Let's be altruistic!

The Washington Kids Post featured an interesting study about people learning to help others. It was in the article entitled A Little Help. This study showed that toddlers as young as 18 months are altruistic, being helpful just to be nice. The study concluded with the statement that the desire to help is a uniquely human trait. Examples given were donations to charity, recycling for the environment, and giving up a prime subway seat to an older person. The point was made that none of these things give people much benefit beyond feeling good about helping others.

 I liked the closing question best:

So, whom have you helped today?

So share a time you helped someone either today or at some other time. How did it make you feel? How about the person you helped? Let’s be altruistic!

Comments

[Bronwyn G]

Um, I don't know that humans are the only creatures who are altrustic.

Altruism is through the whole animal kingdom. They need it to survive and they probably get pleasure out of helping just like we do. Helping another member of our species. I think altruism has evolved.

I help lots of people with their work by giving them resources and tips to start off with so they can leverage their own ideas. It makes me feel privileged to be in the spark of those ideas. I also help people understand their children. People feel less confused when they can understand each other and realise they're more alike than different.

[Derrick]

Remember Mrs.Davis we helped Ms. Neville's. I thought that was very altrustic.

[angel]

A time that I helped somebody was when my friend was being chased by dogs so I opened the door to my house and he got in but the dogs did not. Keep up writin about entertaining news like the immigration or the Iraq War.

[Jason]

I'm 11 and I LOVE to help people. (most of the time)

[Bronwyn G]

What occasions don't you like helping people, Jason?

I don't like helping people when they are just going to make use of me.

But it's good to help people most of the time.