Re-examine Design of Fund-Raising Campaigns for Pre-Schoolers

I recently received a fund-raising card from my child's pre-school, encouraging her to collect donations from friends and family as part of a campaign on "gratitude".

- Gong Pan Pan

While the charitable cause is commendable, I was unsettled by the campaign structure and its implications for very young children.

Children are asked to solicit donations, with badges awarded for every five donors. Donors receive handmade "thank-you" cards from the child, which could make the child the emotional face of the campaign.

At pre-school age, children cannot fully grasp the meaning of money or charitable giving. Instead, they may equate collecting more donations to praise and recognition.