Teaching Kids and Teens About Volunteering – Part 4: Maintaining The Enthusiasm
Once you have convinced your child to volunteer, it is very important that you help maintain their enthusiasm for helping other people. Always remember that once you’ve succeeded in getting your kids enthusiastic and passionate about volunteering, your job is far from over.
As you probably already know, kids and teens can inexplicably change their minds in an instant, and without recourse. So it is vital that you’re ready for this to happen and not get caught off guard. Always be ready for resistance. Of course, this may never even happen, but it is best to be prepared should your child decide that their volunteer experience isn’t one to continue.
Think ahead of time about the different things that your child could possibly come up with and have a plan ready to deal with it promptly. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to sway them back in the right direction.
Some of the common reasons that children “go cold” on volunteering are listed below along with what you can do to help them get through it. These are only suggestions to give you an idea of what you may encounter. Every child, family and situation is different.
Your child is not comfortable around people they don’t know. If your child is uncomfortable around unfamiliar people, let them know that they don’t have to do it alone. The very first thing you should offer them is your own company. Let them know that you will go with them and make it a bonding experience for both of you. If they’re at the age where hanging out with a parent just isn’t cool, then try to have them get their friends, or younger family members interested in going with them. You could also offer them the opportunity to volunteer to help animals, where human interaction is usually limited to just a couple of people.
Your child claims that they need the time for schoolwork and social life. Make sure that your child understands they are not committed to a single volunteer activity. There are tons of volunteer opportunities that can be done in a short amount of time. They also do not need to commit to volunteering on regularly scheduled time. Lots of volunteer activities are one-time, or have very flexible time commitments. Offer to help them search for something that would fall into these categories.
Your child says they are becoming bored with their volunteer activities. Most things will become boring to kids if they do it long enough. This is why it is so important to consistently praise your kids for the work they are are doing and, more importantly, get them to realize and understand the impact they are making on the people to whom they are offering their time and energy. When a child feels like they are making a positive difference in someone else’s life, it can have amazing effects. Also, when you praise your children, be sincere. Don’t just say it – say it with empathy and really mean it.
Let your child try to find their opportunities on their own, but help them along if they stall. Remember, as we discussed in our previous posts, it’s OK for you to say no. You are the parent and you have final say. If you feel the activity is inappropriate or involves inappropriate people or a bad environment, then you’ll have to say no. But try to make it positive by steering them toward something similar which you feel would be OK for them.
If things get tough and you seem to be getting nowhere, remember that you have to have patience when you’re dealing with kids and teens. Just remember the benefits we discussed in part 1 of this series should things become difficult. Take it slow, lead by example and stay calm. When you’re trying to convince kids and teens to continue volunteering, patience and understanding will go a very long way.
Volunteering can make such a huge difference in a child’s life. It can teach them compassion, responsibility and other powerful skills and values that will last them a lifetime. You can successfully have your child volunteering if you follow a few simple guidelines: Take your time, be a good example for your kids, ease them slowly into volunteering, find the right opportunity for your child and maintain their enthusiasm.
Not only will your child reap the benefits of volunteering, you will have a sense of accomplishment and the knowledge that you have done even more to help your child succeed in life.
Make sure to read parts 1-3 of this series:
– Teaching Kids And Teens About Volunteering – Part 1: The Benefits – Teaching Kids and Teens About Volunteering – Part 2: Introducing Them To Volunteer Work – Teaching Kids and Teens About Volunteering – Part 3: Where Can Kids Volunteer?
We’d like to hear from you! Do you have a child who volunteers? What types of places do they volunteer and what kind of benefits have you seen your child gain? Don’t be shy! Leave us a comment in the field below.
As you probably already know, kids and teens can inexplicably change their minds in an instant, and without recourse. So it is vital that you’re ready for this to happen and not get caught off guard. Always be ready for resistance. Of course, this may never even happen, but it is best to be prepared should your child decide that their volunteer experience isn’t one to continue.
Think ahead of time about the different things that your child could possibly come up with and have a plan ready to deal with it promptly. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to sway them back in the right direction.
Some of the common reasons that children “go cold” on volunteering are listed below along with what you can do to help them get through it. These are only suggestions to give you an idea of what you may encounter. Every child, family and situation is different.
Your child is not comfortable around people they don’t know. If your child is uncomfortable around unfamiliar people, let them know that they don’t have to do it alone. The very first thing you should offer them is your own company. Let them know that you will go with them and make it a bonding experience for both of you. If they’re at the age where hanging out with a parent just isn’t cool, then try to have them get their friends, or younger family members interested in going with them. You could also offer them the opportunity to volunteer to help animals, where human interaction is usually limited to just a couple of people.
Your child claims that they need the time for schoolwork and social life. Make sure that your child understands they are not committed to a single volunteer activity. There are tons of volunteer opportunities that can be done in a short amount of time. They also do not need to commit to volunteering on regularly scheduled time. Lots of volunteer activities are one-time, or have very flexible time commitments. Offer to help them search for something that would fall into these categories.
Your child says they are becoming bored with their volunteer activities. Most things will become boring to kids if they do it long enough. This is why it is so important to consistently praise your kids for the work they are are doing and, more importantly, get them to realize and understand the impact they are making on the people to whom they are offering their time and energy. When a child feels like they are making a positive difference in someone else’s life, it can have amazing effects. Also, when you praise your children, be sincere. Don’t just say it – say it with empathy and really mean it.
Let your child try to find their opportunities on their own, but help them along if they stall. Remember, as we discussed in our previous posts, it’s OK for you to say no. You are the parent and you have final say. If you feel the activity is inappropriate or involves inappropriate people or a bad environment, then you’ll have to say no. But try to make it positive by steering them toward something similar which you feel would be OK for them.
If things get tough and you seem to be getting nowhere, remember that you have to have patience when you’re dealing with kids and teens. Just remember the benefits we discussed in part 1 of this series should things become difficult. Take it slow, lead by example and stay calm. When you’re trying to convince kids and teens to continue volunteering, patience and understanding will go a very long way.
Conclusion
Volunteering can make such a huge difference in a child’s life. It can teach them compassion, responsibility and other powerful skills and values that will last them a lifetime. You can successfully have your child volunteering if you follow a few simple guidelines: Take your time, be a good example for your kids, ease them slowly into volunteering, find the right opportunity for your child and maintain their enthusiasm.
Not only will your child reap the benefits of volunteering, you will have a sense of accomplishment and the knowledge that you have done even more to help your child succeed in life.
Make sure to read parts 1-3 of this series:
– Teaching Kids And Teens About Volunteering – Part 1: The Benefits – Teaching Kids and Teens About Volunteering – Part 2: Introducing Them To Volunteer Work – Teaching Kids and Teens About Volunteering – Part 3: Where Can Kids Volunteer?
We’d like to hear from you! Do you have a child who volunteers? What types of places do they volunteer and what kind of benefits have you seen your child gain? Don’t be shy! Leave us a comment in the field below.