How to Get Children Involved in Community Service Work

Children learn a variety of skills while engaging in local service projects. Community service is an important part of local community building. Volunteer work develops children's moral character. Skills are enhanced and new interests and talents are discovered. Through service work, children gain an improved sense of self love. They learn to be giving, considerate and compassionate towards people and animals. Listed below are some basic ideas of how parents can begin to get their children involved in the community.

Hospitals
Many hospitals have a wealth of needs for volunteers. Call your local hospital's volunteer coordinator. Children typically will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Some examples of meaningful volunteering tasks are helping to deliver flowers, reading to bed bound patients, or drawing people uplifting pictures for their hospital room walls. Some hospitals have cancer wards where children may need to stay for extended time periods. These longer term patients would surely love to have another child to provide them with companionship and friendship.

Nursing Homes
Nursing homes and assisted living communities welcome young volunteers. There are many activities at these types of facilities. Programs such as crafts, bingo, and social events typically take place at both nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Many volunteer coordinators have a need for room visits to bed bound patients. Some elderly residents may have family living out of state and would greatly appreciate a young volunteer visiting. Children may also read aloud to residents and make cards for them.

Humane Society
The local humane society opens its doors to volunteers of all ages. Dogs need to be walked and interacted with. Cats, kittens and puppies need companionship. You and your child could have a pet food and pet bed collection at church or at your child's school. Contact your local animal shelter to see what child friendly service project needs there are.

Soup Kitchens
Many soup kitchens have numerous needs and welcome volunteers of all ages. Children and parents can serve meals to those less fortunate. In some cases, canned goods need to be stocked and sorted. If the soup kitchen is part of a homeless shelter there may be other children living there. Teaching your child to share what they have and to donate a few of their toys is a great character builder!

When researching local volunteering project ideas, try to think of the interests your children may have. For example, if they adore animals, the animal shelter may be a good match. If your children are fond of cooking projects at home, the soup kitchens should be a great match. When volunteering, be sure to praise your children for their efforts. Encourage them and remind them of what an exceptional job they are doing while helping others.