It can be hard to find the time to connect with your kids these days. Between work, school, sports and activities – not to mention iPhones and computers – spending meaningful time together can be a challenge.
Volunteering as a family is a great way to meet that challenge! It also helps build strong, caring, empathetic young people who are able to give back to their friends and their communities. Volunteer service is a practical, easy, and fun way for you to help your child practice caring, giving and friendship, teaching them why it’s important to help others and how they can make a difference.
generationOn, the youth division of Points of Light, works to inspire, equip and mobilize young people to make their mark on the world through service. They offer project ideas, fact sheets, and reflection materials to help you teach your kids about important social issues, take action to address them, and reflect on how their service made a difference. There are lots of great ways to get involved!
Check out a few quick and easy ways to make a difference below.
Fight Child Hunger: Did you know that 1 in 5 kids in the United States don’t know where their next meal is coming from? You and your family can help by joining generationOn’s Make Your Mark on Hunger campaign! Learn more and get involved: www.generationon.org/hunger.
Start a Club: Take your play dates to the next level! Start a generationOn Kids Care Club (ages 5-10) or generationOn Service Club (ages 11-18) for your children and their friends or classmates. Learn more at www.generationOn.org/clubs.
Plan a DIY Project: Interested in spending a day giving back? Check out our family-friendly projects here.
Moms who support their kids in volunteering know the difference it makes. Julie, the mom of a 6th grader who started volunteering at the age of six says, “A lot of times, people see volunteerism as work, and it really isn't,” she said. “Kids don't tend to see the barriers. They just see opportunity. They also see how to make things fun.”
Plan some family fun with the help of generationOn.org this coming weekend!
