Are there any resources available to teach DS about people less fortunate than ourselves?

[BedHog]

DS is 4 and a half, started school in september and since then I have noticed an increase in greediness and ungratefulness in him. I've tried explaining that a lot of children don't have any toys at all (when he's moaning about not having enough cars) or some have to eat rice every day (when he refuses his tea) but I don't think he really believes me.

Does anyone know of any resources to help him understand just how lucky he is, and learn some empathy and social conscience? Maybe some short films on Youtube, or books I can show him? Preferably something he can relate to rather than Oxfam-type adverts which I think are more designed to pull at adults' heartstrings.

dont have an answer but interested to watch thread as we had this with dd too. I think partly they are so knackered when they start school it does bring out some of their more obnoxious sides. But I also think in general children are indulged these days and a bit more understanding and social conscience would be good. I'm sure we did more at school when I was young - harvest festival donations for old people etc. I think just explaining is a bit abstract bu that chldren really enjoy thinking about things that are a bit more concrete. Perhaps starting with local need e.g showing the news when there are floods or taking a donation to a soup kitchen together could be something to think about?

We sponsor a child. She writes to us, and we write to her. My dc know that some of the children living at the same place as her never knew their mum and dad, and grew up on the streets, and a lot of the children live on the rubbish dump.
Helps the children see "there but for the grace of God" really.

www.amazon.co.uk/World-Were-Village-David-Smith/dp/0713668806/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354716068&sr=1-1 is a lovely book that puts things into context.

Or you could look at www.marysmeals.org.uk/what-you-can-do/backpack-project/ and make up a backpack to help get a child an education?

I'm not sure that 4 year old children can make the necessary links between eg not wanting their own tea and other children having to eat rice every day(or not having enough food). In a way, they're not connected are they, because whether the child eats their tea or not it doesn't change the situation of other children in the world. It's a bit too big and abstract.

I would tackle the issues separately tbh.

I think it can help to actually do something charitable with DCs, for example doing a small food shop for the local food bank, taking them along with you and explaining what it is and why you are donating (or just donate a few spare tins from your kitchen).

How about doing a toy clear out and donating to charity too?

That way he may see a tangible link between what he has and others don't?

He is still very young but I think it's great you are trying to explain this to him already.

"I've tried explaining that a lot of children don't have any toys at all (when he's moaning about not having enough cars) or some have to eat rice every day (when he refuses his tea) but I don't think he really believes me."

Agree with everyone else. This is developmentally inappropriate - it would at most just be a rote thing even if you did succeed - like the difference between saying "thank you" and feeling genuine gratitude.

but then again the whole "aren't we lucky" thing is one of my pet hates and I would never say it to my children. I think it's usually a disguised celebration of perceived superiority.

But we are lucky to live in a part of the world and a time in history where we have access to clean water, medical treatment etc, aren't we?

I know what you mean about the 'aren't we lucky?' line and don't use it to my children, but we actually are very lucky in lots of ways.

My children heard an advert on radio for adoption by chance. The ad used the voices of children. They sobbed for a while and I have seen changes. They are aged 7 and 4.11

I think it's easy enough to starts with Some basic things, like taking things to the local charity shop, putting out a bag for collection with clothes explaining that some children don't have the things that ours do.

We also do a Christmas shoe box / ruck sack through school.

The Jeremy Kyle Show.

My son did a topic in Y1 on India. It included watching movies of people sitting on the trains because they couldn't afford the fare, talk about open sewers, poverty, infant mortality and disease.

There is a thread on here where adults talked about never getting a birthday or Christmas present. I'm usually pretty hard-faced but it brought a tear or three to my eyes.

I'd try comic relief, children in need sort of materials on their websites/youtube.

Otherwise, I'd consider taking him to a hospital and see how few toys there are (my kids were shocked at the tatty toys in A&E and donate outgrown DVDs and toys to them)

Personally I don't do the "children in the world are starving" guilt thing that was popular in the 80s (because of Band Aid?) It's not my children's fault that they are blessed with a good upbringing and they shouldn't feel guilty about it.

My children have gradually realised how lucky they are through life experiences. Watching TV shows like Tracy Beaker introduced them to the idea of care homes when they hadn't considered the what happens to orphaned kids, seeing special need people when out and about makes them realise that not all kids can do basic things like run around and seeing homeless people has ended up in conversations about how good it is to have a roof over our heads.

You need some clever retorts like

"When you're an adult and get a job you can buy all the cars that you fancy and a real car for me. "

Thanks for all the replies, some good ideas there.

It's tricky to know how far a child can grasp these concepts at such a young age. I remember my parents saying 'think of the starving children in Africa' when I wouldn't eat my tea as a child - it meant nothing, or made me want to package up my plate of liver and carrots and send it to them. We already take things to charity shops and do harvest festival etc at school, but as you don't get to see the 'end user' or the people who benefit, it's not something he understands. And the local hospital has a fantastic array of toys - DS was in his element when we went for an out-patients appt, so that's not an option.

I wouldn't say 'aren't we lucky' in a sneery, superior way, but I don't want DS growing up being grabby and feeling hard done by if he doesn't get everything he wants. I'd like him to find out about other cultures and lifestyles and want to help wherever he can.

Lots to think about.....

I watched a small act with my dds when they were 4&7.

It's an amazing documentary about how a woman changed the life of one boy and how in turn he changed the life of others.

My oldest was really stunned by the school and how hard the children were working to get an education and how desperately important it was to them.

Teach him this .

Why don't you sponsor a child through Plan or another organisation and together you can write to your sponsored child, share photos and experiences and so on.