How to Raise Kids Who Care

At 11, Kendall Ciesemier got two liver transplants and asked friends and family to skip the gifts for her and instead donate to an international charity called World Vision. That effort inspired her to start her own nonprofit, Kids Caring 4 Kids, which helps fund projects such as getting special bikes to African students who live far from school and feeding orphans, widows, and AIDS patients in Zambia.

Ciesemier, now a high school senior, appears in the current issue of Glamour as winner of the magazine's 2010 readers' choice award for woman of the year. I know her — and hope my own daughters follow in her compassionate footsteps. Here are some suggestions for how you (and I) can try to raise we-generation kids and grandkids:

Praise young activists for being so aware of others. "I personally think you ought to give them a medal," says psychologist Thomas Merrill, a father and grandfather. I might not agree with them. I might not like their cause. But I see kids who really do have something that interests them other than themselves, and I think the parents have done great."

Be a good role model. To show kids and grandkids that you care, get involved in activities that help others. You don't need to wield posters at marches (though you certainly can). You can simply join the PTO or donate to Goodwill.

Help kids find an issue that moves them.What are their interests? The environment, poverty, animal welfare, education, peace, politics? Steer them toward sites such as volunteeringinamerica.gov. Volunteermatch.org and serve.gov even let you enter your zip code and "interest area" to find volunteer activities nearby.

Expose your kids to your passion. Actress Virginia McKenna, who portrayed Joy Adamson in the 1966 movie "Born Free," brought her then 5-year-old son, Will Travers, along when she and her late husband, Bill Travers, filmed in Kenya. That experience inspired the Travers family to start an animal welfare and wildlife conservation charity, now called the Born Free Foundation. Today Will Travers, who grew up volunteering for the cause, runs the group and exposes his own kids, Lily 20, and William, 16, to his life's work. "You have to be a 'giver,' which he is," says McKenna. (On January 9 at 8 p.m. eastern, PBS is airing a documentary, "In Elsa's Legacy: The Born Free Story.")

Don't force it. "It was not necessary to push my kids to be socially aware or give to charity and volunteer, as their mother and I have both worked for charities and supported charities," says Travers. "It was part of the fabric of life for them."

Make time for giving back. "There are nearly 9,000 hours in a year," says Travers. "It seems impossible to me that we cannot all find a few hours to help causes we care about — less fortunate people, animals in need, environmental protection. My kids were made aware of the needs of others from an early age, and I hope and believe this is now part of their social DNA."

Point out admirable examples to your kids and grandkids. Tell them about Ciesemier.  Sure, some celebrities are spend their spare time shopping and partying. But bring up how "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks (shown here), singers Bono and Elton John, and actors Sean Penn, Charlize Theron, and Roger Moore, among others, use their fame to help others. Still, make sure they realize that, as Ciesemier proves, they don't need to be a Hollywood star to make a big difference.

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