“God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. Amen.”
It’s a blessing most of us learned as children. And, it’s one we go on to teach our own kids. But do we ever teach our children that one of the reasons we are thankful for our food is because many people around the world don’t have any?
Do our kids even understand what real hunger is? That it’s not just when their tummy rumbles a few times between meals?
The definition of hunger is when a person doesn’t get enough nutrients to live a full, active life and his body actually starts to shut down. A child who doesn’t have healthy food to eat will be tired all the time, will be too sick to attend school regularly, and won’t grow and develop like a child his age should.
Around the world, extreme hunger is one of the leading causes of children’s deaths every year. And countless children living in poverty don’t have anything healthy to eat on a daily basis.
It’s a sad and upsetting subject to think about, and it’s an even more challenging subject to broach with young children. But it’s important to teach kids at an early age that they are more fortunate than so many other children around the world — and that they can do something to help.
Below are some tips and tools you can use to talk to your children about hunger and how you and your family can get involved to help fight this global epidemic.
Color a picture together
We’ve created this free coloring page for you to use as a conversation starter as you talk with your children or grandchildren about hunger in impoverished countries.
Go through each food: the apple, the milk, the cheese, and others and talk about how each item is good for you and helps you grow up to be healthy and strong. Maybe even encourage older children to draw their favorite foods among the other pictures.
Talk to your kids about how not all children around the world have healthy food like fruits and vegetables. Remind them that these boys and girls aren’t able to run and play because they’re malnourished.
Say a word of thanks
Once they’ve finished coloring and you’ve discussed how fortunate your own family is, take a moment to pray with your children.
Together, thank God for all that He has given you. Pray that children who are starving will be able to finally have access to food.
Then, ask God to show your family how you all can get involved and help.
Create a new future for a hungry child
Not only can you help educate your kids and grandkids about global hunger, but you can help feed a starving child, as well.
All it takes is $40 to provide food for one child for an entire year.
Wouldn’t it be cool if you and your kids saved up together to help feed a child for a year? Your children can contribute part of their allowances, and you can throw your loose change into a specific jar or container. You’ll be surprised at how fast the money accumulates!
Click the button below to learn more about how you and your family can help provide food and create a brighter future for a child in need.