As a parent, you want to be sure that your children grow into well-rounded, community-minded, caring adults. One of the best ways to help do this is by fostering an appreciation for community service and helping others. If you've been thinking about ways to help enrich your children's experience, here's a look at some of the things that you should know about community service for kids and ways to get them involved.
Reasons To Get Children Involved In Community Service
There are many different reasons why parents may want to get their children involved in community service programs. Understanding why you want to engage your child in community service is the first step toward finding the right opportunity for him or her to contribute.
For example, some private schools require children to complete a certain number of community service hours per semester. As a result, you may be looking for a community service program to meet these requirements for your child to be promoted to the next grade level.
Sometimes, community service projects are intended to help boost an older child's college application content, showing that your child is civic-minded and helping to improve their chances of being accepted into a good college.
Perhaps, instead of being a requirement for any reason, you just want to get your child involved in community service to help them appreciate what they have and develop a mind for helping those in need.
Community Service Opportunities For Children
Parents of young children might think that there's really no way to get their child involved in community service because they are too young. The fact is that there are community service opportunities for kids of all ages. Understanding some of the opportunities can help you find the right choice for your child.
For example, young children can help with gathering donations for homeless or battered women's shelters, helping those who are struggling to make ends meet or simply survive. You can also go with your child and participate in food bank distributions, homeless shelter soup kitchens, and more.
Young children can also participate in adopt-a-grandparent programs where they visit and interact with the elderly in nursing homes. They can spend an hour per visit a couple of times a week helping out with social interactions, playing games, and generally just providing company.
These are also great opportunities for older teens as well. Additionally, older children can participate in crisis hotline support programs and even provide volunteer administrative support for legal aid clinics and similar institutions. Consider your child's college and career goals and find a community service program in that discipline for greater college application and resume enhancement.
