Volunteer Opportunities for Young Children
Do you find yourself struggling to find age appropriate volunteer opportunities for your elementary aged child? Kids in this age group often want hands-on involvement in everything they do, including community service work. However opportunities for independent volunteering can be difficult to come by.
Here are PunchBugKIDS’ Top 5 volunteer ideas for elementary school aged children.
1. Create Birthday Bags for kids in need. Reach out to local non-profits such as your community food pantry, emergency shelter or foster care agency to establish their need. Purchase plain canvas tote bags at a local craft store and have your children decorate the bags with markers, stickers, glitter glue and more. Fill the bags with wrapped birthday gifts, birthday cards and birthday treats. Allow your child to select the contents and write the birthday wishes to make it personal. Schedule an appointment with the non-profit to deliver the Birthday Bag(s). While there, have your children tour the agency to learn more about the community they are supporting.
2. Hold a Lemonade Stand for Charity. Have your children research local non-profits and select one to be the recipient of the Lemonade Stand’s proceeds. Make sure your kids have an “elevator speech” prepared to educate their customers about the charity. After your successful lemonade stand, count the proceeds and make the donation in person at the non-profit. Be sure to call ahead of time to schedule an appointment so that your children can tour the facility and learn first hand about the charity.
3. Donate gently used clothing and toys. A week or so before your child’s birthday is the perfect time to remind your child about what it means to be charitable. Encourage them to go through their closet and toy bin (with supervision) and have them select a few items to donate to children in need.
4. Make Craft Bags to distribute to children in hospitals. Have your kids fill decorated bags with crayons, chalk, water colors, paint brushes, glitter, glue, sketch pads, colored card stock, a canvas and more. The ideas are endless. Let your kids’ imagination run wild, and their recipients imaginations will as well.
5. Send Letters to the Troops. Encourage your children to write a letter thanking our soldiers for all they do for our country. Some great organizations who will help coordinate your efforts include Flags Across the Nation www.flagsacrossthenation.org/our-projects/letters-to-the-troops, For The Troops www.forthetroops.org, Kidz4Troops www.kidz4troops.com and Marine Parents: Care Package Project www.carepackageproject.com/letters.asp.
