Children Making an Impact by Volunteering

Article submitted by Kathleen Thomas on behalf of Primrose Schools

 

Most people want their children to grow up to be compassionate individuals. However, this is easier said than done. One way to help teach children to care about others is to involve them in volunteering while they are still young. Schools systems are in charge of educating your children and giving them the knowledge needed to succeed, but compassion is something that needs to be addressed prior to entering a preschool, so that it can be honed and perfect through their growth.

When you help children volunteer while they are still young they learn that it is possible for them to make a difference in the world. Volunteering helps them to learn about the ways they can improve the world and also helps to build character. You don't have to wait until your child is a teenager to have them start volunteering, you just have to find the right volunteer project and even small children can start to experience the benefits of volunteering.

When deciding on a volunteer project for your child, first think of the values that you want to teach your child. Choose a volunteer opportunity that reflects your values and interests, rather than just choosing an opportunity that is at a convenient time and place.

Before you bring your child to the volunteer activity, make sure to explain why it is important that he volunteer, and what the benefits are. You need to make him understand why you are having him do this, and do so in a manner that is age appropriate. You want your explanation to be short and simple for young children.

Make sure that you also choose an activity that is age appropriate. Although even three-year-old children can volunteer, you need to pick an activity they will enjoy and something that they can relate to. Consider group activities that focus on your neighborhood or your child's school.

Not all volunteer organizations are child-friendly, so check with the organization before you sign your child up. Make sure the organization is used to working with families and children, and not just adults, and that the particular volunteer opportunity you are interested in will have jobs available that are age-appropriate for your child. Ask the organization if they will be able to explain to your child how the task he is to complete will help other people.

Volunteering should help encourage your child to be more compassionate, which makes it more likely he will be a compassionate adult when he grows up. If you start having him volunteer when he is young it will be a habit and help him feel more a part of his community. It just takes a little planning to find just the right activities.