Volunteering is just as important to your child's development as schoolwork, sports and music lessons. Finding ways for children to contribute to their communities can help them develop empathy, social skills, a sense of belonging, self-esteem and empowerment.
Follow these simple steps to find a volunteering opportunity and develop a plan that works for your kids and your family.
Ask your children about which causes most move them. Are they concerned about homeless animals? Hungry or sick children? Families displaced by natural disasters? Environmental issues? Lonely senior citizens? Decide which issues your children want to tackle first.
Brainstorm ways to contribute to the cause. For ideas, check your local newspaper; attend volunteer "fairs" at which charitable organizations give out information to prospective helpers; or call local agencies that might rely on volunteers.
Decide what kind of project works best for your family's busy schedule. Should it be an on-going project or a one-time event? Are you willing to travel or do you prefer to work from home? Do you want to buy things (like toys, clothing, blankets and school supplies) or would you prefer to make objects at home, provide a service or help raise money?
Here are some ideas organized by age to get you and your kids started:
- Create a lemonade stand, bake sale or art sale to raise money for a cause
- Donate toys or art supplies to sick or poor children
- Sing for and/or give artwork to senior citizens
- Plant flowers in local parks
- Read to and/or play board games with senior citizens
- Clean up a park, playground or local beach
- Work at a soup kitchen or food bank
- Volunteer to play with and/or walk animals at a local shelter
- Write letters to local papers or agencies to advocate for a cause
- Make stuffed animals or artwork for sick children in hospitals
- Have kids sort through their own toys, clothing and books to give to poor children
- Sing at a children's hospital
- Clean up the yards or houses of elderly or disabled community residents
- Take pets into local children's hospitals or senior centers
- Deliver meals to the elderly
- Plant trees or flowers in local parks or along roadsides
- Record books on tapes for the blind or elderly
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter
- Help restore habitat in a local park or forest
