Spend, save and share: teaching kids to give
Set aside a small share of every payment for giving, about 10%, in a Share jar alongside Spend and Save. Let your child choose where it goes: church or the mosque, a harambee, a classmate whose family is struggling, a children’s home. Giving their own money, to a cause they picked, teaches generosity far better than giving yours.
- Three jars: Spend (60 to 70%), Save (20 to 30%), Share (about 10%).
- Let the child choose the cause.
- Harambee, church, a friend in need: Kenya has giving built in.
- Thank-yous matter: teach them to thank people who give to them, too.
Why give from their own money
When a parent hands a child KES 50 to put in the offering basket, the child learns to carry money. When the child decides to give KES 50 of their own, they learn to give. The difference is ownership.
The three jars
Every time money comes in, split it three ways:
- Spend: for now, about 60 to 70%.
- Save: for later, about 20 to 30%.
- Share: for others, about 10%.
The exact split matters less than doing it every time. For young children, three real jars or envelopes make it physical.
Kenyan ways to give
- Church or the mosque. Sunday offering, tithe, or zakat. Let them decide how much from their Share jar.
- Harambee. When a neighbour or relative holds a harambee for school fees or a funeral, let your child contribute from their own jar. It shows how a community carries each other.
- A friend in need. A classmate who can’t afford a school trip. A gift for a sick friend.
- A cause. A children’s home, a feeding programme, a tree-planting day at school.
- Time, not just money. Helping an elderly neighbour, visiting a children’s home.
Let them choose
Ask: "Who would you like to help with your Share money?" Some children will pick something you wouldn’t. That’s fine, as long as it’s genuine. Ownership is the lesson.
Saying thank you
The other side of giving is receiving well. When Shosh or an uncle sends money for a birthday, help your child say thank you: a call, a voice note, a drawing. It closes the loop and makes the giver feel seen.
How myKesho helps
myKesho splits every payday into Wallet, Save and Share. Your child picks a cause and asks to give from Share; you make the payment and mark it given, and they earn Kesho Stars. When relatives send gifts through a gift link, your child sees the message and can say thank you in the app.
Questions parents ask
How do I teach my child to give?
Set aside a small share of every payment, about 10%, for giving, and let your child choose the cause. Giving their own money teaches generosity better than giving yours.
What is spend, save, share?
A way to split money every time it comes in: most to spend now, some to save for later, and a little to share with others.
How much should a child give?
About 10% of pocket money is a common amount. The habit matters more than the percentage.
Lessons for your child
- What the Share jar is for: Giving, harambee and helping someone in need
- Saying thank you: Why thanks matter, for money and for kindness
- Wallet, Save and Share: Why your money lives in three places
- Saving together, like a chama: How a group of friends can save as a team
More guides
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