Getting your entire family to get involved in charity and volunteering can be a challenge when it comes to your children. You’ll have to inspire a sense of civic duty in them, which is best done by finding causes that they all care about. Once you find something that everyone wants to do, these tips can help you raise your children’s interest and keep them engaged.
Create a Family Tradition
Parents have more luck in getting their children involved in volunteerism when it’s something everyone does together. Rather than sending your kids off to help out at a local shelter or church, you should go with them. When the family volunteers together, they will bond and grow closer as they strive to help others.
Turn Breaks into Opportunities to Give
If you’re the type of parent who doesn’t want your children sitting around the house idly during winter or summer breaks, volunteerism provides an easy answer. During a winter break, you can take your family down to the local soup kitchen to serve warm meals to the less fortunate. There are also plenty of opportunities for your family to volunteer in the summer months. Consider building houses for the homeless through Habitat for Humanity. More ideas include preparing care packages for the homeless, volunteering at animal shelters, or organizing a litter cleanup project.
Join More Active Programs
Many nonprofit organizations host walks, runs, and other physically active events to benefit medical research. You can join a walk or run to benefit breast cancer, diabetes, or heart disease research. Before the day of the run, each participating family member will have to sign up sponsors who can donate a specified amount for every mile they complete, or sponsors can donate a flat amount. These types of events are common throughout the spring and summer months, allowing your family opportunities to stay physically fit as you help raise money for worthy causes. Just make sure everyone brings plenty of drinking water on the big day.
You can also turn to your children for new ideas. Ask them if they have any thoughts about doing good for others. They may have some great ideas that will help you create a new force for change in your community.