Talking to kids about money is tricky. To think we can even teach kids about charity ? Even trickier! But in our house, we make it fun. My two little financial wizards, Benji (7) and Jacob (9), are learning how to handle money. And part of that is learning to give
We follow an old Jewish idea called ma’aser. It means giving away 10% of what we earn to help others. It’s not just about money. It’s about learning to care, share, and be grateful.
What Is Ma’aser? And How Does it Teach Kids About Charity?
A long time ago, farmers set aside part of their crops for people in need. Today, we do the same thing with money. If we earn $10, we give $1 to charity. That way, we always remember to help others.
We don’t just give because it’s a rule. We give because it makes the world better. And honestly? It makes us feel good, too.
But how do you explain all of this to kids without their eyes glazing over?
Step One: The Cookie Lesson
Teaching kids about charity isn’t easy. So I started with cookies.
Me: “Imagine you have 10 cookies.”
Benji: “I do?! Where?!”
Jacob: “I want chocolate chip!”
Me: “Hang on. Now, imagine giving one cookie to someone who has none.”
Benji: “But I love cookies…”
Jacob: “That’s sharing, Benji. It’s good.”
Me: “That’s the idea behind ma’aser! We give a little of what we have to help others.”
Benji: “Okay… but do I still get cookies?”
Jacob: “Benji, focus.”
Once they understood the concept, we talked about real money.
Step Two: Earning Before Giving
Did someone said trying to teach kids about charity was easy???
The boys loved the cookie idea. But then came the real test. Giving their own money.
Benji: “Wait. OUR money?”
Jacob: “Yeah, Dad. Isn’t this a you thing?”
Me: “Nope! We all earn money, we all give. That’s how we help with money problems in the world.”
Benji: “So… how do we earn money?”
Good question. We started chores-for-allowance (here are some other great chore ideas!). Benji cleaned up toys. Jacob organized snacks (mostly making sure we never ran out of Goldfish crackers).
At first, they were super excited. Then they realized chores take effort.
Benji: “Can I get paid for watching cartoons?”
Me: “Nice try.”
Jacob: “What about thinking about doing chores? Does that count?”
Me: “Not even close.”
Eventually, they got the hang of it. After two weeks, they each had $10. And now, for the big moment—giving some away.
Step Three: The First Donation
I reminded them of our plan. “Okay, time to give $1 to charity.”
Benji: “This is hard. My dollar is cute.”
Jacob: “I feel like Mr. Krabs.”
Me: “I know it feels strange at first. But let’s look at what this dollar can do.”
We researched charities together. Benji picked an animal shelter. Jacob picked a food bank. They clicked “Donate.”
Jacob: “Huh. That felt good.”
Benji: “Like a warm hug for my heart.”
Mission accomplished. Teaching kids about charity actually worked!
Step Four: Making It a Habit
We made a charity jar. Every time they earn money, 10% goes in. It’s our new habit: Earn, Give, Goal Set.
To keep things organized, we got a Moonjar from Amazon. It’s a cool three-part bank labeled Spend, Save, and Give, making it easy to divide their money. Now, every time they earn money, they can see exactly where it’s going and make giving a natural part of their routine.
Of course, there were questions.
Benji: “Can I donate Monopoly money?”
Jacob: “What if I invest my money first, grow it, THEN donate?”
Me: “That’s called a hedge fund, Jacob. Let’s keep it simple.”
As they got used to giving, something cool happened. They started thinking beyond money.
Jacob: “Can we give stuff instead of money? Like toys?”
Benji: “Yeah! I have some stuffed animals I don’t use.”
We packed up toys and books for donation. They saw that giving isn’t just about cash—it’s about kindness.
Step Five: Real-Life Giving
One weekend, we visited a food pantry. The boys helped stack canned goods. They saw families picking up food.
Benji: “Whoa. So, people really need this food?”
Me: “Yep. And we helped.”
That moment changed things. They saw why giving matters.
On the way home, Jacob had an idea. “Can we make a goal—set a plan—to do this every month?”
I almost cried. “Absolutely.”
The Big Lesson
Giving isn’t just about money. It’s about kindness and making the world better.
If you want to teach kids about charity, start small. Make it fun. And remind them that generosity feels just as good as saving up for a new LEGO set.
And if you ever need help with money lessons? Just remember—a cookie analogy and a good laugh go a long way!