Economy

Tips for raising generous children

Frank Greve - McClatchy Newspapers

If parents want to raise generous children, what works? Years of looking into which youth experiences best predict giving by adults offer some clues.

Independent Sector, a group of major nonprofit organizations, found the activities below the most closely linked to adult generosity. They're in only rough rank order because respondents could name multiple activities.

  • Seeing an admired person who isn't a family member help others.
  • Seeing a family member help others.
  • Doing volunteer work.
  • Raising money door to door.
  • Being active in student government.
  • Belonging to a youth group, such as the Boy Scouts.
  • Being active in a religious organization.
  • Being helped by others.

    • The biggest deterrent to generosity: not seeing a family member help others.

    Source: Giving and Volunteering in the United States survey.

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    This story was originally published May 19, 2009 at 2:56 PM with the headline "Tips for raising generous children."

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