My grandparents have an ancient walnut tree in their backyard and every fall, all of the cousins would get together, rake the big leaves in a 10-foot-tall pile (I’m not joking—the pile stood taller than all of us), climb a rickety ladder and get into the low branches of the tree, and then we would each cannonball jump into the leaf pile and just hope a rogue stick wouldn’t be there to turn this adventure into a hospital trip.
Much to everyone’s surprise, no grandkids were ever harmed in the making of these unforgettable childhood memories! The second part of the tradition was not as thrilling but stayed with me just as much as the 15-foot leap of faith out of the walnut tree.
The property also had a small orchard in the very back where my grandpa grew orange and apple trees. (Their backyard was unreal, right? That California weather makes dreams come true.) A few of us would collect as many apples as we could, bring them inside, and my grandma would set up the antique apple corer and put us to work.
Because I loved to bake, even at a very young age, being in the kitchen with my grandma was so much fun. We cored and diced the apples, rolled out pie dough, and by the end of the day, had several apple pies sitting on the kitchen counter. Americana at its finest.
My family would go through as many pies as my teenage cousins could handle, but my grandma would save a few and we would take them to people in the neighborhood: the couple across the street who didn’t have grandkids in the area and always let us swim in their pool, the widow a few doors down, the family with busy parents who had no time to make homemade meals.
My grandma and I would walk hand-in-hand as she talked about these neighbors and ways they’d helped her throughout the years. It’s funny—I don’t even like apple pie but I loved spending this time with my sweet grandma (with whom I just shared my experience with Lasagna Love and she immediately asked how she could be involved).
I think this experience formed my love of cooking and baking for people. It’s my go-to way to serve someone because I think there’s so much to be said about cooking as a “labor of love.” To know that someone thought about you enough to create something beautiful is very special to me.
All of this storytelling to say that teaching kids about service is impactful, and the science shows, life-changing.
Teaching Kids About Service—Does It Work?
Kids aren’t born understanding how important generosity or empathy is—they need to experience it. Research shows that empathy, a key component of service, starts developing in early childhood and continues as kids grow.
According to Psych Central, children as young as two years old begin showing empathetic behaviors when they see someone upset, such as offering toys or hugs. By fostering these experiences early on, parents can help their children grow into thoughtful, civic-minded individuals.
And it’s more than just good behavior. Kids who are exposed to service opportunities not only develop a stronger moral compass but also learn problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills. These traits translate into advantages at school, in relationships, and later in the working world.
Here’s the big takeaway: Teaching kids about service isn’t just good for others—it builds the “internal compass” your child will use when making big decisions.
How Build Then Bless Helps Teach Kids About Service
Build Then Bless is a software designed to nurture generosity through meaningful, everyday interactions. While it’s commonly used in corporate settings to enhance employee culture, its philosophy and tools perfectly align with teaching kids about service.
Instead of relying on traditional methods of giving—like big charity checks or occasional volunteering—Build Then Bless promotes “micro-interactions” that transform acts of service into day-to-day experiences. These small but impactful gestures, like surprising someone with a gift card or helping someone asking for food on the street, create a ripple effect of kindness.
Because one of the best ways to teach a child is through modeling the right behavior, having work-supported service opportunities gives parents a chance to lead by example.
Here are some of my favorite stories from coworkers who used Build Then Bless to teach their kids about service.
Sergio and Tori in Texas: Cookie Doorbell Ditch
Last Halloween, my wife Tori wanted to make cookies and bring them to people who she felt needed to know people were thinking about them. She took our sons to the store and got ingredients, fun Halloween plates, and got to baking! Our 4-year-old son was constantly asking questions while this all happened, and we got to explain to him that sometimes it’s just fun to do nice things for people.
We got several plates ready with cookies on them and drove to people’s houses where I was the getaway driver and was able to watch him have a blast as he and his mom dropped off the cookies, rang the doorbell, and sprinted back to the car.
It was meaningful to see how much joy that brought him and to have that be such a positive learning experience at such a young age. He was asking us daily if we could bake more cookies and bring them to people long after the holiday!
Sergio and Tori in Texas: Helping Someone After Surgery
Some time ago one of our friend’s daughters got her tonsils removed. We decided to go and pick out a bunch of soft foods and anything that could help soothe her poor throat. This was one of those interactions where our son Roman was able to be around to see someone’s reaction as they accepted an act of kindness and am so grateful that we chose to take some time out of our day to help someone in need.
After we left, we took the opportunity to ask Roman what he thought and how he felt. Helping him reflect and feel that what we did was right and seeing him want to find more ways to serve others is what it’s all about!
Jared and Bitsy in California
Every Saturday, we walk to our local donut shop for “Daddy Donut Day” with the kiddos. On this particular Saturday, we came across a homeless gentleman who looked like he could use a warm coffee and a donut. My wife and I asked the kids, “What do you think about getting that gentleman some food and coffee?” Without missing a beat, they responded, “YEAH!”
After we brought him the food, he gave my wife and me a huge hug and was incredibly grateful for the gesture. As we were walking home, our 4-year-old daughter asked, “Why did we help that man?” This led to a wonderful opportunity to explain that not everyone is as fortunate as we are to be able to enjoy simple things like donuts and coffee. We told them that if we have the ability to help, we should, and that this was one small way we could make a difference in that man’s life.
Videos from Connie in California and Kristyn in Utah
Watch Connie and Kristyn share experiences with using Build Then Bless to teach their kids about service!
Practical Ways to Use Build Then Bless in Your Family
Even if you don’t work for a company that uses Build Then Bless, here are a few ways to teach your kids about service. And send this blog to your HR department or exec team and encourage them to look into implementing Build Then Bless in your workplace!
1. Choose Projects That Align with Your Child’s Interests
Kids are more likely to engage in service activities when they’re connected to their passions. For example, if your child loves animals, use the Build Then Bless platform to fund dog treats for a local shelter. If they’re into art, encourage them to create thank-you cards for healthcare workers. By linking service to what they already care about, you make the experience more meaningful.
2. Incorporate Service into Everyday Life
Service doesn’t have to mean big projects or time-consuming commitments. Build Then Bless specializes in micro-interactions—small but powerful acts of kindness. Some ideas could include:
- Leaving a gift card for your mail person with a “thank you” note.
- Surprising a neighbor by shoveling their driveway or watering their garden.
- Paying it forward at the coffee shop by covering a stranger’s bill.
With Build Then Bless, your employer provides a debit card with a set amount of money each month that you get to use to help people in your community. For more ideas, check out our 101 Ways to Build Then Bless.
3. Involve Everyone
Get everyone involved by framing service as a team adventure! Use Build Then Bless to brainstorm acts of kindness as a family, and assign roles so everyone is part of the process.
For example:
- Parent Role: Managing the logistics.
- Older Kid Role: Writing notes or handing out small gifts like candy bags.
- Younger Kid Role: Drawing or decorating the packaging for the gifts.
Build Then Bless Makes Teaching Your Kids About Service Easy
When your employer removes the barrier to service by providing money and encouraging you to use it on others, service becomes easy. And this trickle-down effect can create a more generous, compassionate world.
Use these tips or see if Build Then Bless would be a good fit for your company. Your employees—and their kids—will be so happy you did.
