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by
Catherine Pruissen
Volunteering
is an activity children of all ages can enjoy and
learn from. By creating
an environment in which young people are given the
opportunity to volunteer offers them a sense of competence,
of usefulness, and of belonging.
Social Skills
Despite
their size, no project involving children in volunteerism
or giving of themselves to their community is too
small. Start by sitting with the children and asking
if they can tell you:
- What
volunteering is?
- How
they think people feel when they help someone?
- How
the children feel when they help someone?
- Why
volunteer is important?
- What's
involved in volunteering?
-
How old do they have to be to volunteer?
- What
are ways that they can help people?
Write
down all the different ways people volunteer. Then,
with the children's help, narrow down the list by
looking at each activity and asking such questions
as:
- Will
this activity be fun and inspiring?
- Is
it something the children really can do?
- How
much time will we have to work on it?
- What
will it take to make it happen?
Some
ideas might include monthly "toddler days" visits
to a nursing homes. Seniors love to help the youngsters
with a craft project, or just enjoying a snack together.
This is a nice opportunity for children to interact
with people of other generations. In our society,
where children often live far away from their own
grandparents, this is a wonderful way to experience
that grandparently love and spoiling.
If
you need help choosing a cause, check out from the
long list of causes at Idealist.org's
teacher's resources. Or you can visit, Organizations
started by other kids - The organizations listed
here were started and are run by kids like yours.
They had ideas for projects to help their communities
and those projects then grew into organizations.
Language Skills
Have
the children create a journal or mini-booklet where
they can draw about the nice and helpful things they
do for their family or friends. You could bring this
booklet out on a weekly basis and have the children
tell you about their drawings and how they felt when
they were helping out.
Caps,
Socks and Mittens: Even young children
can start a drive to collect caps, hats, sock, and
mittens and other winter items to donate to a homeless
shelter. Helping them draw up flyers to put around
their neighrbourhood teaches them important language
skills. This program also opens the doors to teach
children more about homelessness awareness. Your local
librarian can help you find books on the topic. One
that works with this project is called Caps,
Hats, Socks, and Mittens by Louise Borden. You
might also ask someone to come and talk to the children
about what it's like to be homeless and why their
donations are so valuable. The children can then send
a thank you note to the visitor.
Books
to Share:
The value of literacy can never be understated. Unfortunately
some children have very few books to read or have
read to them. Young children can collect and review
books to donate to a family shelter or homeless organization.
They can raise money from bake sales, etc. to purchase
books or organize a community wide book drop for book
donations. They can even make a trip to the shelter,
if allowed, to hear stories as they are read to the
children in the shelter.
Arts & Crafts
Create
a "Hands Are For Helping" Posterboard. On
a piece of art paper, have the children draw different
things they can do to help out with in the centre,
in their family, or in their community. You can give
them examples such as setting the table at meal time,
line leader, visiting a senior's centre, donating
clothes or canned goods, etc. Use the list you created
to spark their imagination. Cut the pictures out and
past them on the posterboard. Hang the board where
the parents and children can see it.
Science/Cooking
Cooking:
Children love to bake and cook. What a great way to
help their community when they can bake for a local
meal delivery service for AIDS patients, for a women's
shelter, and for fund-raisers. The children can even
deliver the finished products to see their reward
on the faces on they people they are helping. In addition
to the feeling of accomplishment and helping, the
children get extra practice with basic mathematics
and following directions!
Science:
Community cleanup days:
Each spring and fall, many parks and public areas
have beautification days. Branches are picked up,
leaves raked, picnic tables painted, flowers planted,
and other tasks performed to make the area nicer for
everyone who visits. Even the youngest of children
love to pick up sticks or rocks, and can feel a sense
of accomplishment. (NOTE: Be sure to check in advance,
as some groups are NOT willing to let children help.)
Endangered
species: The
children can start a Roots
& Shoots program in your school. Jane Goodall,
a scientist who has spent most of her life studying
and working with chimpanzees in Africa, started Roots
& Shoots to encourage young people to be more
involved in the world around them. Roots & Shoots
programs carry out three projects: the first has to
do with their environment; the second, animals; and
third, the human community. There are over 1,000 Roots
& Shoots programs in 50 countries.
Our
Water, Our Planet Our Future: The Big Help
celebrates its eighth year as Nickelodeon's pro-social,
grassroots campaign designed to encourage and empower
kids like you to volunteer in their communities. This
year, The Big Help is focusing on WATER!
National
Parks Conservation Association:
protecting the national parks for present
and future generations Post your comments The National
Parks Conservation Association's Web site offers a
breathtaking, engaging, enjoyable experience and brings
the national parks to your computer. Learn about America's
national parks, wildlife that live in these protected
areas, parks that are in danger, threats to the environment,
ways to get involved, planning your trip, and much
more. Take a virtual visit, chat about environmental
issues, read National Parks magazine, and become a
park activist.
Geography:
Children love to learn about other cultures and places.
Check out
Bets for Volunteering Abroad for a ton of links
that will show children volunteering in other parts
of the world.
Explore
the world of human rights, nature, music, animals,
politics and more, through a variety of sites created
with you in mind.
TakingITGlobal
(TIG) is about encouraging young people to believe
in themselves and their ability to make a difference
in the world. This not-for-profit initiative creates
environments, both virtual and physical, where people
are exposed to new thinking, a diversity of voices,
and new opportunities. Driven by youth, TakingITGlobal's
goal is to foster a sense of leadership and social
entrepreneurship through the innovative use of technology,
creating meaningful experiences for young people around
the globe.
Resources:
Reconnecting Youth & Community: A Youth Development
Approach July 1996 Prepared by the National Clearinghouse
on Families & Youth , National Clearinghouse on Families
& Youth P.O. Box 13505 Silver Spring, MD 20911-3505
Tel. (301) 608-8098 Fax (301) 608-8721
Idealist.org
Idealist Kids and Teens, introduces young people (18
and younger) to the world of nonprofit organizations
and encourages them to get involved in their communities..
The
Big Help
The Big Help is Nickelodeon's ongoing effort to encourage
kids everywhere to donate their time and energy to
local volunteer efforts. Lots of great activities
and resources kids'll love.
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