Generosity. What does it mean to you? Defined as “the habit of giving without expecting anything in return”, it can involve offering time, assets or talents to help someone in need. However, through the years, the word “generosity” has often been equated with charity as a virtue; that is, a generous person is someone who donates monetary aid. When one states, “He’s so generous!” it’s quite natural to immediately assume the tone of the statement somehow involves a generous donation, offering or financial contribution.
Yet generosity encompasses so, so much more, and Canadian parents are in overwhelming agreement that raising caring and generous children is one of their top priorities. Of course, one of the easiest ways to instill a behaviour in our children is simply to model it ourselves. A Minute Maid Moments poll conducted earlier this year showed that more than half of parents demonstrate generosity through spontaneous good deeds such as shoveling a neighbours’ driveway, holding the door for a stranger, or giving gifts to friends and family including homemade art and baked goods.
This is the true definition of generosity; giving a piece of your time and talents to make a difference.
The poll also shows that an overwhelmingly high number (83 per cent) of parents want their children to show generosity, including:
• Random acts of kindness, like writing friendly surprise notes for friends and family (77 per cent)
• Offering to help neighbours in simple ways, such as carrying groceries (67 per cent)
• Acknowledging their friends /family birthdays with gestures like a phone call or handwritten card (53 per cent)
• Making gifts for others, including baked treats and homemade crafts (43 per cent)
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