Halloween, Children and Charity

Halloween is one of the most successful of all American holidays. We fall so in love with it as children that many of us persist right through adulthood trying to recapture the fun and silliness of our first trick-or-treat adventures.

That's why Halloween is such a great time to teach our children about charitable giving and start turning our little monsters into caring little angels.

Making Halloween into a time for giving as well as scaring is a great cause-marketing opportunity and many companies and nonprofits pounce on it. For instance, Joe Waters' blog alerted me to this spooky cause marketing campaign at Better Homes and Gardens: Free pumpkin carving stencils. These stencils are so cute and make carving that pumpkin so much easier. The magazine will donate $2 for every stencil downloaded to one of several nonprofits including Rebuilding Together that helps rebuild homes for low income families and homes affected by disasters.

Of course, the mother of all Halloween charity campaigns is Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, now more than 60 years along. Give your kids or grandkids these oranges boxes to collect coins that help children around the world. The outstanding campaign even won a Halo award this year from the Cause-Marketing Forum.

Halloween is just the beginning of the fall holidays, all of which can be turned into lessons in giving for our children. Here is a roundup of ideas that might help turn kids from selfish to selfless:

• How to Teach Kids About Charity. The keys to raising charitable children, says Madison DuPaix, Guide to Kids and Money at about.com, are starting them early and making it concrete. Connect giving to the things around them such as toys and food and explain that not all kids have as much as they do.

• Madison also provides Volunteer Ideas for Kids. Children can develop a sense of gratitude and self-worth when they volunteer in their community. Here are several volunteer ideas perfect for the kids and families.

• Katherine Lee, the about.com expert on grade-school age children, says to think beyond money. Writing a check to charity is easy but not concrete enough for a young child. Make the choice and act of giving to charity a fun and family involved activity.

• Heidi Coghan, guide to Kid's Clubs, explains how to pick clubs for your child that teach about caring through volunteer projects.

• Terri Mauro, about.com's guide to Children With Special Needs, has a great idea for Showing Off Your Child's Artwork for Charity.

• Over on the about.com travel channel, Teresa Plowright suggests how to turn travel with your children into an opportunity for giving. Children often see poverty in the countries they visit with their parents. Turn those experiences into learning and helping.

How are you turning Halloween and other holidays into a charitable event for the children?

Photo: Better Homes and Gardens

Related:

• Gifts that Give Back
• Great Charities for Families at the Holidays
• 10 Ways to Give Back - Ideas For Everyday Giving