Volunteer Opportunities for the Entire Family
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It’s important to teach your children the value of giving back to others and your community from a very young age. You can cultivate their sense of compassion for others by volunteering as a family. By emphasizing giving to others, it helps children learn that “getting†isn’t the most important thing. It is also a chance for your family to bond and get to know one another on a deeper level.
It’s easy to focus on philanthropy during the holiday season, but explain to your children that people are in need all year round, not just during Christmas and Thanksgiving. Spread out your volunteer opportunities throughout the year so you can instill a sense of community responsibility among your children. Begin a discussion with your entire family and talk about things they’d like to do for others. Here are some ideas to get your started:
1. Help an older neighbor with their yard work- mow the lawn, rake the leaves, pull out weeds, and plant flowers.
2. Pack bag lunches for the homeless, such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a piece of fruit, and a bottle of juice.
3. Organize a neighborhood food drive. Have your children go door to door with bags to collect cans and other non perishables.
4. Become a foster family for dogs and cats who are awaiting a permanent home.
5. Hold a yard sale or lemonade stand benefitting a local charity or youth group.
6. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter or soup kitchen.
7. Grab a trash bag and pick up trash along a beach or park. Explain to your children that littering is harmful to our environment.
8. Donate clothes that your family no longer wears to Salvation Army or Goodwill.
9. Perform a play or concert at a local nursing home. Help your children make costumes and create posters announcing the show.
10. Bake cookies for Valentine’s Day and distribute to kids at a local children’s hospital.
Whatever activity your family chooses to do, the important thing is that you do it together. After the project is over, talk with your kids about what they learned or saw. Chances are they may not be able to connect the dots on their own, so be sure to point out how your efforts benefited the people you were helping. Volunteering can show your children important values like compassion, respect, and empathy- instead of just talking about them.
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