Charity begins at home. Get your kids involved in giving back to the community and potentially clocking some community hours for school.

1. Walk rescue shelter dogs on a week end. For many dogs this is their only exercise outside of a cage. Shelter owners should supervise the walk and choose suitable dogs for children.
2. Make sandwiches for school children in need. Research organisations that do this. Often times, this is the only food that these children have in a day.
3. Volunteer at the local zoo. Zoos often need older kids to cut up food such as fruit and vegetables for the animals, clean animal shelters and pick up litter. They may also run holiday education and volunteer programmes.
4. Get involved in picking up litter initiatives for public areas such as parks or rivers.
5. Orphanages and retirement facilities welcome children to read or interact with children and the elderly in their care.
6. Spring clean your house. Take your children to charities or facilities where they can see how their previously loved possessions such as toys, clothes and books are appreciated by those less fortunate.
7. Make or bake some homemade goodies for charity. Sell them to friends or neighbours to raise money for a good cause such as Saving Rhinos. This is also a great practical numeracy lesson.
8. Teach your child to knit and make squares for charity blankets.
9. Get involved in school or community charity collection drives for items such as tinned food and warm clothing.
10. Support local. Go to local markets and support businesses such as cheese makers and clothing manufacturers. Explain how this helps our economy.
11. Encourage children to save a small percentage of their pocket money and donate it to a charity.