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Raising Charitable
Children
By: Carol Weisman MSW, CSP, MOM
How many times have we all heard that children today are
overindulged, self-absorbed brats? Is it true that our kids
have so many things that they can’t possibly appreciate them
all? Most parents agree it is, at least to some degree. When
Carol Weisman’s youngest sons’ first word was “Donalds”
(short for McDonald’s) and for Christmas when he was two he
asked for a mobile home and an electric razor, she decided
to find some way to educate her children in altruism. She
took her two young sons to a local Army hospital to share
cookies at Christmas and when her older son told her the
cookies they gave away tasted best, she saw that it didn’t
take much to show kids how good giving can feel.
In her latest book, Raising Charitable Children, Weisman
shows how everybody, no matter what their interests or the
ages of their children, can get involved in volunteerism and
making their corner of the world a better place to live.
Every chapter begins with ‘The Big Question’ and in it
follows a true-to-life story and helpful hints. ‘Big
Questions’ like: How can I start teaching my kids about the
joys of giving when they are still very young; how can
holidays, birthdays and special occasions serve as learning
opportunities for giving; and how can I help my child get
involved in volunteering when he or she is not the least bit
interested are answered in every chapter. The ‘How to’
section at the back of every chapter investigates frequently
asked questions and answers them simply and directly.
Weisman stresses that there is no such thing as a bad
volunteer project, but it may take a while to find a good
fit for you and your children. She encourages parents not to
give up – there is something for everyone and with a little
perseverance giving back to the community can be rewarding,
fun and provide a wonderful opportunity for family
closeness. Practical tips about how to find organizations
that need help, how to determine what is the best fit for
your family, and how to walk away of things don’t work out
as planned are presented. Resources at the end of the book
give a number of websites that give a brief synopsis of
opportunities available and will help direct families to
projects in their area.
If you are a parent who wants her child to have a fuller
understanding of the world around him, a true understanding
of the needs of others and a willingness to help when the
occasion arises, Raising Charitable Children is a great
place to start. Weisman does a wonderful job with this fun
to read, informative book that gives every parent a great
jumping-off point when looking for volunteer opportunities
for the entire family.
Raising Charitable Children is published by F. E. Robbins &
Sons Press and is available at bookstores nationwide, online
booksellers or at
www.raisingcharitablechildren.com.
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