A Middlesex County school is giving its youngest students a lesson in generosity and humanitarianism.
At the Learning Experience in Edison, philanthropy is among other lessons like math and English. Students as young as 3 years old learn about the importance of inclusion and giving back.
“The world is changing and so much is happening and it’s affecting the young children more and more,” says Enrichment and Communications manager Jennifer Joseph.
Each month, students from pre-K to first grade learn a new word relating to philanthropy – with help from characters “Charity the Chihuahua” and “Grace the Greyhound.”
“Because it has such an impact on them, we’re teaching them that it’s now out of their control,” Joseph says.
The students learn about donating money through bake sales and donating food through food drives. The Learning Experience also works closely with the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Six-year-old Christian Ibeh in Miss Olivia’s kindergarten class says that he already knows he is going to give back in the future.
“If I have a lot of money, some of my money and some of my old toys,” he says.
The teachers say that the most important lesson is to get the kids to learn how to use their voices to be heard.