What are the best volunteer projects to do with children?

Question

My husband and I enjoy doing volunteer work, and we've started thinking about involving our children and future children. What are some activities that we can all do as a family, that aren't going to be too disturbing for them?

We talked about letting them go with us to the homeless shelters to serve lunch. Would that be too much for elementary-age children?

Answer 1

I think that is a good idea if you talk to them first about what it means to be homeless and give them info on what they will be seeing and doing.

Answer 2

i don't think it's too soon to involve the children.it's very good to teach them it's god's will for us all to do good deeds for others. i have been teaching my great neice since she is about 1 years old and now she is three and it is natural for her to want to help others and it is so good for the soul.

Answer 3

April is a great time to get involved with environmental activities. Earth Day is in April. Run a search for earth day and see what is going on in your area. There are usually lots of trash pick-ups at lakes and parks that are a good way to help the community while having fun. Most times the trash pick up sponsors will provide a cook out lunch and t-shirts or other goodies.

Answer 4

Fantastic!!!

It would be wonderful if all families did community service projects together!

For information on Family Volunteering opportunities visit:  

Network for Good, http://www.networkforgood.org

http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/

ServeNet, http://servenet.org/

Also, contact your local volunteer center; you can find this via the Points of Light Foundation web site, http://www.pointsoflight.org/centers/

I'm a consultant for school-age care; I offer you this advice:

WITH YOUR CHILDREN, Identify areas of interest — Talk about the kinds of issues and  activities you'd like to do. Are you most concerned about low-income people, senior citizens, refugees, or homeless? Or is your  family more passionate about caring for abandoned animals or the environment?

Try something once — Decide together the kinds of things you'd like to try one time, and start with that. Be sure to choose projects that allow every member, regardless of age, to contribute in a meaningful way.

Actively involve your children in choosing and planning service projects. Pay attention to what interests them and what they seem most concerned about, as those are areas where they're likely to invest more energy. Give them responsibilities that match their abilities and interests.

Start close to home by looking for opportunities where you already have connections. You may find opportunities through your school or local community and service organizations.

If you have friends, or family members who volunteer regularly, ask them if you can join them sometime. Talk with friends as to whether they'd like to do something together.

On my website, I have many specific ideas that are geared to school-age programs; however, you can adapt some of them to suit your family's interests. There is great variety in projects...

The community sevice thread is:

http://www.after-school-care.com/Replies...

And please...if you have any ideas from things that you do with your children...come back and add them to the thread. :-)