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with your kids is a great way to introduce them to giving without simply dropping them off at the local homeless shelter and hope they "get it." If they go with you initially, they can learn by your example, which is the best example of all.

I grew up in an area of South Texas which was pretty disadvantaged. My mother developed a network of donations to insure that area children had Christmas gifts. I went with her to buy the presents, and I will never forget what happened when we delivered them one year. A little boy scurried from his yard; he'd gotten a bicycle, something he would never have dreamed he could have. He was all of six years old, and he looked at my mother and said, "Ms. Howell, are YOU SANTA?" Priceless memory, that.

EXPAND THEIR WORLD THROUGH CONVERSATION

Remember that advertisement that said that parents have more influence on their kids than they think they do? That particular public service announcement was referring to drug addiction, but the truth of it goes way beyond chemical dependency. Kids will ponder what they are exposed to. If we all we talk about are our own trivial concerns, we will create in them a myopic world view.

Talking over world events, economics, health issues these are all topics they should be exposed to more and more, the older they get. We don't have to get morose about things; in fact, we need to throw in a good dose of all of those things in our lives that are wonderful, to keep an even balance. After volunteering at a soup kitchen, a trip to the mall might be just the thing to even out the day. We want them to know that there's nothing wrong with having advantages; we just need to share them, it's our calling as human beings.

WE ARE ALL IMPORTANT

Teaching children to look outside of themselves, to see themselves not as the center of the universe, but rather an integral part of that universe, is primo facto in preparing your child for a productive, contented adulthood.

There are several reasons why it's imperative to teach your child to give back some of what he or she has been gifted with, whether talents, money, time. If we are careful to let them know that with talents come responsibility, we let them know, intuitively, that they have great worth. We also let them know, by emphasizing "giving back" that despite their incredible value, they have no more than any other person on our planet. Tricky dance, that, but one well worth the effort to pass on.

Learn more about this author, Rachel Stockton.
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