But volunteering isn’t just something we do during the holidays. It’s important for children to remember those less fortunate than them and just telling them there are starving children around the world in order to get them to eat their veggies doesn’t really do the job.
“Show the children there is a problem, then ask how they can solve it. Get others involved. This shows them that everyone can make a difference, regardless of their age,” advises Julie Coppinger, a mother of two in Sugar Hill, Georgia.
For example, Julie told her daughter that some soldiers are in the hospital and cannot be with their families for the holidays. She then asked her what they could do for them.
This approach she learned through her eight-year-old daughter’s Girl Scout troup which does a “community activity” once a month.
“We write letters to soldiers, gather used or gently-worn toys (washable for hospital) or books for children in hospitals, shelters, or orphanages. We also do a can drive for the local food bank, gather coats and blankets for the winter to give to the homeless, sing songs at the living assistant homes, read to a child in the hospital, put on a play or puppet show for children in the hospital, clean up a vacant lot that is full of trash and make into a garden or park area, etc. We see a need and fill a need,” she explained.
If your child’s school or organization isn’t involved in volunteer projects, it’s never too late to start. Suggest a charity be sponsored during a PTA meeting or see if children can support a local endeavor, such as cleaning up a park or ecology center with local officials and parents. To get inspiration into a variety of ways to volunteer, read: How We Made Our World a Better Place: Kids and Teens Write on How They Changed Their Corner of the World.
What if You Don’t Have the Time?
Many of us are struggling with multiple demands and are working long hours. Sometimes it seems impossible to take on one more activity. I understand. But there are simple ways to foster empathy and understanding—which actually leaves you feeling more fulfilled.
