How parents and nannies can find the spark to turn a child into a lifelong volunteer.
As much as we want to shield our children from the great upsets that face the world, it is likely that, at some point, children might get a sense of what is going on in the world from TV, radio and listening to general discussions. Some children may even wonder what they can do to help.
The good news is there is no age too young to start volunteering. According to Jenny Friedman, the executive director of Doing Good Together, “whatever age your children are now is the right age to start volunteering.” Here are a few ways that you can get your kids to volunteer.
- Be a volunteering family
Turn volunteering into a habit and something that your children associate with family time. Toddlers may not understand how they are helping at first, but by preschool age they will. Talk to them about how their work helps people.
- Point out talents
Encourage your child to share a particular skill through volunteering and help them identify their interests. Do they take pride in watching their well-tended plants grow? Point that out to them. Finding things that are both useful and meaningful at the same time can show kids that they can be responsible and make a difference.
- Figure out what gets them excited
“Ask your child, ‘What is your spark?’ and almost every kid seems to know what that means,” says Friedman. Kids are empowered when volunteering activities are based on their interests. Tweens can use soccer skills to help kids with special needs learn how to play. Older teens can run computer classes at elderly care homes or create a website for a local nonprofit.
For kids younger than five who may not be able to answer the spark question yet, have them choose one activity (from a list of three) they would most enjoy doing. “Giving your child voice to share what they want to do is critical,” says Friedman.
- Start small
Building a love for volunteering doesn’t usually start with spending hours at a local soup kitchen or animal shelter (although no one would discourage that!). Take baby steps and don’t worry if you can only volunteer every now and then.
- Be creative
Is your five-year-old taking ballet lessons? Maybe she could put on a show for an elderly neighbour. Are your kids budding Picassos with crayons? Have them draw cards and send them to aged homes to distribute. Your orangised child can spearhead a playground cleanup at school, while your high-energy kid can pound the pavement for a charity walk.
- Emphasise everyday kindness
Show your children the cyclical nature of giving and receiving, suggests Friedman. Ask your kids how they helped someone today and how someone helped them. Did they hold the door for their music class? Did a teacher help them pick up a dropped stack of paper?
Volunteering reinforces that give-and-take mentality and builds compassion. When they are faced with situations where people need help, they’ll respond, says Friedman.