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teaching 'giving' to 4 yr old...books or videos?

groovygrlgroovygrl member
edited November 2013 in Pre-School and Daycare
So I had a terrible experience today when I told my 4 yr old we were going to shop for some food to donate at a food drive and she broke down in tears, whining, etc about she didn't want to buy 'anything for other people' and didn't stop crying about it until we got home.  I tried to break it down into basic terms for her that some kids out there don't have all the things she has, enough food to eat, clothes, toys, etc so we should help them, and tried to talk about how yesterday when she was really hungry how bad that felt & there are some kids who feel like that every day.... no matter, still got very upset about doing this. I get that she is only 4 and obviously cannot grasp all of this from a developmental or personal experience standpoint, and I made sure she understood that I wasn't buying food for other people in place of getting food for our family (which I thought was the initial fear when I mentioned it) but I'm not sure how to address this in an age appropriate effective way... I am really sad about it and want her to start to understand giving and service to others...  We have donated other things (clothes, toys, books, etc) in the past and they were aware of it (I have even had them participate in picking toys out to donate, they go w/ me to drop off sometimes, etc) and did not have this type of reaction so I was surprised.

So, I thought maybe there were some good books or even videos/movies that would better help a 4 yr old understand or develop this type of feeling for helping others?

Thanks...
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Re: teaching 'giving' to 4 yr old...books or videos?

  • Littlejen22Littlejen22 member
    Is she normally emotional or stubborn? I don't know her so it is hard to give advice but I am guessing she is either digging in her heels just because she wanted to be doing something different or that it upset her to know people don't have enough food.
    Jen - Mom to two December 12 babies Nathaniel 12/12/06 and Addison 12/12/08
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  • meg1974meg1974 member
    I would say just keep doing it and letting her see you do it. That has worked for my DD. She even asks to donate things because we do it so much it's a natural part of her life. 

    Are there ways she can donate that can be fun for her? Even simple things like putting coins in those jars that some businesses have by their cash register. She might enjoy putting the coin in herself and seeing it go down into the jar. 




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  • groovygrlgroovygrl member
    Ha- yes she is stubborn for sure and I suspect maybe she was tired & just wanted to go home too...but it was still upsetting! I will just keep trying and not push it, thanks all!
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