Sunday, May 15, 2011

Ideas to Help Kids Serve at Home ... and around the World

One of the greatest goals I have as a parent for my children is to teach them to look outside themselves and to use their time and resources to improve their world. I've compiled a list of ideas that my kiddos and I will be trying this month (and some we'll be getting to later). Enjoy:

Service starts in the home and children need to learn how to help those closest to them. Here are ideas you can use to get kids serving at home:
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• The Secret Service Box:
We've made a shoebox and my son Jack has drawn a picture of a way to serve each
family member. We've placed these pictures in our decorated shoebox, labeled "The Secret Service Box." Some example include: "Read a book to brother," "Pull 10 weeds in the yard," "Give a hug," or "Do the dishes." Each morning this summer we will be pulling a slip of paper out of the box after breakfast. We haven't tried it yet, but Jack is counting down the days to use it. He is excited to use the cards he's made.


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• July Christmas Party Cleanup: In July, we're going through all of our toys and having a family Christmas party where my kiddos can give their gently used toys to donate to a local shelter. We get to play Santa in July and give the presents. Since we're making this a family tradition, we're also having a fun Christmas dinner and making sugar cookies (we might even bring a plate to our neighbors)!

Service in the Community

• Volunteer to read. Libraries and schools are always looking for volunteer readers. Offer to
staff your public library’s reading hour with families from your church, or encourage kids
to help younger readers at their schools outside regular classes.

• Be a good neighbor. Older kids can help neighbors by weeding, mowing, painting, housesitting,
or pet-sitting. Preschoolers enjoy leaving flowers or handmade cards on doorsteps.
• Give something special. Encourage families to clean closets by giving gently used clothing
and toys directly to less fortunate families or organizations supporting families in need.


Service Across the Country

As children get older, they gain more understanding of needs outside their communities.
Elementary and preteen kids love to get involved with national projects. If you are religious, you can use prayer as a way to teach children to think about others in the world around them.

• Pray for States—Pick one location each month and have kids pray for the people living there.

o American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) has a number of ways kids and families can
gather funds or needed items during national crises. Contact your local chapter for
more details.
o Salvation Army (www.salvation army.org) has many ways for families with younger
children to serve, including serving holiday meals, ministry to the homebound,
clothing drives, bell ringing, and special needs at times of national disaster. Check
with your local chapter to see how your kids can serve.
• Celebrate your kids’ service on National & Global Youth Service Day

(www.ysa.org)


Service Around the World

The world is a big place, but children better understand their impact when service projects are
tangible and practical. Kids’ vision and comprehension of the world expands when we involve them
in hands-on, meaningful projects.
• Kid-to-Kid is one of the world’s largest
forces mobilizing kids to serve other kids. This project has kids work together to create
blankets for children in Latin America. For more information, go to Blankets for Children
• Have kids choose a world region to learn about and pray for the children there
regularly.
• Join a 5K as a family and educated the your children on the special cause you'll be running for.



via Redcross.org


via olathebible.org