There are many benefits to becoming involved with charitable work, especially as a family. Not only can you give back to your community, but you can change people’s lives for the better. What’s more, you can introduce the concepts of charity and volunteering to your children. Both of which can enrich their lives for many years to come. Nannies and Kids United shares a few ways you and your family can get more involved in charitable work this year.
Benefits
When you and your family volunteer, you may notice some positive side effects, including feeling healthier and happier. Not only are you and your children doing work you can be proud of and work that makes a difference. Often, volunteering is a great way to meet new people and create lasting friendships also. By being involved in charitable work together, you can show your children how helping others can feel good. How they can contribute to making the world a better place. Not only does it give an individual sense of purpose. But by fostering friendships and developing social skills, it can be fun, too. Children may learn how to work and learn life skills that will serve them later on.
Community Garden
If you are looking for ways your family can volunteer in the local area, a community garden is a fantastic way to start. Not only are they beneficial to your immediate environments, but there are many social benefits as well. These gardens decrease waste by encouraging composting, and can help purify water through filtration. Not only do these gardens offer nutritious food to those who need it most, but there has been a positive correlation in community gardens and a decrease in crime. In many cases, community gardens are in shared spaces. If you want to take on a smaller project, you can add a garden to your home landscaping. The produce you grow can be donated to area food banks. If you aren’t sure how to get started, a professional can help you get started. Search for “best landscapers near me” to find an affordable and reputable expert who can help guide you toward creating the ideal garden. Finally, by creating or participating in such an environmentally-friendly project, you can help increase surrounding property values.
Make Something Together
Chances are, if you live in or near a city, you are close to a homeless shelter. If you don’t feel comfortable taking your family to volunteer at a shelter directly, you can still contribute by making warm clothes and blankets for those in need. There are also overseas charities that are in desperate need of garments for those who must go without. Sewing a blanket is relatively easy, and is something the whole family can take part in. Not only are you, again, teaching them good life skills they can use later on, but you and your family are directly helping others. This will be something your little ones take pride in doing.
If you have a little money, consider going to a thrift store to find jackets and clothes that you can repurpose. Giving new life to an old winter coat could brighten someone’s day.
If you’re new to sewing, the internet will quickly become your best friend. There are countless websites dedicated to sewing, as well as an endless supply of how-to videos on YouTube. Dig into these tutorials as a family; that way, when you get down to business, everyone will be on the same page.
Volunteer with Animals
If your child has been asking for a pet, you could help them understand what petcare entails by volunteering at a shelter. It’s easy to find a shelter nearby, and they usually need volunteers to care for their animals. Your child can help walk dogs, play with kittens or puppies, and get a better idea of what having an animal will be like. However, make sure that your children are comfortable around the animals; if they are nervous or afraid, don’t force them to volunteer. Ease them into the situation, and let them go at their own pace.
Once your child has proven that they are responsible enough to care for a pet, adopting an animal in need is another way your family can aid a desperate animal. Let the child choose the animal they want — within reason, of course. Allowing your child to select their pet is an important moment, and can help them to quickly bond with their new friend.
Visit Seniors
Unfortunately, many of the elderly who reside in care centers are often alone, and experiencing some form of isolation. One way your whole family can get involved with charitable work is to visit a senior center once or twice a month, and spend time with some of society’s most vulnerable individuals. Not only is this a fantastic way to help your children socialize outside of school, but they can learn the importance of listening, as well as gain from the positivity created from assisting others. Look up a local care center, and ask if they accept family volunteers to socialize with the seniors.
It’s easy to get bogged down in daily life, but it’s important to spend time together as a family. What better way of growing closer than by helping others at the same time? By volunteering, you can demonstrate to your children exactly how beneficial kindness is.
By: Jenna Sherman (parent-leaders.com)
