If you manage your money wisely and aren’t living for the next paycheck, you probably set aside a little each month for your church, synagogue or favorite charity.

Introduce your child to donating to charity as soon as the kid begins to handle money and develops an understanding for its value.

If you support a religious organization, make it clear to your child how much it depends on donations from members to keep the doors open.

Or use the family pet to define the basics. The critter is a valuable member of the family, providing companionship and hours of fun. Make sure that your child understands the cost of feeding the family friend and what the vet charges for routine visits. Tell your child the money comes out of the family budget.

If your child enjoys visiting the zoo, use the family pet as an example to explain the cost of feeding the animals and maintaining their health. Note that the price of admission doesn’t cover all expenses and the zoo therefore depends on the support of animal lovers. If your child is unusually fond of bears, monkeys or birds, perhaps the kid could donate directly to their care and feeding. Most zoos have gotten market savvy and encourage donations, especially from children, who might become bigger donors in the future.

A donation, no matter how small, may make your child a “Friend of the Zoo.” Such status may come with a special card with your child’s name on it – hardly the point of charity, but a definite plus when underscoring the importance of charitable giving and making your child feel special.

Tell your child that because donations come out of your pocket, it’s up to you to be sure the money is spent wisely. As your child matures, offer tips on how to determine if a charity’s overhead is out of line or even if it’s been investigated for misuse of funds.

As your children mature, consider letting them decide where a portion of the family giving will go. This will encourage them to think about what’s important to them and to do basic research on the organization.

This can get a little dicey if you’re of one set of beliefs and your kid wants to donate to a cause that’s contrary to those beliefs.

“You can decline to donate to an organization that you don’t want to support because when the children are young, it’s your money,” says Linda Leitz, founder of Pinnacle Financial Concepts in Colorado Springs, Colo. and author of The Ultimate Parenting Map to Money Smart Kids. “This requires a clear explanation to the child who made the proposal.”

After you’ve explained your reasons for vetoing the proposed donation, say that your child can donate to the organization when earning money through part-time work in the future. You want your child to be independent and self-confident and making decisions is basic to achieving these goals. It’s sometimes difficult for adults to realize that their children see the world differently, so try to relax, Old Timer.

The amount your child donates doesn’t have to be large. Resist the urge to overdo it at first. The idea is to get your child thinking about others early in life. Donating to charity is a good first step. With luck, your child will continue to donate to charity as an adult.