Children today often volunteer without knowing it. That is, teachers allow students to read aloud to younger classes and parents encourage teens to help a neighbor in distress. Of course, these are random acts of kindness, but they lay the groundwork for later commitments to long-term volunteer work.
Should children volunteer? School kids often participate in class fund raising activities by selling candy or coupon books to neighbors and extended family. Parents can tap into this creative energy by modeling volunteer activity themselves and taking a child along for a little bit of assistance. Under supervision, then, some children can become volunteers and donate valuable services to others in need.
Social organizations like the Salvation Army, Haven of Rest, and other agencies typically sponsor many kinds of programs that invite volunteer participation from folks of all ages. Your child may be able to fold napkins, set tables, play with or read to homeless children, or clear tables after a community meal, for example, in programs that cater to the homeless. Younger children should be supervised to be sure they know how to do a certain task and ensure they don't get into trouble or find themselves targeted by predators. So it is wise to take your kids with you to watch first and learn before expecting them to contribute in any meaningful way.
Older children in their teens can volunteer in a more committed way by signing up for a half day each month at the local hospital to deliver mail or help serve food trays. Teens also can get involved with typing for social service agencies like the Children's Home or getting involved with missions through their church membership. Schools sometimes sponsor volunteer programs to help kids develop leadership skills in helping others. The newspaper often contains stories of youth groups painting houses in run-down neighborhoods or washing cars to raise money for the poor.
Children who get involved with volunteering can be reminded that they are providing a valuable service to their community. Parents should thank them and perhaps offer an occasional treat, such as a fast food snack, after a weekend tour of duty. Teenagers will be happy to know that volunteer work provides an extra listing for their resumes that can help give them an edge over competitors when they seek paying jobs.
In addition to these perks, volunteer work builds character in the young. Children learn in practice that it is better to give than to receive. And they observe those less fortunate than themselves, perhaps leading to more gratitude and appreciation for parents and their own circumstances in life. They may develop ideas about social equality and future jobs that can address problems they witness in childhood.
If you feel your child is too young to volunteer, wait until he or she gets old enough to donate a particular skill and understand what it is all about. But start looking for opportunities that can help your child plug into the local community and benefit in return from the good feeling of doing good.
