Teaching Kids and Teens About Volunteering – Part 3: Where Can Kids Volunteer?

Once you have introduced your child to volunteerism and you have convinced them to try it with you, there will come a time when the child will be ready to go out and do some volunteering on their own – with adult supervision, of course.

It is important that you do not allow them to volunteer at the first place that comes to mind. You want the volunteering experience to be in an appropriate atmosphere, with responsible adults, and you want the child to be doing something that he or she has a special interest in. This allows them to actually enjoy the activity and assures their physical and emotional safety.

Make It Appropriate For Your Child’s Age And Skills

Make sure the child has a say in the final decision, but always be prepared to tell them no if they want to do something that you feel is not appropriate for them. As parents and guardians, we should make sure that the child is participating in a volunteer activity that is both appropriate for their age and inline with their social skills. For instance, if your child is only 5 or 6 years old, they should probably not be volunteering in a hospital or hospice environment where they could possibly see things that 5 year olds simply shouldn’t see.

Also, make sure that the activity you decide on will fit in with the child’s physical and emotional skills. For example, if they are good readers, perhaps they could volunteer to read for the elderly or smaller children. If they are comfortable around handicapped children then there are many opportunities available, however a lot of children are not emotionally ready to work with special needs children. You need to give it a lot of thought and make sure the opportunity fits the child well.

Make It Interesting And Fun

The volunteer activity you choose should also be consistent with your child’s interests.

Look for things that your child can relate to. If they enjoy using their hands, perhaps they could volunteer for cleaning work or landscaping help. If they play a musical instrument, perhaps there are opportunities at your local performing arts center or performing arts academy. If they love animals, they could volunteer at your local animal shelter.

The more your child can relate to the work, the better the chance of them enjoying their time and gaining the momentum most kids require to continue volunteering.

Some Ideas To Get You Started

Here are a few ideas to get you started looking for that perfect volunteering opportunity for your child. Remember that you don’t have to volunteer at a major facility or organization. There are hundreds of smaller, more focused volunteer opportunities available all over your area as well.

• Community Volunteering – Check out your local museums and libraries for child volunteer programs. You can also search for local food pantries to help stock, prepare and/or serve the food to the needy. Or, you could seek out local retirement facilities where your child could visit the elderly and help out around the facility.


• Volunteering To Help Animals – Does your child love animals? If so, there are many opportunities out there. Give a call to your local Humane Society. They are usually excited to bring in volunteers who can help with the animals or simply provide some temporary companionship. You may also think about calling your local Wildlife Foundation for information on their volunteer programs.


• Sponsor Someone Special – There are programs available to let you sponsor a family, a soldier or another child who is in need of help in some way. This will not take a lot of time, but can bring so much joy and happiness to the lives of everyone involved.


• Join Child Volunteer Organizations – Organizations such as 4-H, The Boy Scouts of America and Kiwanis Key Club are always encouraging and helping their members volunteer in the community. Many of them will also help foster beneficial, ethical values that can remain with your child for life. For parents who do not have the time available to help their kids to the fullest, these organizations are a blessing.

There are also many volunteer websites online that will facilitate finding that perfect opportunity for your child. Visit your favorite search engine and do a search for volunteer opportunities in your local area. You can also check out Volunteermatch.com who can quickly find opportunities in your area. Click on the “Advanced” search and you can search for specific skill sets, age groups and more.
If you haven’t read parts 1 and 2 of this blog series, make sure to go back to the beginning and find out the major benefits that volunteering can bring to your children and how to introduce them to volunteerism without seeing them run for the door.

– Teaching Kids And Teens About Volunteering – Part 1: The Benefits – Teaching Kids and Teens About Volunteering – Part 2: Introducing Them To Volunteer Work

Finally, we’d like to hear what you think! Have you successfully persuaded your child to volunteer? What were the hardest things about it and what do you, as a parent, get out of it? Let us know by leaving a comment in the field below.