hear what they say, and steer them toward solutions, such as a playground cleanup or posting signs for missing animals.
5. Encourage participation. When your family considers where to give charitable contributions, involve the children. Inform them ahead of time and take a family night to discuss everyone's opinions.
6. Explore what's needed in your larger community. Is there a free store nearby for which the children could organize a food drive? Or a shelter nearby that needs clothing? Help your children explore what your community needs, and help them organize a drive that could help.
7. Establish long-term opportunities. Cultivate in your children the desire to carry their caring into adulthood. Teach them about the success of entrepreneurs who have transformed their personal successes into philanthropic outreach.
