Generosity is a trait not easily adopted. It is something that must be learned and understood. For this reason, many believe generosity should be taught in schools. Before you can teach generosity, however, you must first understand what generosity is. In an article by Amy Love on mindfulschools.org, generosity can be defined as giving good things freely and abundantly.
This simple definition of generosity can be broken down into three phrases: Giving good things, freely, and abundantly. Giving good things means to give items of value to the recipient. In some cases, having lunch with someone may be more valuable than giving them a hug. The next part of generosity is the word “freely”. To give something freely means to give without hesitation or regret. The last part of the definition for generosity is “abundantly”, meaning to give in an amount significant to the recipient.
With an understanding for what generosity is, it can be effectively taught in schools. Amy Love’s article outlines three ways to cultivate generosity with youth: