Volunteering with Children

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~Winston Churchill

Moms are always giving. To our children, our families, our homes, and perhaps our blogs. But in
our modern plugged-in society, it is easy to miss other needs outside our of own. We must take
charity and giving outside the home in order for children to see it in action.

This can be a challenge with little ones. With four children, including one in diapers, I must
admit my charitable actions outside the home are lacking as of late. I am involved in my local
MOPS group and have served faithfully as a volunteer for several years. Our family also sponsors
a child through Compassion International and we enjoy pictures and letters regularly from
our “daughter” in South America. I am also very big on donating clothes and toys we no longer
need to Goodwill and other organizations. My children love to help collect items for other
children from their rooms. But is this enough?

I want my children to appreciate the many blessings they have been given and to have a
compassionate heart for those in need. I know this is no easy task in our typical suburban
neighborhood. The other part of me wants to shelter them from the evils of this world and just
keep them safely at home. So we compromise.

Here are a few ideas for volunteering with your kids:
● A visit to our local nursing home occasionally is a safe, yet eye-opening experience for
children. The residents enjoy singing and hugs, while the kids see another side of life.

● Food pantries welcome volunteers with children for such tasks as sorting and stocking
shelves. They often arrange for tours with groups such as Girl Scouts.

● Animal shelters are kid-friendly and can always use an extra set of hands. Read Lifetime
Mom Katja’s post about this topic on Skimbaco.

● Charity 5K walks are popular and can easily include kids from stroller to teen.

● Older children can serve in a homeless shelter and help distribute meals.

Instilling a desire to help others in our children is possible, if they are given the right
opportunities. Most importantly, model this quality as much as possible, be it holding the door
open for a stranger or giving money to the homeless. Each small act of kindness will be noticed
by your child.

How do you volunteer with your kids?