Here are some tips and ideas to help get your family on the giving train this holiday season (and the rest of the year).
By Erin Renzas
The holidays are a great time to teach your kids that it's better to give than to receive, but it can be hard to figure out where to start. So we asked some experts to give us the lowdown on what parents should look for when seeking volunteer opportunities for kids.
At what age can children begin
volunteering?
"Children who are old enough to understand some of the
circumstances [and] benefits of what they are doing will obviously
gain more from the experience," says Robert Rosenthal,
director of communications for VolunteerMatch
whose website helps match potential volunteers with opportunities
from nearly 61,000 nonprofit organizations. "I think that even
children as young as 2 can at least have a basic appreciation for
the impact of their good deeds."
What are some of the unique or interesting opportunities
open to small children?
Parents should try to find opportunities that match their
children's skills and interests, says Mei Cobb, the director of
United Way's Volunteer Engagement program, a
global network that includes nearly 1,300 local organizations
across the U.S. Plus, she notes that parents should be conscious of
what is suitable for each child's age group. Mei suggests any
of the following age-appropriate activities:
Ages 1 to 4
• play with other children at a children's
center
• visit a nursing home with other family members
• join an older family member to read books at the library or
community center
• go along for the delivery of meals prepared for those who are
homebound or hungry
Ages 5 to 12
• participate in a read-a-thon project, in which
students read to younger students
• collect used books and toys for a shelter for homeless
families
• make cards or letters for military personnel
• perform plays and skits depicting community problems and their
solutions
• rake the yard for an elderly person in the neighborhood
• help with a park or beach cleanup
• make holiday greeting cards and artwork for senior citizens who
live in a nearby nursing home
• lead workshops on bike safety for younger children
Next Page: What should you look for in a kid-friendly non-profit organization?
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