People often ask what led to the founding of Free The Children, now the largest network of children helping children through education.

How does a 12-year old simply read a newspaper article one morning over breakfast and then suddenly found an international children's charity? Were we raised to be "activists?" Can my own son or daughter find their passion and make a difference in the world, too?

These were the questions that led us to write The World Needs Your Kid: How to raise children who care and contribute with journalist Shelley Page.

The truth is, nothing just happens. A lot happened in the months and years prior to reading that newspaper article. Neither of us was a child prodigy discussing world politics from the cradle. Quite the contrary. We were kids – kids whose parents instilled some simple lessons about injustice and taking action.

They taught us lessons without us hardly knowing. Witness a scene from our childhood.

One December day, just before Christmas, Mom was heading downtown to do some last-minute shopping. She invited us to tag along. Dashing along busy sidewalks, slick with ice and snow, we stumbled upon a homeless man. He was trying to keep warm in the bitter cold. We didn't think to stop, but mom did. Read more