Generosity Resources for Children, Youth, Families & Intergenerational Ministries

Sunday School Ministries and Church–Wide Service Projects

Let the Children Give: Time, Talents, Love, and Money by Delia Halverson (Discipleship Resources, 2007) http://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/DR501/let-the-children-give.aspx

Intergenerational Caring Ministries with Families and Older Adults: “A Community of Faith United by the Holy Spirit, Our Advocate” by Rosanna Anderson https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/a-community-of-faith-united-by-the-holy-spirit-our-advocate

Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool (Birth through Age 5)

Little Critter Inspired Kids series by Mercer Meyer: Being Thankful and You Go First (Tommy Nelson books) http://www.tommynelson.com/books/little-critter-inspired-kids/

Berenstain Bears series by Stan and Jan Berenstain and son Mike Berenstain, in the Living Lights series of ZonderKidz: Piggy Bank Blessings and Kindness Counts and Learn to Share and Trouble with Commercials and Trouble with Things and Love Their Neighbors and The Golden Rule. https://www.zondervan.com/search-results/?keyword=Berenstain+Bears

Elementary

Junior’s Adventures series by Dave Ramsey: The Big Birthday Surprise [Giving] and The Super Red Racer [Work] and Careless at the Carnival [Spending] and My Fantastic Field Trip [Saving] and Battle of the Chores [Debt] and The Big Payoff [Integrity] (Ramsey Press, The Lampo Group, Inc., 2015) http://www.daveramsey.com/store/kids-teens/junior-s-adventures-storytime-book-set/prodD0103.html

Stu Bear: A Story About Stewardship for Young Children by Lynn Williamson (1995) https://stewardshipresources.org/product/stu-bear-a-story-about-stewardship-for-young-children/. Discounts are available when purchasing 10 or more copies. Call ESC at 855-278-4ESC (4372) for more information.

VeggieTales series of books and DVDs. Madam Blueberry: A Lesson in Thankfulness and Veggies in Space: The Fennel Frontier, a Lesson in the Power of Sharing and God Wants Us to Make Good Choices and many Christmas specials. http://store.veggietales.com/

Optional clear plastic “Smart Saver Bank” for kids, ages 3-12, at www.daveramsey.com

My Gratitude Journal (Mirabell Publishing, 2013), https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Journal-Kids-Mirabell-Publishing/dp/1493554735

Vacation Bible School special ministry project

Creative giving cards and educational videos provided by “ZOE: Helping Children Help Themselves, a United Methodist ministry with children in poverty, http://www.zoehelps.org/church-creates-orphan-walk-for-children-during-vbs/

Confirmation, Middle School, High School

Growing Up Generous: Engaging Youth in Giving and Serving by Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Elanah Dalyah Naftali and Laura Musegades (Alban Institute, 2000), https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Generous-Engaging-Lifestyle/dp/1566992389/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1470884752&sr=1-1&keywords=growing+up+generous

Money Sanity Solutions: Linking Money and Meaning by Nathan Dungan (Share, Save, Spend, 2010), http://sharesavespend.com/products/money-sanity-solutions

Optional “Share, Save, Spend” Bank for ages 10 through 18 at www.sharesavespend.com

Let middle school and high school students choose and decorate their Gratitude Journal.

Youth with Mentors/Prayer Friends/Parents, Midweek Dinner Conversations

Mind Your Money: One Hundred Discussion Starters to Get You Thinking and Talking About Your Money (Share, Save, Spend, 2007). http://sharesavespend.com/products/mind-your-money

Ignite Your Generosity: A 21-Day Experience in Stewardship by Chris McDaniel (InterVarsity Press, 2015). http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=4431

Advent Series with Generosity Themes

Finding Bethlehem in the Midst of Bedlam by James W. Moore (Abingdon, 2004) with age-specific books and activities for children and youth, https://www.cokesbury.com/forms/search.aspx?txtSearchQuery=Finding%20Bethlehem%20in%20the%20Midst%20of%20Bedlam

Book Review by Rosanna Anderson, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/book-review-of-finding-bethlehem-in-the-midst-of-bedlam

The Redemption of Scrooge by Matt Rawle (Abingdon, 2016) for adults, https://www.cokesbury.com/product/9781501823077; and The Redemption of Scrooge: Youth Study Book, https://www.cokesbury.com/product/9781501823169

Book Review by Rosanna Anderson, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/book-review-of-the-redemption-of-scrooge

Adult Sunday School, Parent Ministries, or Small Groups

Facing Financial Struggle: 28 Days of Prayer by Wessel Bentley (Upper Room Books, 2010), https://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/Default.aspx?bookid=1027

Book Review by Rosanna Anderson, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/book-review-facing-financial-struggle-28-days-of-prayer

Making Grateful Kids: The Science of Building Character by Jeffrey J. Froh and Giacomo Bono (Templeton Press, 2014), https://www.templetonpress.org/book/making-grateful-kids. It includes suggestions for activities, conversations, and practices at home.

Book Review by Rosanna Anderson, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/book-review-of-making-grateful-kids-the-science-of-building-character

Raising Financially Freed-Up Kids: Teaching Responsibility at Every Age by David Briggs, published by Good $ense Movement, Willow Creek Community Church, 2010, http://goodsensemovement.org/resources/raising-financially-freed-up-kids/

Book Review by Rosanna Anderson, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/review-of-freed-up-financial-living-how-to-get-there-with-biblical-principl

The Year Without a Purchase: One Family’s Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting by Scott Dannemiller (Westminster John Knox Press, 2015), https://www.cokesbury.com/product/9780664260682/the-year-without-a-purchase

Book Review by Rosanna Anderson, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/book-review-the-year-without-a-purchase

Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and Our World by Laura Arrillaga-Andreesson (Jossey-Bass, 2012), https://www.amazon.com/Giving-2-0-Transform-Your-World/dp/1118119401. It has ideas for engaging kids in family generosity opportunities.

Book Review by Rosanna Anderson, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/review-of-giving-2.0-transform-your-giving-and-our-world

Giving Together: A Stewardship Guide for Families by Carol A. Wehrheim (WJK Press, 2004), http://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664226892/giving-together.aspx