Generation Generosity
Experts say it's never too early to teach tithing

By RaeAnn Slaybaugh

American Church Offering Envelope Service

As with any type of character development, children learn generosity from a young age. Their attitudes might vary slightly as they get older, but the core often remains the same: When it comes to giving--especially monetary--they "get it" or they don't.

"When we don't teach each other how to handle money according to God's principles, they're going to learn from another quarter," explains Ron Gleason, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Yorba Linda, Calif. "If we give bad examples or demonstrate negligence, the effects are far-reaching and, by and large, negative."

He draws upon his own experience raising generous children. To remedy problems before they start, Gleason and other sources suggest a handful of effective tips for creating givers.

Cultivate a sharing attitude

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"As children get older, they learn two things," says Nichola Toda Krause, author of Teaching Your Children About God & Money and contributor to the Orthodox Family Life newsletter. "One is that they can own things--my toys, my clothes, my blanket and so on. Another is that other people also can own things." Once the second realization hits, children are able to grasp the concepts of respecting others' property, why it is important to take care of one's things, and most importantly, how to share.

"Children at this phase should be told, in simple terms, that God owns everything (since He made it) and that anything we have is a gift from Him," she explains. "Encourage children to share. If He gave us a delicious cake with frosting and sprinkles, we'd want to cut it and give Him a piece, right?"

Show them how far their money goes

Even the smallest gifts mean a lot in the end, which is a concept that Richard Carlson, Ph.D., author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Family, urges parents and teachers to instill in children early. If a collection is being taken for a specific organization, for example, he recommends getting a brochure and showing them exactly who is being helped and why. "Discuss the work that organization is doing and applaud it together," he says. "Ask children who they would most like to help and why. Is it other children, the elderly, the homeless or the hungry?"

Have realistic expectations

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Experts agree that every child can learn generosity, but to what extent depends largely on his or her age. For instance, since the youngest children have no real funds of their own to give, adults must set the example.

"Children can select the shiniest coins to go in the offering basket, or parents can make sure their children see them putting the envelope in the basket every time," Krause suggests. "Kids are copycats and will want to do the same."

As children reach adolescence and start receiving their own allowances and picking up random jobs--babysitting, mowing neighbors' lawns and so on--experts say approaches to teaching giving should also change.

"Most parents sit down with their children [at this point] and teach them how to divide [their money] for savings and spending," Krause continues. "It's very easy to include 'God and the Church' as one of the regular divisions."

Larry Burkett, Co-CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, agrees but also reminds parents and teachers that letting kids put others' money in the collection should cease around this age. "They learn about tithing by giving of their own resources," he points out.

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When adolescents become teenagers, Burkett's recommendations change again. In fact, at this point, he says, teaching them to give becomes less about encouraging than listening. After all, tithing should be ingrained into a young person's financial character by this age. If not, he says, the problem most likely lies elsewhere.

"Remember that giving is nothing more than an outside indicator of what's going on inside spiritually," Burkett explains. "If a teenager doesn't want to give, don't force it. Try to deal with the real issue."

Annual Boxed Set Systems from Church Budget Envelope Company offer 52 or 53 numbered, weekly-dated offering envelopes and may be ordered in monthly increments as well.

With ready-to-color pictures that bring to mind Bible heroes, the Color Me Giving Interactive Series (far right) from American Church Offering Envelope Service is designed to educate and entertain elementary-age children.