My two granddaughters, ages nine and five, are very observant girls. They’re also very empathic. On a recent visit they noticed a homeless man lying in the doorway of a shop. The five-year old asked why he was sleeping there and her older sister explained that he was homeless and didn’t have any place else to sleep. I asked them how they felt about seeing the man. They said it made them feel sad and a little scared.
Our encounter gave us an opportunity to talk about how fortunate we are to have a home, but that there are many people who are not as blessed. A few days later I read an excellent article in j. Weekly by Rachel Biale, MSW with some suggestions for how to talk to children about homelessness.
Begin by explaining the basic facts:
- Some people don’t have enough money to buy or rent a home.
- There are places called “homeless shelters” where such people can stay, at least for a while, but not enough for everyone who needs them. There are shelters for adults who are by themselves and also for families. Support your child if she’s outraged that there are kids who don’t have a home.
- The people we see sleeping on the street usually have a lot of problems “with their feelings and their thinking.” This makes it hard for them to stay at those shelters or find a job and earn money for a place to live.
After you’ve shared these facts, ask your child what she thinks about homelessness. Expect and encourage expressions of empathy, concern, and anger at the way things are. Tell your child what you yourself do if you contribute to homeless shelters or food banks. And if you don’t, this may be a good reason to begin.
If your child seems troubled, which is an indication of her capacity for compassion and a sense of justice, you might consider taking further steps:
- Volunteer at a shelter serving meals.
- Make holiday cards for children in a shelter.
- Collect books/toys to donate.
- Volunteer at a food bank.
Having the opportunity to talk to your child about how lucky she is to have a home and all the things in it can help foster gratitude, which is the foundation of generosity.
I plan to have more conversations with my granddaughters about the problem of homelessness. I’d like to hear their ideas about how to solve this disturbing problem and tell them that I hope it is eradicated in their lifetime. I’m proud to say that my granddaughters have donated their extra toys to a shelter and volunteered at a shelter on Thanksgiving.
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