As parents, we all want to raise our children to be kind, empathetic, and compassionate human beings. One of the best ways to teach such values is through community volunteering. Not only does it teach our kids to help others and spread goodness, but it also sets them up for a lifetime of fulfillment. By instilling volunteerism early on, we can help our kids become empathetic adults who are driven to make their own positive contributions to society. In this blog post, we'll discuss the importance of family volunteer opportunities, at what age should you start, and how to find such opportunities in your community.

 

 

The Importance of Family Volunteer Opportunities:

 

Family volunteering opportunities allow parents to show their children the purpose and value of community service. When children participate in volunteer activities with their families, they learn how their small contributions can make a huge impact in the lives of others. Giving back to the community helps children form bonds with their communities and develop empathy and kindness for others. It helps them understand the needs of the underprivileged and motivates them to contribute positively towards their communities. It also teaches them to be grateful for what they have.

 

At What Age Should You Start:

 

Volunteering is an activity that can be tailored to children's ages and capabilities. Even toddlers and preschoolers can participate in activities such as neighborhood litter cleanups with their families. Children between the ages of 6 and 8 can help with environmental projects, fundraising campaigns, and community gardening, whereas children aged 9 and above can assist with mentoring and tutoring younger children. Teenagers can volunteer in soup kitchens, senior citizen centers, and hospitals, among other places. The key is to choose age-appropriate activities that are in line with your children's interests and capabilities.

 

How to Find Opportunities:

 

Finding family volunteer opportunities in your community is simple. There are various organizations and nonprofits that need volunteers all year round. Reach out to your local church or school as they usually have a list of volunteer opportunities. Websites like VolunteerMatch and DoSomething.org are also great platforms for finding volunteer opportunities based on location or cause. There are also places like The Children’s Heart Foundation that have opportunities specific to kids your own child’s age, you can participate on a walk or create a fundraising page; the benefit to working with those organizations is the kids relate to other kids causes on a more personal level. With a little research, you'll find plenty of opportunities for your family to give back.

 

  

In summary, teaching our children the importance of giving back and spreading kindness can be done early and can be a fun way to bond as a family. Volunteering provides a hands-on way to teach our children empathy and kindness, improve confidence and self-worth and promote an understanding of life outside their own bubbles. Starting with age-appropriate activities regardless of the age of your children, the message is clear; there's always an opportunity to do good, no matter how small. By volunteering as a family, we're not only giving back to our communities, but we’re also creating a generation of empathetic, caring, and compassionate human beings and more importantly we are creating new ways to bond and connect at a deeper level with our little ones.

 

Nothing says love like spreading kindness!