If your summer is looking like a staycation kind of summer, you’re probably wondering what your kids can do instead of lounging around. Volunteer! Not only is it good for the community, it’s great bonding time with your family. And you’ll be planting the seeds of service in your kids for the rest of their lives. There are plenty of places you and your kids can give of their time this summer, and here are 5 ideas to get you started!
Food Bank: Helping out at your local food bank will keep your kids busy, active, and interactive. They can work on their sorting and social skills with the staff and other kids. Your children can learn about hunger and how donated food really gets to hungry local families.
Animal Shelter or Animal Organization: Local animal shelters are always looking for volunteers, either at the shelter itself or at adoption fairs. They get to learn about different breeds of dogs and cats, and of course play with them whenever safe! (Just be careful when they ask if they can adopt a little critter to take home with them.)
Trash Pickup: There are a plethora of organizations that do community cleanup days in all parts of your town or city. There are also ways to get involved with cleaning up hiking trails, then helping to plant flowers, assist in making new trails, and helping to maintain facilities around your local parks.
Library Readers and Helpers: If the idea of being outside all summer sounds like too much for your little ones, have them help you read at your local library. If they’re a little older, they can help out with the reading themselves. They can even help out the staff with sorting and shelving books.
Sponsoring Soldiers: For our brave men and women all over the world, getting a letter or package that’s a little slice of home makes a big difference in their lives. There are plenty of national organizations where kids can adopt a soldier and make a new pen pal. There are also local programs where kids can help put together care packages to go to soldiers overseas.
Have any summer volunteering ideas for kids? Like us on Facebook and tell us about them!
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