9 Ways Children Can Volunteer in Their Community ...

By Diana

9 Ways Children Can Volunteer in Their Community ...

There are many ways children can volunteer in their community, no matter their age. Start by showing your children when they are young how they can help others and watch as they continue this experience on their own in their teen years and adulthood. Introduce your family to these different ways children can volunteer so they can pick the one they like the best.

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1

Donating Toys & Clothes

Donating Toys & Clothes When your little ones have outgrown their toys and clothes, show them how they can help other kids their age with this wonderful way children can volunteer. Ask your church or community center if they are collecting any donations or wait until the holidays when many grocery stores and locations will be collecting Toys for Tots and gently used winter coats.

2

Clean up

Clean up Call your local government to ask about gathering a church or school group of kids to clean up the local park. This is an excellent way to show your kids how they can help keep their neighborhood and parks clean so everyone can continue to enjoy them. You can also teach children about planting new life with flower buds or baby trees that they can watch grow when they visit the park.

3

Visit a Nursing Home

Visit a Nursing Home My oldest step-daughter has been volunteering at our local nursing home since she was twelve years old. She started out helping with lunch and birthday celebrations, and later started to sing to them while she was there. They loved her voice so much that they asked her to come once a month during the evening activities just to sing. If you love this volunteering idea for your child, you may want to wait until they are a little bit older, almost into their teen years, so there is more for them to do like read, sing, or help with lunch.

4

Care Packages to Our Troops

Care Packages to Our Troops There are too many kids out there who have a parent overseas protecting our country or helping other countries. Whether you know someone locally or just want to send over thank you letters or care packages, ask your kids to help out. They can draw pictures, write thank you cards, and even pick out fun items like snacks or playing cards to send in the care package. Check out links like operationstarsandstripes.org or operationgratitude.com for more information.

5

Pet Friendly

Pet Friendly Are you looking to adopt a new pet at the local animal shelter? Well before you do, call ahead to see if they have volunteer opportunities that can teach your child about the responsibilities of having a pet before you actually get one. They may be in need of dog walkers or need help with feeding or bathing the pets. If you aren’t looking to adopt a pet, be sure your child is old enough to understand that you are just helping the pets so they can feel better before they go to a new home.

Famous Quotes

If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.

Laozi
6

Soup Kitchen

Soup Kitchen Women shelters and churches are always in need of volunteers to help out during lunch and dinner services, especially around the holidays. Helping out at a soup kitchen is a great way to show your own children that not everyone is as blessed as they are, which is why we volunteer. Call before you take your child to volunteer at any location to ask if there is an age limit.

7

Children’s Hospitals

Children’s Hospitals Do your kids enjoy making homemade crafts with paper or fabric? Why not ask them if they would like to make a few things for some really brave kids at the children’s hospital who need some cheering up. Taking your kids to volunteer at the local hospital not only teaches them a wonderful lesson, but it will help many of the sick kids who are lonely and maybe far from their hometown.

8

Library

Library My youngest step-daughter loves reading books and is hoping to volunteer at the library this school year to help out wherever she may be needed. Older kids and teens can help out during story time and read to younger kids as well as return books to their proper place on the shelves. Younger kids may be able to help gather the other kids during story time, put on a puppet show, or help clean up the kid’s area.

9

Raise Money

Raise Money Whether it’s walking in a race for a cure, or selling lemonade like little Alex, kids can learn how to raise money that gives back to cancer research and other foundations. One that was close to Alex’s heart was childhood cancer, so when she was just four years old she created alexslemonade.org. Sadly she lost her battle to cancer when she was eight, however, she made a big impact in just four years and so can your kids.

Have I missed any great ways children can volunteer in their community? The more kids volunteer, the better their lives are, as well as the lives of others. We all have busy lives, but if we take an hour each weekend to teach our children how to volunteer they will inspire others to do the same.

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Join 4-H!

Brilliant ideas! I have 4 young boys but hope to teach them that's there's more to life than the rat race! Helping others is important !

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