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Teaching our children about community service is more important than ever. Families are busy and into so many different things that volunteering in our communities seems to be dwindling.

How many times have you received a call from an organization or saw them sitting outside a store? Many organizations in our communities are struggling for help and money.

Sometimes to keep taxes low for the residents, extra things in the town get neglected. Here is where community service comes in.

Why Community Service Should be Part of Your Kids’ Lives

Active Citizens

As parents, we need to teach our children how to be active citizens. It is just as important as their academic work.

Public Schools require community service as a graduation requirement. It is forced upon them as a prerequisite for a high school diploma. In other words, a box that needs to be checked off.

If kids are going to be actively volunteering in their communities as adults, it needs to be part of their life. Starting at a young age will help make this happen. Kids will more likely to continue to find service projects or other ways to help out their towns and cities in the future if they are used to doing it.

Bring Awareness to Larger Issues

Service projects bring awareness to issues others in their community face. Kids begin to look at the world around them and beyond their households. They start seeing the need in their communities and how to help find solutions.

As parents, we can begin to teach kids how to help their neighbors. Look beyond their own home and how to make their town better by helping those in it.

Real-World Education

As adults, our kids need to be real-life problem solvers. They need to understand how to find problems and fix them. By working with others to fulfill a need, kids are taught valuable skills for life.

Kids learn how businesses and community organizations work. They also learn how to plan and carry out their plan of action. Often kids will learn how to communicate with others, accomplish a task, and learn the process and rules of carrying out a service project.

Find Areas of Interest

When kids volunteer in their communities, they come in contact with many different people and organizations. They are exposed to many different career options or people in areas that may interest them.

Your child may start by making toys and treats for the local animal shelter and later decide on a career with animals. They become a veterinarian, a pet shelter worker, or a shop owner selling specialty animal food.

Perhaps, while volunteering with others, they start talking with another volunteer that works as a nurse. Through their conversations, your child discovers this sounds like something they may want to look into.

When kids work with others and do different service projects, over time, they are exposed to many people and potential career opportunities.

Connections and Experience

Community service builds experience and makes connections. Let’s face it, this will benefit our children a great deal when applying for jobs or colleges. It shows they are workers, help others, and have real-world experience.

Feels Good

One real benefit of volunteering is the fact it feels good. Kids feel good about themselves when they see their actions have helped others. When we do something that makes us feel good, we are more likely to continue it. 

How To Begin Community Service with Kids

Holidays

Probably one of the easiest ways to get kids involved in helping their community would be during the holidays. Many organizations are collecting food donations for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for families in need. Various businesses are looking for gifts for families at Christmas. So many organizations are reaching out to people to help those in their communities during the holiday season. 

My family recently helped at our local craft fair. My son stood by the donation box collecting winter coats, while my daughter sold raffle tickets. My husband and I helped sell concessions. At the end of the day, we all helped clean up.

Some of the money raised that day went to Cub Scouts, while the majority of it was going towards buying Christmas presents for local families in need. 

Join Organizations

There are many organizations kids can get involved in that focus on community service. Two groups my kids are involved in are Scouts and 4-H. There are many benefits to both organizations (you can read about the benefits of Scouts HERE). Community service is an important part of both of them, though.

Our kids are homeschooled, but I know local schools may have clubs that focus on helping the community. It is another way your kids can get involved.

Other Ways to Begin Service Projects:

• Raise money for a local organization your family connects with.
• Organize a charity event that donates the proceeds to a local charity.
• Donate clothes.
• Help neighbors clean their yards.
• Send cards to military members overseas.
• Make cards for nursing homes or veteran homes. 
• Help your community clean up the roadside or park for Earth Day. 
• Check with your town to see if there are any needs in your community.
• Help your local food pantry with time or donations.
• Donate your time to helping a local organization your family enjoys.
• Pick a tag off a Christmas tree at a local business and buy presents for a family.

Whatever you choose to do, remember:

• Make it a regular part of your life
• Start when your kids are young 
• DO NOT wait until it is a mandatory requirement
• Find different ways to help
• You can always donate time, needed items, or money
• Check with local organizations or your town officials on how to help
• Get involved with organizations that regularly incorporate community service
• Make it a family event
• MAKE IT FUN

Community Service projects and activities are a benefit to kids both immediate and long term. Get them involved and teach your kids to be active, responsible citizens.