Operation Volunteer: Teaching Children About Helping Others

Posted by Angela | 0 comments

Winter is quickly approaching and with the holidays coming this is the perfect opportunity to give back to your community and teach your children the blessing of giving of oneself. Did you realize that there are literally endless possibilities for life lessons, not just during the holidays, but all year long?

⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

A few ideas:

• Buy a few yards of fleece and let the kids help cut it into strips for scarves for a local homeless shelter.
• Let them choose toys (even the ones you are cringe about getting rid of) from their toy boxes to give to kids in a local children’s home.
• Donate all of the clothing in the house that no longer fits. Include the items you still aren’t able to fit into after 10 years–I know this is hard, I’ve done it.
• Make a budget for an extra grocery shopping trip, letting the kids help pick items, that can be donated to a local food shelter.
• Encourage them to hand-write and snail-mail a letter to their grandparents or other extended family.
• Let the kids help make a meal for a friend who has very little time on their hands and is struggling with daily tasks.
• Have your whole family visit in the common area of a nursing home. Many residents do not have the blessing of family visiting them–at all. There are many who love to be heard and the opportunity to be around children.
• Volunteer the family for a day at the local soup kitchen.
• Make/Donate blankets for Project Linus.
• Adopt a military member who is deployed for Christmas. There are many opportunities through Soldier’s Angels.
• Make cookies for your church administration on any random day.
• Help out for a day at an animal shelter.
• Let them help address and stuff Christmas envelopes.
• Participate in Operation Christmas Child.
• Offer to rake leaves, put up Christmas lights or bring a meal to a neighboring elderly family.
• Send a thank you note with homemade goodies to a missionary.
• Offer to help your church with daily maintenance or Christmas decorating. There is always something in the church your family can help with.
• Get your homeschool group involved in stuffing stockings for a local Meals-on-Wheels program. This would include the same items you would send to a nursing home. (Combs, playing cards, magnifying glasses, books, etc.)

These are just a few ideas to get your family started. Do you have any to add?

Angela DeRossett is military wife, homeschooling mother, and an advocate for autism research. She also serves as the Heart of the Matter e-Reviews Coordinator. Angela can be found blogging at Homeschooling the Chaotic Family and Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy.